Which one to choose between two 80K$ tube amps?

Ill buy both then A/B them and sell the loser.DREAM ON!!!Get the Jadis 845SE from the Skyfi turkey its only 25k a bargain to be sure.

@petg60

i’m not suggesting you don’t have a right to express your opinion. but then others can disagree, or express feelings that you are simply dismissing a product based on your view on the legitimacy to spend the dollars on hifi. not on the merits of the product, or that you think there are better hifi products for the money.

you don’t go on a Porsche forum, or Alfa forum, and dismiss those products simply because they are expensive. you would not consider that.

why do it here?

i’m just a guy with an opinion like you.

I know were not paying for the parts in the box, but is there even $10K worth of stuff in them?

tablejockey, I don't know about the OTL, but there is $10k worth of shipping in the Jadis!

Hmmm....

I know were not paying for the parts in the box, but is there even $10K worth of stuff in them?

Will they sound okay with the supplied power cords and fuses?

I haven't checked my Powerball numbers yet.

Hi,
None, if i had this money i would buy an AR Giulia QV.

in 10 years (or 2) the Alfa will be on jack stands waiting for parts. the amps will still be playing.

expensive/exceptional amplifiers are not a priority for all. it’s why we have automobile forums too.....where no one is whineing about how their Vega or Corrolla is ’good enough’ compared to their Porsche.

being in the car business my whole life i do appreciate that. i did own a 16’ 911 CS2 for a couple of years. but a trophy car, driven 15 days a year, was much less enjoyable than my audio system which i listen to 30 hours a week (4-5 hours a day).

you can and do 'live' with your hifi--music as much as you like. and it can be a constant companion. what hobby can be like that and life long too? 

+1 oem-wheels! The only sane poster here on this thread! 

@shkong78

You're best off choosing the most transparent amp you can afford -- otherwise you're not benefiting from that plasma tweeter.

In my listening room, 48 Watts SET is enough to drive my Lansche speaker ( oficial eff 99db/w, but I guess 95db/w)

Interesting. The Lansche I heard (a 3-way with 3 front firing drivers) began to sing only after we connected +60W class A (SS) to it. If you're getting away with a 45W tube, I'd say stick with it! 

Otherwise, you need to search for amps that give you both power and transparency, i.e a major investment in money & time; at this level, we can offer only "possibilities" IMO.

To return to your original choices, I haven't heard the big Berning; the big Jadis, however, are not it (outstanding though they may be). Regards

@fuzztone

@ lancelock
I consider getting Zotl Z10e reference 10-watt electrostatic headphone amp for my Stax 009s headphone next year.

There are a pair of very handsome Audio Research ref amps on that vendors site for 1/3 the cost and they look very nice as well.   

crazy.. $80k for an amp ?? its cool that you have the money to spend but dang, you got to feel like you're being ripped off.. pop the top off the amp and take a good look at what's in side.. there's probably no more than $3k in parts (and that's being generous).. I believe marketing tricks people into thinking that's ok.. would you feel ok if you walked into a McDonalds and the billed you $200 for a big mac and they rung the guy next to you for $6 ?  are you going to argue yours has the organic thousand island sauce ? maybe you could but I bet you they taste 98% the same.. is those amps you speak of here that much better than a Luxman 900u @ $15k ? anyway ...  I have a can of soda, outer been sterilized, and comes with a straw.. $250.. PM me

@fuzztone,

I agree the ZOTL40 is spectacular. If you can’t afford 211/845 and I can’t, then the ZOTL40 is the next best thing. If you want more power then get two of them as mono blocks.

If you are trying to make a decision like that, you should buy both pair and sell the one you like least

ZOTL40 Reference Amplifier

I own Jadis amps....BUT I would NEVER own the larger models! The 500 or worse, the 800, are going to be heat engines...and work great if you need a space heater and live in a very cold climate! Otherwise, why bother with that kind of heat generation???

I also happen to believe if you own a speaker that requires hundreds of watts to drive...you own the wrong speaker and have not considered the all important amp/speaker synergy. Best to dump the speaker and get a more easily driven model.

In my listening room, 48 Watts SET is enough to drive my Lansche speaker ( oficial eff 99db/w, but I guess 95db/w).

But I have to save money to afford 80K$ tube amps.

I had spent 30k$ yearly on audio components during last 3 years.

That means I had better not spend any more money for next 2 years

Berning without a doubt. I’ve heard the 211/845 and it doesn’t get any better. They are also very powerful for a 60 watt rating.

Wow, 80K amps!
 That’s awesome!

 Will never have this coin to drop on audio, if I did I would call,Rob Carver personally.
 He will come to your house, and shoot the shi* w you and help set them up, sign them, and have a beer and hang w you for the night.

i would be on the phone immediately for: https://www.bobcarvercorp.com/silver-seven

if.....and this is a big IF.....your speakers and room can work with 60 OTL watts (not all tube watts are created equal)......then the Berning 211/845 is the real deal and one of the most transparent tube amps i’ve heard. it’s has top to bottom linearity rare in a tube amp.



i highly recommend it. it is on my short list of favorite tube amps. and Rick Brown is a good guy.

@mikelavigne

Thanks Mike for your detailed opinion.

After having lived with JA500 for 2 years, i may not go back to it due to too much heat out of it.

But I would like to have a chance to audition David Berning OTL some day.

Thomas

completely depends on the speaker and room size. those amps are like apples and oranges. they are doing different things.

i had that specific ZOTL Berning 211/845 set of amps in my room over a weekend (Rick Brown, the guy with that ad, brought them) a few years back and did really like it. but not without reservations. my speakers are 97db, 7 ohm, so an easy load. but my room is very large and the amp i was comparing it to is my darTZeel 458 mono blocks. my dart monos command my large room with authority in a way the 60 watt Berning simply cannot, and also play in the same refinement realm as the Berning. so if i want ’everything’ then the Berning is not the ideal choice for me. OTOH my darts are twice the cost of the Berning.

i’ve heard the big JA800’s and they are big and bold, but are not in the same transparency league as the Berning. but they will command a large room with authority.

so horses for courses. both are true to their design intentions.

i’ll take my big darts over either for myself. i also would tend toward an OTL tube amp type sound over a big push pull like the Jadis. but OTL’s have limits.

FFS, flip a coin. 

OTL. Not even close.