OTL Tube Amps-- are they superior to everything?


A recent conversation I had with an Audiogon member got me interested in OTLs. His opinion is that nothing compares to them for clarity, naturalness and superiority in just about every area. The Atmaspheres are the amps he has, and they are purportedly very stable, unlike most other OTL designs, which many can tell you were a living nightmare.

This is ironic, because some mfrs., like McIntosh, actually put output transformers on their better solid state pieces, claiming they provide superior sonics.

What is the truth here?
saxo

Showing 1 response by verybigamp

*** His opinion is that nothing compares to them for clarity, naturalness and superiority in just about every area.

They do have some very specific and very limited qualities that are attractive but mostly the “attractive qualities" get overwhelmed by a large amount of the very critical fundamental imperfections… There is a LOT of more to it but it will be obviously out of scope of the typical Audiogon member’s aptitude. If you looking for serious information but not for the casual audiophile BS then look somewhere alse.

*** The Atmaspheres are the amps he has, and they are purportedly very stable, unlike most other OTL designs, which many can tell you were a living nightmare.

Atmaspheres actually are very poor electroniks and I sincerely feel that to make any conclusions about topology base on the evaluation of a specifically-badly-implemented brand is a wrong thing to do.

*** What is the truth here?

Look for the answers somewhere else.