2. Superiority is a given or an absolute
This is correct.
IMO/IME the OP question is a bit too broad. Some OTLs sound more like SETs (like ours, due to no feedback and otherwise masked higher ordered distortion content); some sound more like traditional PP tube amps (due to feedback, combined single-ended and PP circuitry, and the use of pentode output tubes).
All these things make and enormous difference in an OTL because there's no transformer to hide what's going on.
On the SET side, you have traditional SETs, parafeed, Loftin-White circuits; Jack Elliano developed a class A3 output system (which he patented; it seems that Western Electric is using his system) and believe it or not some SETs employ feedback. They all sound different, and they also all sound different depending on whether you have a type 45 output (arguably the ’best’ since they have the widest bandwidth although they are not the best in that they have almost no power), 2A3, 300b, 211 and so on, and whether there are paralleled output tubes and of course how well or poorly the output transformer is designed.
Its also important that if you are doing a comparison, that both amps be comfortable on the loudspeaker chosen for such a comparison. Smaller OTLs need higher impedance speakers, but if you want the best out of any SET, higher impedance (16 ohms) works out well in their favor as well! I think
@pani did a good comparison between his amp and the Tenor on this latter account. But while the Tenor used many of the concepts we pioneered (fully differential voltage amplifier, Circlotron output stage) it was a *very* different sounding amp from our stuff.
So I agree you can’t make blanket statements, but IMO/IME you can indeed make very specific statements! For example I’d put up our S-30 against any of the more expensive Audio Note amps out of Japan and as long as both amps were comfortable with the speaker load, expect the S-30 to be better in every way that can be described. But there are some speakers that the Audio Note amps can drive that the S-30 cannot (to be specific: 4 ohms) and in those comparisons the S-30 would fall flat on its face. So I imagine that its important to pay attention to what the designer of the amp had in mind when it comes to loudspeakers.
IMO/IME the distortion signature of any amp is far more important than what kind of amp it is. If the amp has, as its primary distortion product, enough of the lower harmonics to mask the presence of the higher ordered harmonics, you’ll get that organic musical sound that so many SET users crave and it won’t matter if the amp is SET, OTL, solid state or class D.
