Golden Tube Audio SE-40 - Good for SDA-SRS or 1Cs?
audio_alan
Posts: 770
Hey guys, I have a quick question about the GTA SE-40:
1) Is the SE-40 a common ground amp suitable to use with SDAs? (I searched, but couldn't find an answer).
2) Will they be powerful enough to run my original SDA-SRS speakers? If not, how about 1Cs?
Thanks!
-- Audio Alan
1) Is the SE-40 a common ground amp suitable to use with SDAs? (I searched, but couldn't find an answer).
2) Will they be powerful enough to run my original SDA-SRS speakers? If not, how about 1Cs?
Thanks!
-- Audio Alan
Comments
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I don't know if it is common ground. If it is, it might do ok with the 1C's, but barely. It will not work well with the SRS.
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Thanks, F1. I had a hunch it wouldn't be enough for the SRS's. I think I'll just pass on it, especially if it's questionable about being common ground...
It's a pretty cool looking amp though, so I was tempted. -
Not to spread misinformation (me?!?
) but weren't these GTA amps rather notorious for their fragility? Maybe I am thinking of a different model...
It's a pp EL34 amplifier, isn't it? Something like 35 watts per channel, give or take (maybe 40 or even 50) -- kind of hard to imagine that would be optimal for any of the SDAs (although I have zero data on this myself!).
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mhardy - I think it's a Class A 40 watt/ch amp, and yes, they were known for having a lot of breakdowns. It doesn't have EL34's in it.
The guy selling the particular amp I was looking at says to have refreshed all the components, so it shouldn't have those reliability problems. I'm still debating picking it up to run with some smaller speakers. But, I do most of my listening on my SDA-SRS system, so (as F1 pointed out), it would be severely underpowered. -
I may be wrong, but I think that amplifier runs its tubes hard -- in other words, the fragility is intrinsic.
What are the output tubes? 40 watts in Class A would take pretty massive high voltage and beefy output tubes.
Still trying to find info on the design; here's a "review" of sorts from audio asylum.
https://www.audioasylum.com/messages/amp/145165/review-golden-tube-audio-se-40-amplifier-tube
EDIT: well, ok, maybe mainly crummy parts (i.e., in the original, new production models): http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/golden-tube-audio-se-40-amplifiers-love-em.308083/#post-10470500
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/opinions-on-the-golden-tube-se40.22321/
EDIT^2: aaaaaah. three paralleled 6L6 outputs
40 watts... hmmm...?
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Sounds like you answered your own questions, mhardy.
Agreed, it sounds like the parts were just sub-par and undersized. I'm still tempted, but might just look for something else with a better reputation...
