SET vs OTL


Could someone tell me the difference between a single-ended triode amp and an output transformerless amp?

Is it true that despite its operational inconveniences, a good OTL (eg Tenor Audio) will always sound more "natural" than a good SET (eg a Cary 300SE)?

Thanks
aarif
Paul & Larry,

Thanks for the input.

Marty

PS Paul, I have a different view of crossing subwoofers, but I'm really interested in trying a 45 SET full range, anyway. I'll explore the Audionote further.
Said I owned over 35 SET amps 6 of them-45 SET, 4-OTL. Not that I'm 35. Would happily trade to be 35 again. I will leave this thread nothing worth while here. All I do is design hi-eff loudspeakers mostly for small power amps like SET what the heck would I know about driving loudspeakers with small power or 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.
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.