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INTRODUCTION
You now own one of the best SET amplifiers in
the world! Unlike the stereotypes associated
with single ended triode designs, the SE84C has
many unique features that set it apart from the
rest. It’s point-to-point construction, lack of
circuit boards, and signal path consisting of only
a single capacitor and two resistors means noth-
ing sold today is more transparent or honest. Of
course almost everything sold today claims to be
sonically transparent and absolutely accurate,
but when compared side by side to the Zen
Triode SE84C, it usually isn’t.
PERFORMANCE FEATURES
•
Power Output
The SE84C power output sits in the perfect spot on the
line of fidelity vs. power with respect to amplifier
design. It is rated at 2.3 watts into an 4 ohm resistive
load with no visible or audible distortion. What makes
it deceptive is its ability to drive complex speaker
loads down to almost a dead short with even more
power. For example, this amp has driven a pair of
Klipsch horns, a pair of JBL control 10’s and a pair of
JBL studio monitors, each between 6 and 8 ohm
speakers - all at the same time on each channel. The
speakers were wired in parallel. Besides the ability to
remain stable at these insane impedance's, the SE84C
also sounds good when doing it.
•
Output Transformer Design
You may have noticed that output transformers used
in single ended amplifiers are up to 3 times more
expensive then those used in push-pull applications.
This is in part due to the air gap that must be
integrated into the transformer. You can spend as
much on a single output transformer as you paid for
this amplifier (
yes, they exist
) , take it completely
apart and find no difference in quality between it and
the transformers used in your SE84C. We understood
from the beginning that output transformer design and
quality are what separate good sounding tube amps
from great sounding ones. The SE84C has transform-
ers that were custom designed specifically for it, and
are made by Decware in the USA.
•
Gold Plated Connectors and Sockets
Gold plated Input Jacks and Output Binding Posts
provide trouble free connections. Ceramic tube
sockets with gold plated contacts provide protec-
tion from atmospheric contamination.
•
Steel Powder coated Chassis
The SE84C is built on a custom steel chassis with
no vents ensuring the inside of the amp remains
dust free and clean as the day it was built over the
life of the amp. Hardwood bases are available
(model B610) shown above.
•
High Reliability - Low Maintenance
With an oversized power supply and the highest
grade of capacitors the SE84C has less then 0.5mv
of sag in the high voltage supply when the amp is
at full power and clipping. This means the power
supply is never taxed and should therefor last for
many decades. In addition, the self-biasing design
besides sounding best offers easy tube changes
with no adjustments or re-biasing needed. These
are just some of the reasons why we can offer a
Lifetime Warranty with this product.
•
Tube rectification
This offers two distinct advantages over the more
common solid state rectification. First is reliability.
Solid state rectifiers when used at these high
voltages (600 volts) are susceptible to voltage
spikes and even static electricity. That means your
amplifier would need repair likely more then once
during it’s lifetime. Using a tube rectifier means
that you can easily change it yourself if ever there
was a problem. Tube rectification also sounds
different then solid state. And contrary to popular
belief, the tube rectification actually has far supe-
rior bass. It’s tighter, more dimensional, and less
artificial sounding.
Summary of Contents for SE84C+
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