OTL amps

I have Transcendent Sound Stereo OTL driving my Merlin VSM-Millennium and love the combination. The Transcendent monos (80 watts/side) can drive down to 4 ohms successfully. I prefer them over Atma-sphere as they don't run as hot and are more dynamic. As far as price goes, they are reasonable as they are sold factory direct (www.transcendentsound.com) with a two-week trial period.

Dkuipers, you and I are certainly on the same page...I have the Kharma's with the L-1 amd ML-1 combo and it is amazing. I also use a Komuro 35watt set with the Kharma's and it is the equal to the Lamm's (better at some things not as good at others) Merle, I don't think any of the reasonably powered OTL's would have a hard time driving the relatively benign Kharma load. As always try and audition before you buy (I agree with the above posts that the Transcendent and Joule's are very nice I would also add the Graff OTL to this audition list).

I'm using Atma-Sphere M60 II monoblocks with Quad ESL 63's, and need only half the output tubes in a medium-size room. Sound is much improved over a Pass Aleph 3, not too shabby itself. For info on your speakers, why not contact the Atma-Sphere designer: ralph@atma-sphere.com? I've found him very accessible and helpful. You can allow for some bias, but I'm sure he can be trusted on whether your speakers and his amps make a good match.

Merle - Just in case you do have an opportunity to demo (which probably can be arranged through Jed Barber of Joule, if there is no dealer in your area), let me add that from the other posts, the Joule OTLs may indeed be a possibility for use with your Kharma speakers. I use them with Merlin VSM-SEs, the speakers Joule Electra is most often associated with, and the nominal impedance of the Merlins is 6.8 ohms. If your Kharma speakers are basically 6 ohms and fairly stable (i.e., don't drop way down at some point in the frequency spectrum), the Joules will work fine. All the amps mentioned have great reputations. However, if you are curious about OTLs, you should try to give them a listen. Their magic is not at all limited to the mid-range. On the other hand what I hear and love about my OTLs may or may not strike your fancy as much. At the level of all the amps being commented upon, "taste" probably counts more than anything.

Oahuan I too have the Merlin VSM-SE soon to be upgraded to Millenium. Have you heard other OTL besides the Joule with your Merlin's? What is the sonic characteristic in the upper and lower band with the Joules? I have heard the Trancendents work superbly in the bass with Merlins.