Tubes Asylum: REVIEW: Audio Electronic Supply SE-1 Signature Amplifier (Tube) by Jose R

Now that the initial euphoria of owning my first tube gear has subsided and has been replaced by a relaxed contentment, I thought it would be a good time to post a review.

I would imagine that a person interested in the SE-1 is someone, like me, who has never heard or had extended experience with SETs and was looking for a good entry point into this world. Since, the only SET amp I actually got the chance to audition was the Cary 300B SEI integrated amp, I did more researching than listening before buying. Ultimately, what sold me about the SE-1 was the unique option of being able to use either 2A3s or 300Bs as output tubes. The compromise here being that whichever set of tubes you use, they will not be performing optimally, since there has to be a balance in the design to accommodate such distinct tubes. (I'm no DIYer nor am I technically savy enough to tell you where the compromises are, but the DC voltage is approx. 360v and the plate voltage is 337v and there is a dropping resistor which reduces filament voltage.) Also, since this is my first tube amp, I cannot compare it to any other similar SET amp (my prior reference being my NAD 304 integrated), so as always a disclaimer: "take everything with a grain of salt," "YMMV," "etc., etc."

Dave, in prior posts, has noted some problems he encoutered with the amp (hot output transformer and blown fuses). Similarly, my OPT runs hot, as well, (maybe the fact that the SE-1 is trying to where two hats is causing some duress to the amp) and I did blow a fuse early on, but since then I have not had any problems.

Sonically and musically, I can only echo Dave again, by saying that the qualities distinct to tubes: bloom and decay, top-end sweetness, wholesome mid-range, are evident here in abundance. Additionally, the amp proved to have a much better bass response than the NAD's amp section: tighter, fuller, richer. In fact, many of stereo-typical failings of SET amps I have read or heard about have been disproved. Within the limitations of my room (small and square) and speaker (FR 50Hz-18kHz) interaction, from top to bottom the presentation is invitingly natural, albeit tending to the warm side of things. As made obvious by my review of the Soliloquys, the SM-2A3s have a pronounced mid-range with a room-induced bass rise which add a warm resonance to the music, but by carefully selecting driver tubes to match with the output tubes I have managed to get a good enough tonal balance thru-out. (Interestingly, my Paradigm Titans had a much flatter upper mid-bass to treble response in my room, but sounded way too sterile in comparison.) Which for me bears the question of "nuetrality"? I suppose, I could strive to practice idolatry like HP at Sea Cliff and worship at the altar of the Absolute Sound while only listening to the soundtrack of the Thin Red Line, or Vaugh Williams' Sinfonia Antartica, or any Telarc recording through Burmester or Lamm or Pipedream gear, but I live in the real world and listen to "real world" music, where not all recordings are the same, some bad some good, some digital some vinyl, not all the music is classical, some pop, latin, jazz, rock and punk, and not all the performances are recorded "live." So for me versatility and options are paramount, and tubes and specfically this amp have provided me with such. I also do not believe that by swapping tubes I am "painting" colourations on to the music or making "corrections" to the sound; I am trying to keep things well balanced, accurate and natural. (In fact, this amp is so revealing that it forced my to upgrade my digital and analog front-end, although the transition is not yet complete.)

Even with the 300B tubes in place, the amp did encounter some difficulty with certain material (Nirvana and the like) where there was some distortion or a collasped soundstage, but not often enough for me to worry. For the majority of the music I listen to; acoustic, small orchestra or groups, latin, some jazz, even operatic works, the dynamics or loudness levels have not been an issue.

The more I listen to tubes the less I have been concerned about imaging, soundstage, precision, but more just enjoying what I am listening to. (Although, I still find it difficult to give up on the "visual" aspects completely; the SE-1 and Soliloquys provide enough detail and resolution to keep me happy.) More often than not I just sit there enthralled. With this SET thing, there just seems to be an "authenticity" to the music which I haven't heard with SS. I remember posting some outrageous comment like "I never heard, in my listening room or in a dealer's showroom, anything better than this SET amp...only a live performance was better." I'll still repeat that ridiculous statement, but with the explanation that I was and am referring to the emotive capacity of tubes to "deliver the goods" when it comes to music and certainly SETs do just that.

Will this be the last tube amp/speaker combo I'll own? Probably not, since I think I can do better with dedicated mono blocks and horns, but I haven't made up my mind on which triode output tube is for me and I don't see myself moving anytime soon. For now I'm happy as a clam swapping tubes and enjoying my music.

In addition to the 2A3 and 300B output tubes, the amp uses two 6SN7s as drivers and a single 6SN7 in the gain stage. Most of my tube swapping has been with the output tubes (Sino 2A3 bi-plates; RCA/Cunningham 2A3 bi-plates circa 1935-36?; Ken-Rad 2A3 bi-plates; RCA 2A3 military spec. bi-plates; JJ/Tesla 300Bs) and the drivers (RCA, Sylvania GTBs, CBS-Hytron, Ken-Rad VT-231s). Swapping the middle 6SN7 in the gain stage didn't have any noticable affect, so choices were not so picky here.

The Valve Art 300B should be arriving by the end of the week and the AVVT 2A3sl-c37 monoplates should be here within two weeks.

REVIEW: Audio Electronic Supply SE-1 Signature Amplifier (Tube) Review by Jose R at Audio Asylum