Anyone own Linear Tube Audio Amps?

I have the MZ pre, ZOTL40 and use Janszen zA2.1 hybrid electrostats. This is the ultimate in synergy and yes the ZOTL40 can power electrostats to glorious levels.

nick is a really good guy, isn’t stupid, he of course would not focus on the main weakness of the lta vs the pass - bass depth slam and control 😂

that said, as one would expect in this high level of gear, we choose what we choose because we prefer one set of tradeoffs and attributes offered by one item, vs that of another

m series sapphire line of speakers need serious damping factor to sound their best, though the bass response is its towering strength as a speaker for sure, so even if not particularly well driven, its bass will impress many that come from more standard speakers with little woofers in boxes... but let’s be real... m series with their 2x 12 or 15 in woofers per side, doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see amp damping factor is going to be critical to success

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.