What is the best OTL out there?


Hello. I've always been curious about OTL amplifiers, but never tried one except for the very unusual (and wonderful) Berning Siegfried, which was both SET and OTL. I wonder if there is an agreement as to which OTL currently in production can be considered to be the best. Ciao.
ggavetti

Showing 7 responses by charles1dad

Hello Analogluvr,
I’ve heard the Atma-sphere M 60 and also the MA-1 mono blocks and can appreciate your happiness. I’ve had the Coincident Frankenstein MK II SET for 9 years and remain an ecstatic owner. It’s terrific to find audio products that truly satisfy.
Charles
Hi 
analoluvr  admittedly with all things considered I do generally prefer tube  amplification rather than  solid state.   In all candor however I have heard very good sounding solid-state products so I won't throw them all out with the bathwater 😊.   Good  implementation of tubes sounds more natural to me  more often than not. Just a personal observation over the years.  I do acknowledge that solid-state dominates the audio market. 
 Charles 
 
Atmasphere's point that "all" amplifier types make less distortion when driving higher impedance speaker loads is an audio pearl that is  unrecognized and under appreciated by many listeners. I understand this dilemma given the dominance of 4 ohm speakers in the current High End audio marketplace. Transistor power amplifiers  made these lower impedance speakers quite viable.
Charles 
Tubegroover,
Nice observation/comments. I agree with your perspective.
Charles,
Hi Al,
Thanks very much for your illuminating comments.  Well it sure seems that the Berning is an OTL amplif only in the sense that it lacks the "traditional "output transformer. Given information you provided calling it an OTL design is a generous stretch. I can see why Ralph would express reservations. 
Charles, 
Al,
Intelligent and logical inquiry as usual. Xonex77 could you share more detail about your very unique OTL amplifiers using these unusual (for this application )tubes. This is quite interesting. David Berning makes a 300b SET /OTL amplifier  (Siegfried) to my understanding.
Charles,
Hi David,
Based on word of mouth and reputation I’m sure that Berning amplifier you cite sounds terrific. Sometimes you reach a point where you’re just content with what you have. That’s where I happen to be at this time. 😊😊
Charles,