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Thought on OTL tube amps

Just curious....how do these sound/perform compared to tube amps with transformers? Why do you prefer one or the other? Any particular brands of OTL amps you would recommend listening to? You can see my system on my tag here...listen mostly to rock and roll with a smattering of jazz and a bit of classical once in a while. The next stop on my amplifier adventure is an OTL model, and I have no intention of trading it for either SET I currently have, as I'm very happy with both. One of the ways I enjoy experimenting with different "sound" is by switching up the amps. Just trying to solicit some opinions, of which I know there are many strong ones here at A-Gon. Thanks in advance!
afc

Showing 3 responses by simontju

simontju
257 posts
 
"Blow a tube with your OTL and you could fry your speakers. Great sound, but some risk if you listen loud, or run tubes till they drop "

Properly designed OTL amp represent no more danger to speakers then properly designed regular tube or transistor amps.

For example, in many tube amp designs, output tube is connected to resistor which work as a "fuse of last resort". if output tube blows then it takes out this resistor.

I never heard that OTL amps by Joule-Electra and Athmasphere produce any troubles. I suspect that with proper maintaince these amps can work half century or longer - at least I see not a single reason why not?
simontju
257 posts
 
"I must admit I am a little confused here. Two posters have said OTL amps are thin sounding? "

You should not be confused. When (OTL) amp and speaker is matched poorly then sound is bad (thin, fat what have you).

When properly build (OTL) amp is match well i.g. Athmasphere/Soundlab then sound is glorious !!!
simontju
257 posts
 
" using an autoformer I think I will use my tube amp with built in transformers"

Totally agree, provided its high quality amp
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