Golden Tube SE-40 Amplifiers

Golden Tube SE-40 Amplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

Tube Amplifier - 40 Watts Per Channel

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 44  
[Dec 04, 2011]
James Young
AudioPhile

I have two Golden Tube Audio SE40s and love them. After listening to my first one for a couple of years I got the manual and had the bottom plate off to discover that it was running in Ultralinear mode, a type of global feedback. I switched to the no global feedback mode and discovered that the last tiny amount of grit disappeared. I now understand that the reason all the solid state amps I have heard sounded edgy to me was, at least in part, due to global feedback. I'm interested in hearing a solid state with no global feedback. My second GE SE40 was also delivered in ultralinear mode and now is in no feedback mode. I am using one of the amps to drive the very low efficiency Carver ALIIIs and when played loud, the distortion is obvious (sounds like a soft pillow feels, still no edgyness). I find that second order distortion is acceptable even in obvious amounts, while the solid state amps I have heard tend to drive me from the room at the same volume Obviously, measurements don't tell the whole story for me. If you are easily fatigued by edgy sound, try the SE40 in no feedback mode and you may find your answer to good sound as I have.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 25, 2011]
BSidian
AudioPhile

Though many negative comments have been written about the SE-40's reliabillity and quallity of manufacture, I find that many of us have original units that function and sound, with the usual tweaking , better than when we first got them and without incident. I think because of the amps pricing, and then subsequent resale values, it has found its's way into the hands of many inexperienced first time tube users, and well boom. I use my two in bridged 80w mono mode from a dc coupled dual mono preamp never a problem. Say no more.

The sound from these amps blows away the transistor based amps of their time at double their price.
They put out enough power for the most inefficient Carver Amaizings to fill a 40x30 beautifully
and They sound so good my wife sits down, listens and say's "that's Incredible!".
Iv'e had many others these are a more real presentation of the instruments and voice with nothing else in the air only silence.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 28, 2009]
pinchechris
Audio Enthusiast

I purchased one of these from Audiogon.com for the mere sum of $600, shipping included. You can find 'em cheaper, one just sold on Ebay for $450 but mine came with full Sonic Craft mods. I haven't heard a stock amp but I can say that I'm REALLY impressed with the modified version. I have heard that these mods help issues of reliability......though I do notice that most of the negative reviews due to faulty equipment are from years ago. I wonder if these issues were addressed in later models? If this one busts or starts having issues I'll fire off another review :)

Till then, I'm superbly happy.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 26, 2009]
linn11
AudioPhile

I have bought this power amplifier in very good conditions,as a part of payment of other equipment. I have had many high end amplifiers, and I did not expect much of this amplifier, but after listening I was very surprised with their high qualitu soun in this price range. It is a very enjoyable sound, warm, big soundstage,and plenty of detail... I recomend improved the original 6SN7 with NOS tubes.
Used with more 90dbs or more SPL Speakers, are a very good choice.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 21, 2007]
Samarati
AudioPhile

Strength:

Clean sound with JJ 6L6's and NOS RCA 6SL7's. Warm enough without midrange bloat nor wooly bass range.

Weakness:

Not terribly powerful. I have tried to press the upper dynamic limits with my various pre-amps and digital audio workstation. Sound becomes rather strained & ugly when reasonble input levels are exceeded.

Good quality amp for $450. Mine in excellent condition. I purchased from the original owner. He was an electrical engineer - audiophile. He did some tweaks. My model has no tube cage. Not an issue in my child free home.

Customer Service

Who knows? Didn't they go out of business years ago? I service the amp myself. All I've ever had to perform is new 6L6 swaps, & that was just curiosity to see if another tube brand sounded better. It didn't...

Similar Products Used:

This amp is certainly a lot better sounding than the various Dynaco ST-70's that I've owned. In the dark past of the 1960's - 1970's I've owned other low end tube amps such as: Heathkit, Eico, Fisher, HH Scott, Marantz. Typical consumer level stereos that were mellow enough with a pair of AR / Advent / KLH speakers, but certainly not audiophile level stuff. I'm a music lover, a working musician, & have very unapologetic peasant tastes. I like the good stuff but refuse to pay premium prices for the BEST stuff.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 11, 2018]
ellisaudio
AudioPhile
Model Reviewed: SE-40

Strength:

Wow! Depth, detail, warmth, with no colorations!!

Weakness:

It only has 40wpc, so don't expect bar-room spl from your speakers. Also, it'll reproduce every piece of information faithfully. Garbage in = Garbage out.

I purchased this amp last summer from Jeff's sound values for $550. The price was very fair, and Jeff packed the amp very well. Upon arrival my expections weren't high due to the maladies present from the factory in the Golden Tube amps. My expectations were immediately validated. The amp was harsh & gritty - like a bad solid state amplifier. However, I have modified gear before and was optimistic that Jeff at SonicCraft would be able to help. Jeff isn't smart about everything, but he knows capacitors, and he knows the SE40. I received my amp this past weekend following the full-Glowacki set of modifications and am extremely pleased! The mods cost $1000, but were VERY well worth Jeff's time, experience, and very high quality parts under the hood. There are several very good amps available to hifi DIY folks. The AKSA Nirvana, VanAlstine Ultimate 70, Modified Jolida 302, are all very competitive amplifiers and all easily beat my old Bryston 3B-ST. But Jeff's modified SE40SE is amazing. Oh my! The detail, the nuance, the full musical picture!! It's all there! I suspect @40wpc SET (triode) MIGHT sound better, but this simply doesn't exist for $1500. A further comment: My first hifi amplifier was a Bryston 3B-ST several years ago. Among commercial amplifiers, this unit was and is very respectable. However, I soon learned that quality parts or modified gear in a DIY amplifier will easily trounce any commercial amplifier at the same price point. The very best example of this among SS gear is the AKSA amplifier with Nirvana + guts. When moving past the SS gear towards tubes I find the modifed SE40 at the top of the food-chain. dave@ellisaudio.com

Similar Products Used:

mentioned above.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Oct 31, 2004]
choppi
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

luscious midrange. Several inexpensive upgrades available. Flexible (when used as monoblocks, the extra inputs become line-outs !). Easy and fun to play around with tube-rolling. Low cost, rugged build, non-captive power-cord, simple design, easy to repair, high-quality transformers (in both editions).

Weakness:

Survivability issues. Some resistors overworked in stock desigh. The voltage to the input tubes is excessive. All these problems are easily cured with Sonic Craft's basic kit ! [ I am in no way financially affilited with Sonic Craft, just another of their happy customers. ]

Bought 2 Golden Tube SE 40 (standard editions) used for $1,300 from Recycled Audio in Boulder, Colorado. These amps sounded clean, strong, and sweet from the time I first got them, but gradually - after two years - stopped playing the treble. I put in a new set of output tubes, changing from the Sovtek 5881 to Svetlana 6L6GC. This made a huge improvement, not only restoring the missing high frequencies, but also causing an over-all more refined and also more dynamic sound. I have usually used these amps as monoblocks but also have bi-amped my speakers - both horizontally and vertically at various times. They drove a pair of Accoustat 2+2 very nicely, with voices and accoustic instruments present, immediate, and 'delicious'. The accoustats have enough bass but it is not well controlled. The 2+2 also roll off the high frequencies. I now use the GT SE 40s with a two-cabinet (per side) system of dynamic speakers, with Raven tweeters, made by Steven Norber. This is a very satisfying combination. Recently, my two amps were completely re-built by Jeff Glowacki of Sonic Craft. All GT40 owners should get, at the least, his low-cost entry level kit because it addresses survivability issues which exist with the stock SE40 design. You can send your board(s) to Sonic Craft and they will do the work for a modest fee or you can do it yourself. You can find them on the 'net. Whenever I have to use solid-state gear, I am immediately relieved when I get my Golden Tube amps back in the system - the harmonic content of voices and instruments is suddenly restored ! I use passive or unity-gain-buffered line stages, not an active pre-amp, and have never had problems with insufficient 'drive' - although I do miss having a balance control, and a remote volume control would sure be nice; I know there are some passive pre-amps with remote-controlled motorized volume pots. Creek makes one at low cost. You might try this before spending several mortgage payments on a high quality active pre-amp. With this system, the differnces between various recordings are clearly heard. The bass is sufficient for me but I don't listen to 'dance' music. The midrange is the most important part of the music and the SE40s (even when kept stock) get this right. There is a forum for users of Golden Tube Audio equipment. You can learn a lot there and exchange views with other enthusiasts. The address is: Yahoo! Groups - golden_tube 1 (you can get there with Google). Happy listening ! - choppi (the musical dog)

Similar Products Used:

Experience with Pass Labs monoblocks, single-ended solid-state monsters, cost much more and drink just as much juice. Also have set up and listened to many tube systems. As it is with cars and houses, you can always get more if you have the deep pockets.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 05, 2004]
asdf
Audio Enthusiast

After seven years of hard use and several tough moves, my SE-40 finally started having some problems. Terrible noise and distortion coupled with loss of the left channel. Some queries around the web revealed a potential solution: SonicCraft's SE-40MT upgrade kit. Jeff at SonicCraft kindly and quickly answered my questions regarding the amplifier (his expertise outweights mine) and shipped the product post-haste. After a bit of work with my very cheap soldering iron, all the parts have been installed and my amp sounds better than ever! I suspect this kit will greatly increase the durability of my amp, as the two resistors I'd lost were two included in the pack... along with replacements for the rest of the common failure points! Thank you Jeff!

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 05, 2004]
asdf
Audio Enthusiast

After seven years of hard use and several tough moves, my SE-40 finally started having some problems. Terrible noise and distortion coupled with loss of the left channel. Some queries around the web revealed a potential solution: SonicCraft's SE-40MT upgrade kit. Jeff at SonicCraft kindly and quickly answered my questions regarding the amplifier (his expertise outweights mine) and shipped the product post-haste. After a bit of work with my very cheap soldering iron, all the parts have been installed and my amp sounds better than ever! I suspect this kit will greatly increase the durability of my amp, as the two resistors I'd lost were two included in the pack... along with replacements for the rest of the common failure points! Thank you Jeff!

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 26, 2003]
epiphany
AudioPhile

Strength:

Nice midrange, clean and immediate. Decent bass really for a tube amp.

Weakness:

Doesn't have the control or dynamics of solid state.

For all those SE40 owners. Here are my suggestions for better sound. Replace those tubes. Nice driver tubes first. I'm having good luck with Kenrad and Tungsol. RCA black base are just average as are the stock Philips tubes. Red base RCA are nice as are the Brimars, but expensive. Lower that filament voltage if you use these pricier tubes. Next replace the power tubes. Either the Svetlana or the Electro-Harmonix, which are the same as the Sovtek plus I believe. Improvement is astonishingly better than those stock Sovteks. Next, replace those coupling caps with some nice film and foil caps. Then follow with your choice of upgrades by soniccraft.com. You can also stick some BDR cones under the SE40. At the very least you'll get better ventillation. The SE40 is a great performer and really quite a bargain used. Give it a try.

Similar Products Used:

Cary, Musical Fidelity, Bel Canto, EAR, Audio Refinement, Audio Note

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 44  

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