Price Paid:  $950.00 from used

Summary:
After finally getting the speakers I'd lusted after for many many years, a pair of Acoustat Spectra 11 hybrid electrostatics, I went through many amplifiers hoping to bring out the best in these remarkable speakers. I've gone through some big name solid state gear including an Audio Research D-100B, a Sterophile Class C rated Hafler 9300 Transnova, a Belles 150A Hot Rod, a pair of Antique Sound Labs Class A mono blocks, but I wasn't ever able to make the Acoustats really sing until I mated them with the Golden Tube SE-100. This combination provided outstanding bass response (not at all tubby), a truly liquid midrange that made female vocalists like Bonnie Raitt, Valerie Carter, and Linda Ronstadt come right into my living room, and a smooth, yet detailed top end, not at all rolled off perhaps because of the speed and accuracy of the Acoustats. But, I so fell in love with the sound of the amp/speaker combination that I took the leap and invested in a second SE-100 and bridged them into mono. Using them in the mono block configuration yielded outstanding results, in particular opening up a vastly expanded soundstage with both tremendous depth and localization. And then, when I added the near legendary Audible Illusions Modulus Three preamp, I then had finally reached my dream system. I know that there will be other audiophiles out there who will look down their collective noses at this statement, but for the modest amount of my investment, I have achieved literally jaw dropping results. Yes, Golden Tube's parent company went out of business some time ago, but these amps can still be repaired or modified easily by reputable online vendors. For a high powered all tube amplifier, the SE-100 is, in my humble opinion, an excellent buy on the used market if you can find one. I've rated the amp five stars for value because you just don't find this kind of power and performance for this kind of price. But, I've only rated it four stars for overall since the company is out of business and getting service will take some effort.

Strengths:
Very musical amplifier, well balanced with terrific bass response, silky smooth midrange, and extended highs, at least with my loudspeakers. Can actually use EL-34 tubes as well as KT-88s or KT-90s for increased power output. Easy to bias output tubes with a basic volt/ohm meter and the bias adjustment knobs on the top of the amplifier.

Weaknesses:
Some of the amps in the latest production run before the company went under did not use the best parts. Before buying one used, be sure and research the usage and repair history of the unit.

Similar Products Used:
Tried many other highly respected amps, but none measure up sonically to this one!