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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
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@atmasphere   Ralph, thanks for the discussion on this. Helpful, educational and appreciated.

The only way I've found to get around that is to avoid that sort of topology- either go entirely single-ended and get that 2nd harmonic or go entirely fully differential and get a 3rd harmonic (although at about 1/10th the level that the 2nd shows up in a single-ended circuit). Since the ear is relatively insensitive to either other than contributing to 'warmth', 'body' and the like, this seems to be the way to go since you can't put enough feedback on a tube amp to really tame the distortion properly (or most solid state amps for that matter)- you wind up just making it brighter and harsher.

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

Ralph,

Thanks for that explanation, it makes  sense,and explains (to some extent anyway)  what/why I heard differently between my SET (class A triode 300b) and my 100 watt push pull( class A/B pentode tubed 6550) amplifiers. Some degree of 5th harmonic distortion presence.

Charles.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,942 posts
 
explains (to some extent anyway)  what/why I heard differently between my SET (class A triode 300b) and my 100 watt push pull( class A/B pentode tubed 6550) amplifiers. Some degree of 5th harmonic distortion presence.
Yes- nearly any amp along those lines will have some of that sound. But of course its more complicated than that- if the amp uses feedback, if its ultralinear or not, if its using triodes and so on. I'm not a fan of interstage transformers but if used in a fully differential topology even then you still get the 3rd harmonic without that pesky 5th showing up as much. You'd think by the application of feedback that you could erase that signature, but in almost any tube amp you simply can't put in enough feedback to pull it off (too many timing constants, especially if transformers are involved).
mglik
911 posts
 
Shkong,
I would get a pair of Avant-garde Duo Mezzos. Check out the YouTube “Garrard 301 vs Studer”. One of the best recordings on YT.
The system uses the AGs pushed by a Nagra 300B amp.
Since you already have similar silver trannys to the Kondo and a very nice 300B amp with WEs, a super efficient speaker will produce a great system able to fill any room! Don’t think you would need the subs and crossover with the AGs. Simple is always best. Not to knock the Jadis since the Jadis sound may be the ultimate PP tube beauty, but 500lbs and 6 chassis!!
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
@mglik

Thanks for your recommendation.

I had listened to many Avant-garde speakers at dealer showroom.

They have too much coloration out of horn to my taste.

I am going to get WE vintage horn system.

The problem is they cost 300k$ or so to get a good one( not replica, no recommendation of replica please, I want genuine vintage one).

I had better stop spending money on small gadgets and save money for my dream one.
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