When I first heard of the Golden Tube Audio's SE-40, I thought that it had to be a joke. C'mon, a 40W single-ended amplifier for $980!? I am a single-ended tube
enthusiast, and I have heard some really good SE tube amps and some really bad ones,
but the cheapest one that I have heard and considered to be good cost at least $3000
(review of this amp is upcoming). So I thought that this is another wannabe amp designer
using cheap parts to build a cheap sounding SE amp. Since I had a friend who was in the
market for a good tube amp (and seriously considering the C-J premiere 11), we decided
to go down to our friendly (none of them are friendly unless they see the green stuff)
neighborhood audio salon and check this wannabe amp out.
When my friend and I arrived at the audio salon, there was a couple who was
auditioning some Sonic Frontiers equipment hooked up to Proac Response 4's (an
incredible speaker in all respects!). The sound was smooth and clean, characteristic of
most tube amps. The salesman was making his usual sales pitch about how warm and
sweet these Sonic Frontiers amp sounded. From the couple's blank expression, it was
obvious that everything he said went directly into the walls. My friend and I noticed that
on the rack that carried the Sonic Frontiers there was also the SE-40 amp located way
down on the bottom. This was the greatest mistake that this store ever made (after this, I
have never seen this store or any other store put the SE-40 next to their higher priced
amps), because we asked if we could also listen to SE-40 amp in order to compare it with
the Sonic Frontiers. The salesman agreed and hooked up the SE-40 to the Proac 4's
(actually this store was truly friendly, other stores are such snobs that they'll never do this
for you). As soon as he replayed the CD, my jaw dropped and I stood flabbergasted. I
looked over at my friend, and he was equally stunned. Right there in that store, this amp
was creating single-ended magic that I did not think was possible at $980. There were
clean highs, sweet mids, and tight bass. There was dynamics, slam, and everything else.
And you know what? I didn't care , because I was enjoying the music too much. The
salesman was giving his sales pitch again about how the SE-40 are really great amps for
the price but does not match the $5000 Sonic Frontiers in terms of dynamics and detail. I
slowly turned to the salesman, looked in his face, and said BULL#$@%!!! Actually, I
didn't say that, but I thought it anyway. The SE-40 totally embarrassed the Sonic
Frontiers causing them to belly-up and whimper in some remote corner of the room. By
the end of the audition, my friend ended up buying the SE-40 (and saving tons of money)
and the other couple was still sitting there with that blank expression on their face,
listening to the salesman make his pitch (if only they listen to the music and not to him,
ever).
So how does the SE-40 sound at my friends home (hooked up to Thiels CS1.5)?
They still sound incredibly good. There is a very slight roll-off in the highs, but it doesn't
get in the way of the musicality of this amp. Another friend brought over his Audio
Research Classic 60 to do a shootout with this amp. Guess what? He decided to sell his
Classic 60 to some poor soul who has never heard the SE40. What makes this amp so
good is that it not only gives a good soundstage with good imaging, but it does so in such
a musically satisfying manner. This is what single-ended magic is all about. The trouble
is that most of you will never experience this magic at the audio salon because the dealer
will have these amps hooked up to some really cheap and incredibly bad speakers, and
they will not hook them up to the truly good speakers because they know that it will blow
the higher priced amps away. My advice is to take one home on loan and test it out with
your speakers. And never believe their lie about how good these amps are for the price;
these amps are good period. Are they as good as my reference amps, the Cary 805?
Sorry, but single-ended triodes are another level of audio altogether and should only be
compared among themselves. I would recommend the SE-40 to any entry level
audiophile or audiophile on a budget. I would also recommend this amp to any
audiophile who are not on a budget and considering buying an amp in the $2k-$4k range
from Sonic Frontiers, Audio Research, Melos, Conrad-Johnson and any other big name
manufacturer (please audition this amp before you regret it). I would also recommend
this amp to any experienced audiphile who have owned many tube amps before and is
looding for something better, short of the new wave of SE triodes. I would not
recommend this amp to anyone who buys audio for the brand name so that he or she can
impress their friends when they have a party. I have never been impressed with
expensive brand name audio products that a person has in his/her home becuase I have
owned may of those components before and know their weaknesses and strengths.
However the biggest turn-off for me is when I come into a persons house and see all their
expensive equipment and the sound is dead awful. Never be impressed by names such as
Krell or Audio Research because not all of their components sound as good as some
people (ie, salesman) might want you to think. However, if I see someone who has an
SE-40 amp in their house, I tend to think that that person might know what they're doing.
So how can a $980 amp sound so good? Is it because it's single-ended? That's
part of the reason, but remember not all SE amps sound good. The greatest strenghth of
SE amps is it's simplistic design which lets the music sound so pure. That is why most
SE amps are designed with triodes-the most simplistic and pure amplification source.
However, because it is so simple in design, the sound is exptremely dependent on how
well the designer puts the parts together so that the sound is pure and natural. Put in a
tube, resistor, or cap that does not work well with other parts of the amp and the SE amp
will automatically reveal the sound to be harsh and unmusical. It seems that this designer
has used good quality but not too expensive parts (eg. non-triode tubes and air gapped
transformers) that do work well together in order to create a very musical amp. Also, do
not hook this amp up to cheap lousy speakers. The amp may be inexpensive, but its
sound is anything but. Hook it up to some high quality efficient speakers in order to
experience its full potential and get ready to see what the single-ended craze is all about.

About one year ago I felt it was time to upgrade my amp. I was using an Adcom 555II, which had great dynamics and bass but left a lot to be desired at the top end (very tizzy and forward) and in the soundstage presentation (flat and narrow). Previous to the Adcom I had owned a pair of modified Dyna Stereo 70s bolocked to mono.They were the exact opposites of the Adcom, with a smooth top end and widede, pinpoint soundstage, but lacking in bass (wooly sounding) and not the last word in jump factor. After reading numerous reviews and making visits to several high end shops, I settled on a Golden Tube SE-40. At just under a grand ($980) it fit into my budget nicely. The manufacturer lists power as 40 watts into 8 ohms stereo or 80 watts in the mono configuration. The fit and finish of this amp are way beyond what one would expect in this price range. I am no electronics expert, but it appears to be constructed of some very high quality parts. But all of this goes for naught if the sound isn't right. Straight out of the box I was impressed with it's smooth, silky top end. Cymbals can easily be differentiated, and there is a satisfying length to the decay of their sound. Instruments appear out of blackness with pinpoint accuracy. The soundstage is both deep and wide, extending well behind and to the outsides of he loudspeakers. The bass, although not quite on par with the Adcom, is suprisingly good for a tube amp. You will have no problem following individual bass lines with this little jewel. Dynamics and pace are also outstanding, especially considering the load this single amp was driving (Apogee Centaurus). So I guess the question is not "Do I likethis amp?", but "How much do I like this amp?" I suppose the answer to that "Enough to buy a second one" which I did about 4 months ago! 5 stars!!

At $998 this single ended 40 wpc Golden Tube SE-40 is considered by many
to be the bargain of the century. I use a pair of them (bridged to 80 wpc) to
drive a pair of ML Aerius. The midrage is just right. The bass is more than
you ever thought possible from tubes. The SE-40 uses six 5881 and two 6SNL7

Be carefull when hunting down a used pair of these pups. The SE-40 has
only been around for a few years but there have been numerous changes
made during production. The faceplates of earlier models have a slightly
darker gold brushed alluminum and the on/off indications are printed in black
(current production on/off indications are engraved into the face-plate)
Used SE-40s can be found from 550.00 to 650.00. Befor you buy get the
serial number of the SE-40 and call the manufacturer (SOLO electronics)
to find out which SE-40 your about to purchase. Make sure you get the warranty
transfered also.
Curcuit topology has become simpler in recent production as well.
Tube cage design has changed from a complex four piece unit to a unichassis
cage.

Just to be contrary ;*)
I have had the chance to listen to the SE40 three times. Twice the units
on display were broken (tube sockets, I think). The time I did get to
hear them was on a system with Aerial 5 speakers, CAL digital, and an
ARC pre-amp. This setup sounded unforgiveably poor; the sound wasn't
cohesive at all, the bass (what there was) was mush, and the overall
impression was flat, soft, and lifeless. It could be that there was
a problem with the unit I listened through, as a few friends I trust
have been impressed with this amp, but if there was, that makes 3 out of 3
broken units I have encountered.

For the money, I think you should also take a look at the Jolida stuff.
It also has a passive pre section, costs about the same, etc.

Beautifully constructed, high-end sound with good price.

no manufacture backup.

I enjoyed this fine piece of instrument until the drivers quit on me. The front power-on green light is also out! I understand from my dealer that Solo has been out of business. I will try to get it fixed anyway. I still love the amp. I feel so sorry for the company for whatever reason that they could not continue their business. The part owner, Chris Lau, was a great guy and he was most helpful when I had questions on my SE-40.

Incredible value. Lots of metal for the money. Surprisingly powerful for low cost tubes. Warm & spacious sound.

Soft at top, not much control at bottom end for dynamic bass.

Used w/Fried Studio V speakers. The Frieds are 3-way dynamic speakers, 91dB efficient, never less than 5 ohms, so an easy load, that are -3dB @ 28hz (w/8" driver in transmission lines), using 6dB/octave 1st Order-Series crossovers.) I've used these speakers with the GTA SE40 amp in smallish rooms, never larger than 22' x 16', usually 19' x 14' or smaller. I feed the amp with Kimber 4TC cables from a Melos SHA Gold preamp and usually analog LPs. Music mix is 80% classical, 20% totally eclectic.

The amp offers sufficient power to play orchestral crescendos approaching realistic (over 100dB) levels with some apparent compression but no obvious distortion. There is some rolling-off of the top end as volume reaches max output, but otherwise the amp "lets go" gracefully and evenly across the spectrum. Overall, the sound is what you'd expect from inexpensive tubes: warm, spacious, a high end that will never make you grit your teeth, a bit soft focus and unable to take firm control of deep bass. The 40wpc rating seems realistic, offering more sheer cojones than you get from any other inexpensive tube amps.

The amp's been completely reliable until the 5th year, when a channel went out (not the tubes).

I replaced my whole system in 1995 in one swell foop, and bought serious "keep 'em forever" speakers, preamp & analog front end (used Oracle, ETII arm, revolving door cartridges). This meant I needed to economize on my amp, tuner (Rotel), prono preamp (McCormack) and CD source (crappy Aiwa portable: who cares, they're just seedies). The Golden Tube Audio SE40 has served in this role with distinction, and certainly without embarrassment. It's now time for an upgrade, principally for better control of the dep bass and more sharply defined focus.

Similar Products Used:

"My First Tubes" (take that, Sony!)

warm mid, does chamber/string quartet nicely

repair history, drifting bias, manufacturer

I've owned GT SE-40s for about 6-7yrs. Since my 4th or 5th breakdown of these amps, I'm compelled to get the word out. I had a pair running mono, vertical bi-wired into ProAc Tablette Sig 50s. The sound was satisfying, especially for acoustic (Kottke, Fahey, Kronos) music. But the damn things keep breaking down, just one thing after another. So I got tired of dumping money into them and making Solo Electronics richer. So they now serve as decorative accents on my dining room sofa table. I treated these guys w/ the usual TLC....frequent biasing, surge protection, and modest volume levels....but it was still one problem after another....AFTER the warranty ran out....power supply, circuit board, bizarre crackling sounds, hum, you name it..(btw, tubes all tested, they are OK). The most recent incident has one dead and the other making loud crackling & hum noises within a week of each other...lovely! For amusement, I decided to check Solo Electronic's web page and inform them about my latest, and suggest they repair both at no cost...if they really stand behind their product, it couldn't hurt. Lo and behold! The Solo web page is no more!!! Solo's telephone # has been disconnected. And the GT owners mailing list...I cannot find either, (where owners would extol the virtues with cult-like fanatacism). WHERE ARE YOU GUYS????? WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO?

If anyone can explain the whereabouts and enlighten me...I'd sure appreciate it. I have two pretty doorstoppers that used to be amps here. Solo staff.....if you read this...I challenge you to contact me and make good on all the virtues you, my dealer, and the mailing list folks claimed. You will repair my amps at no cost, including shipping, if you sincerely believe in your products. I still think they sound great...but your gonna have to change my mind about the build quality. Thus, I have to give the amps an interim ZERO for repair history...4 stars for sound....so 2 for now....but I am open to change. Balls in your court Solo....wherever you are.

I've owned the SE-40 Mono's 80 watts each! for over 2 yrs! I've used it with the BAT VK-3 tube Preamp driving Dunlavy SC-III. listening to CD's and DVD's And I feel it's the best sounding amp for the money! Great imaging, good soundstaging, great warm sounding midrange and very involving on vocals. I just purchased 10 yr old pair of Apogee's Caliper Signatures that require a Killer Amp like the Krell KSA 100s and am now parting with the SE-40's. I replaced the tubes after 2 yrs with the original Sovteks 5881's. these amps don't like other tubes and can cause problems.. Check with Golden Tube before using other tubes!

Warm liquid midrange

rolled off high end

Golden Tube told my dealer there would be such a long wait for my SE40-Special Edition that the dealer gave me a loaner regular edition (serial no. 1596 - I don't know the year). I'm using it with an Emotive Audio Erato tubed preamp and 4 ohm Magnepan planar magnetic (quasi-ribbon) 1.6 speakers (83 dB/1W/1m sensitivity). The tubes the SE40 came with were Svetlana 6L6GC (3 per side), a Philips 6SN7WGTA and a 6SN7G7 (brown base, made in China). Interconnects and speaker cables: XLO.

I find instruments and voices to have more personality and fullness in the midrange than with the NAD. The extreme high end is definitely rolled off, as confirmed by sound level meter readings, compared to the amp section of the NAD. Overall, though, I like it better than the NAD in that I'm hearing more in the midrange and there is no listening fatigue because of the rolled-off highs. At first I missed the "you are there" feeling you get from those extreme highs, but now I find myself listening for much longer and enjoying it more. There's definitely no treble harshness here.

The bass seems adequate - readings were the same with the 50W (same with 4 ohm and 8 ohm) NAD vs. the Golden Tube, but I'm not a bass freak.

There's plenty of volume and bass for the Magnepans despite what you may have read about the power requirements of these speakers. People who listen at rock club (i.e., unhealthy) volumes might find this system inadequate.

I listened to a Jolida 302B briefly in the shop where I bought the Emotive Audio and Golden Tube, and I found it just didn't have the sense of life and vibrancy the Emotive/GTA combination did (on Spendor speakers). The Emotive preamp may have a lot to do with this.

In the future, I'll be curious to hear how the Golden Tube compares to other high end amps like maybe a Llano or an OTL, but for now I'm a happy listener. Considering the prices of good tube amps, the Golden Tube is a real value. List price is something like US$ 1100 for the standard and 1400 for the special (better transformer).

Similar Products Used:

(Well, not exactly similar, but) NAD C340 SS integrated, Jolida 302B tube integrated

I have owned a Golden Tube SE-40 for several months now. This is going to sound silly...but I discovered when repairing a friends Dynaco Stereo 120 as a favor - that the 60w/ch (1971 watts) was more than enough power for my PSB Stratus Silvers. Well of 60w/ch is enough.. 40w/ch is enough too. Looking over at the Adcom 5800 I was using I started wondering why I needed 250w/ch! Add to that - since the Adcom runs so hot I bought a used Carver M1.5t for summer use.
Well the Carver was sold, the Adcom went into the closet for the summer and the SE-40 was put in it's place. Ahhhhhh the sound is smooth and clean :)

When winter hit.. I didn't have the urge to pull out the Adcom (hardly chopped liver by any means!!!) and I kept the SE-40 in the system. I rarely run out of power - and I am pleased now cool it runs for a tube amp.

One more thing... I just had a tube failure (one of the original Sovteks) that became obvious when the main fuse blew. When I found the fuse in the amp, I was impressed with the build quality - very, very good. Oh - I found the culprit quick enough.. it was the tube that rattled. Here is the icing on the cake... I ordered a exact replacement Sovtek tube from MCM Electronics for, uh, $8.99 :) Not a matched pair/triplet/quad set... just one! Gee and who said owning a tube amp is expensive???

This is one heck of a amp that I strongly recommend.