Anyone own Linear Tube Audio Amps?

OP, I have not heard any LTA gear although I have read some reviews. From the reviews it sounds as if LTA is going to sound more detailed oriented and a bit less organic. A lot of audio products highlight the stuff we are used to listening for… detail and contrast between sounds. They tend to not have quite the midrange bloom…without which makes they sound less comfortable, a bit less real, and does not push your foot into tapping. ARC has the detail when you listen… it just isn’t unnaturally up front. One of the real refined qualities about ARC stuff.

So LTA stuff will sound different. You might prefer one over the other. The LTA is not going to sound bad. Over the last fifty years of putting my system together I have tried many different components. Every once in a while I would end up with another ARC component… it would stick… and I would be out of the market (this hasn’t really been a conscious process… just looking back, I see this is how it worked). Also, I personally have found long-term buying really high end equipment a great deal. I actually purchased a new Pass x350 amp, used it for 15 years and got back all but $500 in trade.

GH- Agreed in resale Pass will fare much better than LTA. Perhaps even ARC.

I think I will drop the LTA idea and either be happy with what I have

or consider the I-50 again. If I have the tube hassle I want the tube

warmth too.

LTA is tonally richer, with better flow and dimensionality than Pass. The Pass is slightly warmer, but much less musical. I’ve owned the XA25 and X350.8; heard the X260.8 monos in another setting on my speakers.
 

I’ve also owned the Ref75SE which is a great amp (though not great reliability) - but I wouldn’t call it warm either although believe it would sound great on Tannoy. If you want warm, need tube amps like Primaluna or a great EL34 amp.

generally speaking you have warm speakers already. Don’t go too far.

Got a pair of GRFs. Had the pass, moved on to the LTA UL and pre separates and haven't looked back. A glorious sounding pairing. Tannoys work very well with these amps. More bloom than the pass, and will sound a bit heavier in the bass department (not as tight). Amazing flow and foot tapping ability. Very lively sound, hard to put on as background noise with these amps. Little less pin point then the pass or other solid state gear. 

Own CODA gear for solid state now. Enjoy it more than the Pass personally. Some of the FW stuff is glorious tho, really like the F7. SIT 3 not a great pairing with tannoy imo

Huge LTA fan here and former ARC owner. LTA are David Berning designs utilizing novel technology (ZOTL) and power supplies. Simply in a different league among tube amplification. For the Tannoy’s I’d go with the UL integrated—you don’t need the power of the 40 and the UL is specifically designed for high efficiency speakers. Great products, way more reliable than ARC and very responsive folks.