SET vs OTL

Paul,

The pushpull 45 amps were built by a Russian guy named Pavel and were sold through a Washington, D.C. area dealership (Deja Vu Audio). These amps used Acrosound TO-330 output transformers (the feedback taps not employed, obviously). The wiring was all point-to-point. In fact, Pavel laid out the amps so exquisitely well that there was almost no wire used in the amp (lead-to-lead connections).

I have one of these amps, though mine uses solid state rectification (most of Pavel's amps employed tube rectification). Some versions used big Chicago brand transformers.

I like the sound of these amps very much. But, my current amps (Audionote Kagekis) are, better to me (at a HUGE price premium).

Deja Vu Audio is an interesting store. They will run almost any speaker with low-powered tube amps which "conventional wisdom" says are way too underpowered. The store sells Quad speakers, and even the 2805 is connected to a fairly small tube amp. The one solid state piece in the store is a Halo JC-1 amp. I asked about it and was told that it is used purely for comparison -- Vu, the proprietor, wanted a decent, high-powered solid state amp for a reasonably fair showdown.

I know someone who says those PP DevaVu 45s are the best amps ever made.

Paulfolbrecht,

I have one of those Pavel designed Deja Vu PP 45 amps (it also can run 2A3's) built around two big Chicago circa 1950 output transformers and it is indeed one of the best if not the best amps ever made. And it can drive some pretty inefficient (89db) speakers such as Spendor SP 100s, DQ 10s, Soliloquy 5.3s Quad ESL 63 to name a few. I use vintage RCA and Cunningham 45s and RCA biplate 2A3's which gave me the best results although I also have used Sophia mesh plates, KR, Sovtek, and VAIC 2a3's.The amp uses 6sn7 input tubes.

Everyone says they have the best. In the English language, the meaning of the word requires that there can be only one. All the others are then 'better' but not 'best'.

This has been argued a lot elsewhere on this site. Any consensus on the idea of 'best in my experience'?? instead of merely 'best'?

Ralph,
Why let appropriate linguistic usage get in the way of a good hyperbole? Well... in other people's cases it's hyperbole. In mine, it's just plain fact (if only I could figure out which ones).