My SET amp has stopped working and may have to be shipped back to the states for repair which will be at least a two-month turnaround. As a consequence I'm looking for an inexpensive temporary replacement amp. The catch is I have very efficient horn speakers in a small but really good listening space and so more than about two-five watts leaves most of my listening at the bottom (and thus unbalanced) range of the volume control. I'm thinking a very low wattage tripath or even a basic kitset valve amp but don't want to spend more than $400.

I've tried a 30 watt tripath amp (15w into 8ohm) I had lying around but it was too powerful - too much bass damping and too loud. What other options do I have?

rob

Why back to the US for repair?

Surely Clarry would be your best bet for a faster turn a round. Not to much to go wrong with a traditional SET amp.

What amps are they?

I'm struggling to think of an alternative under $400 as usually the OP transformers alone cost more than that.

Cheers

It's a warrenty repair - I'm gonna try to get it sorted here but i suspect I'll be sending it across the pacific. I've been having a look around amd i reckon my best bet is the miniwatt. 3.5w set but not very pricy at all because it runs a switching power supply. Well reviewed too. Once i get my good amp sorted i could use it as a headphone amp...

So after realising I'd be waiting at least a month for the mini watt I bought a 5w tripath amp off a local trader. It'll do in the meantime.

rob - how did you get on with repair of your amp (Decware Zen?)?

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