Thought on OTL tube amps

Hi Athmaspere.

"Negative feedback cannot be used to control speakers. It can only be used to control amplifiers. The idea that it helps with speaker control is part of the myth of damping factor, a subject that has its own thread on this forum right now. "

Dumping factor is a "myth", I agree with you 100%.

I also agree with you that more accurate describtion of Jud Barber use of negative feedback in his OTL amps leads to control amplifier for....for......for...better sound coming from ... from...speakers. So lets not play with words ( it is not presentation of peer-review technical paper here)

If you do not use negative feedback then its great for you, however, in my eyes its not the virtue either. I will propose that for every technology used in amplifier design there is its own advantages and its own disadvantages. Otherwise we all would use one "perfect" design. Solid state amps have class A, AB,C, D etc. Tube amplifiers have traditional push-pull, OTL, SET etc.

I firmly believe that its not "what" technology you use is important but "how" you use it and sonic results are that count at the end. Obviously, each technology has some advantages specific to it e.g. low weight per watt of power in class D - but by itself its totally useless

Finally, regarding gorgeous OTL amplifiers (and I am lover of them!!!!) I can only repeat you conclusion:

" In the end, this means that there are dozens of speakers that work with our (OTL) amps rather than hundreds." - Sure and when it works its spectacular !!!

In our approach (i.e. control theory, which I believe unique in this industry), we are trying to match not only hundreds but every speakers available to produce musically involving sound comparable to the sound of acustic music.

Sounds like the Spectron approach would lead to broadbase good and the Atma-sphere to a narrower range of as good as it gets - certainly a market for both approaches. With my speakers its the OTLs I would go with, with Thiels or B&W, perhaps the Spectron approach would make more sense.

Hello Jwm,

I just wanted to let you know you're not alone in your thoughts. At least with regards to the brand I heard driving my speaker. Although it does have some wonderful audiophile traits overall the faults I hear ruin the illusion for me.

best,
Tom

I must admit I am a little confused here. Two posters have said OTL amps are thin sounding?

Goodness my experiece could not be more opposite. On my Soundlab speakers they have more body then two other great SS amps I have heard on them.Amps that had good body, but the Atma's had more!

I also used an OTL amp on a set of Silverline Bolero speakers and again the sound was rich and full of texture and bloom. My experience with OTL amps seems to be very different indeed.

Granntring, that is how I hear it. We must own one of the several dozens.