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

There are two interesting 80K$ tube amps on sale at Audiogon.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9jhj0-david-berning-co-211-845-otl-tube

The first one is David Berning OTL design with output of 60 Watts.

it looks beautiful. But I had never used OTL amp yet.

I am curious how it sounds with high efficiency speaker.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa27ii-jadis-ja800-flagship-tube-amplifier-six-chassis-best-ever-made-nos-new-old-stock-tube

The second one is Jadis JA800 with 6 pieces and 400watts.

I had used JA500  (only 4 pieces with 350 Watts) from 2000 to 2002 to drive B&W Notilus 801 with utmost authority and unbelievable slam.

It was kind of lifetime experience to own this beautiful and overbearing monster.

But I could not use it during summer time in modest size room.

Thus I let it go and got Silbatone 300B SET amp to drive efficient full range speaker.

350 Watt to 8 Watt

If you have money or hit the Jackpot, which one will you go for?




128x128shkong78
naimfan
166 posts
 
FFS, flip a coin. 
mikelavigne
2,199 posts
 
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.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
@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
mikelavigne
2,199 posts
 
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.
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
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
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