Triode versus Ultralinear/Pentode

So I take it that if I were to convert the Music Reference to triode it should be triode only, optimized for triode, and not a triode/ultralinear via switch approach.

I asked that question on AudioCircle in the Manufacturer's forum and still have not gotten an answer. To some exent I hesitate with the idea of the mod (he did not object to the idea), thinking if it was such a good idea, why didn't he do so from the begining - could be the amp has more universal application run in AB2 Ultralinear. I know by going to triode, he pull back on the NFB which appears to always be a good thing with my Merlins. I agree in principle (with no engineeering knowledge whatsoever) that it is best to have a unit optimized for one type of operation or the other - the logic of that makes sense to me.

I'm not so much worried about power, as the Music Reference RM9 SE would be 70 watts in triode - way more than enough for my Merlins, I'm thinking about whether converting an amplifier from ultralinear to triode makes much sense if the amp was not desinged for triode operation from the ground up; I just fell there must be some compromise in this apporach rather than being built and spece'd specifically for triode appplication, like my CAT JL2.

I'm 95% there Tvad. It's why I have doubts over the wisdom of what I am considering. I think your logic is impecable. It's not like Roger said, "great idea, I don't know why I didn't think of that." - Although I'm sure he was also interested in bringing something to market with more power than triode would have provided. The whole triode idea is driven by the fact that my speakers (Merlins) like to be driven by amps with very low damping and NFB, and triode operation theoretically permits use of less NFB (or none?), etc. But I do hear the logic behind what you are saying, and I'm leaving well enough alone and going with the amp as designed by Roger.

I thought that Atmasphere's point was that "switchability" is often a compromise, but not necessarily so and not always - but one should tread carefully.