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What's your OTL tube amp experience and suggestion?

Are OTL amps in general much less reliable due to their nature, or due to the implementation quality, or both?

Perhaps this has been discussed a zillion times in the past.   Perhaps, however, makers have now improve on past experience?  So it could be worth re-visiting.

My past encounters with OTL tube amps are among the most negative: Wonderful (but never great) sound during the brief period that they work.  Otherwise, major fire hazard.  Overheating, red hot plates, sparks, consistently toasted fuses, burning smell, you name it.  My past OTL amps are like crying babies on an changing table - don't you ever walk away from an arm's distance.   The used market seem to reflect such as well --- way more 'as-is for parts' or 'totally refurbished' units than reliable 'used' units that rarely need service.

Beg your pardon if it's just my poor judgement that keep getting the lemons.   What's your experience, and tips to keep OTL amps up and running happily?


bsimpson

Showing 2 responses by ct0517

ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
What's your experience, and tips to keep OTL amps up and running happily?


If you are running higher wattage OTL amps (I ran 225 wpc) monoblocks. Try to make sure they are not placed in the same room/space as the house Thermostat; especially during winter, and especially if the room your wife frequents happens to be on the other side of the house.

Heat was a real issue. I don't recall a single multiple hour listening session where I was not shedding layers.  

ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 

Atmasphere
See pics 20 and 25 on my virtual system for the otl's.
Unfortunately AudioGon does allow me to link the pics.
so
If I put a cooking rack an inch above the amps.
The Krell FPB600 will keep an X-large Pizza toasty ready to eat.
The previous OTL's would have cooked it for me as well.  

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