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Cary 805, deHavilland or Atma-Sphere? Anyone cares

Over the weekend, I have listened extensively to the following four different amplifiers and I have decided once and for all that the SET 300B, no negative feedback is the way to go.
The four amplifiers are as follows:
Passlabs X150: very neutral, powerful yet the sound almost very sterile.
EAR 834: very musical, tube mid-range yet sound the least like live music.
YBA 2 High current, Double Transformers: very musical, soft and sound very enjoyable; yet again not like live music.
Audio Note kit one: This is a killer and provided the music is limited to vocals and chamber music. Very good mid-range with good attack and the best like live music; but not very much bass.
However, this listening session made me to want more bass with the SET.
Thinking about the Cary 805, deHavilland or Atma-sphere ?
Any comment ?
Please advice
robertwolfee

Showing 1 response by sabai

sabai
2,027 posts
 
Dracule1,
I cannot comment on the M-60. I have the S-30 so my remarks are related to it.

You stated:

"First, speaker choices are limited to those that are 8 ohms or higher, which have been pointed out. Using an Speltz autoformer for speaker/amp impedance matching is defeating the purpose of OTL."

With all due respect, I don't find that using the Spelz Zeros with my S-30 and Joseph Audio Pulsars defeats anything at all. On the contrary. The sound actually improved when I put the Zeros in.

You stated:
"... the image specificity is more diffuse than other tube and solid stage amps. Bass can be loose, if you don't have the proper impedance matching."

With my S-30 the images are spot on and the bass is tight. With the right tweaks the sound is so realistic, it is uncanny. I could not be happier.

I have not had any tube noise or tube failures.
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