This thing is a stone honey for the money and a great cheap intro to SE sound. I have one in my office system, and it really sings with a Marantz CD63SE run straight in, a pair of the little RA Labs Mini References, and the cheap Nordost Flatline cable. I disagree with one of the earlier posters on power tubes - I prefer the Svetlana 6L6GCs for their better treble and instrumental delineation than the Sovtek 5881s, although the Sovteks do have an edge in the bass (not so important in my office at low levels). Also try the Synergistic power cords - as always, big bang for the buck. You can't NOT have fun with these amps at this price!

Excellent amplifier for the money! I actually like the SE-40 more than its big brother the SE-100. Fit and finish are first rate. I use two SE-40 to drive my Joseph Audio RM7Si Signatures and they certainly sound like a much more expensive combination. Five stars!

Holographic imaging, resolution, imaging, bass, treble, smoothness, etc...

Not super powerful. Needs more TLC than a plug in and forget transistor amp.

If you take good care of it, it will take care of you. Compared to a transitor amp I own that is slightly more expensive it totally kills the tranny amp. It is on a different planet. The sound from the GTA-SE40 is liqued, transparent and holographic while the sound from the tranny amp is supeficially detailed, slightly harsh and 2 dimensional. With the GTA-SE40 in my system I look forward to spending time listening to my stereo. With the transistor amp I don´t. The transistor amp is just an appliance that allows me to play background music and home theatre. The tube amp is an instrument for enjoying music.

If you are not prepared to partner this amp with the right speakers, adjust the bias on the tubes, replace the tubes with good types when needed, this amp is not for you. If you have audio as a hobby and you enjoy time spent adjusting, tweaking and upgrading your eqhipment, the GTA-SE40 is just what the doctor ordered.

This amp should get 6 stars for value and 5 overall...

Similar Products Used:

no similar products really. The amp is used with a Sony 50 ES CD player, Electrocompaniet pre amp and Sonus Faber Concerto speakers along with a REL Stadium II sub.

A good overall performer with no significant problem areas.

Rolled off highs, slightly soft bass.

This is a follow-up to my original review of this amplifier, after several months of use, to add a specific piece of information. I echo my original comments, but add two things:

1. The highs and lows are both a little rolled off and/or "mushy". This is not immediately apparent to a marked degree, but does become obvious over time. This is not, however, a terrible problem and it can be alleviated to a degree by using the right valves in the driver stage and an appropriate preamp.

2. Apart from the above comment, the amp has performed beyond my original expectations, and is recommended. It is a very musical piece of equipment at a reasonable price.

Now - a word of warning.

The SE-40 is often partnered with another Golden Tube Audio product, the SEP-1 preamp. Don't do it - I did, and it is the worst audio mistake I've ever made.

The SEP-1 is a lemon. There have been many reports on various forums of problems with this preamp including channel inbalances, crosstalk, faulty parts, etc. However, the most serious problem is that it is non-linear and distorted. The SEP-1 has the same rolled-off highs and lows as the SE-40, but to a far greater degree.

I recently tried connecting my CD player directly into the SE-40 power amp via a passive line attenuator, which was there purely to act as a volume control. The improvement in sound was nothing short of astounding. Suddenly the bass which I have not heard since I replaced my old solid state gear was back, but with much greater resolution and punch than ever before. The highs were also more detailed (but not over bright) and the midrange "blossomed". Overall, the sound was suddenly "right".

In summary, the SE-40 poweramp is a better deal than many people realise, but it is at its best when partnered with a neutral or bright preamp, and with driver tubes which will emphasise the frequency extremes.

Similar Products Used:

Cary, Audion, C-J, Audio Note, AES, Audio Research.