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Which one to choose between two 80K$ tube amps?

There are two interesting 80K$ tube amps on sale at Audiogon.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9jhj0-david-berning-co-211-845-otl-tube

The first one is David Berning OTL design with output of 60 Watts.

it looks beautiful. But I had never used OTL amp yet.

I am curious how it sounds with high efficiency speaker.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa27ii-jadis-ja800-flagship-tube-amplifier-six-chassis-best-ever-made-nos-new-old-stock-tube

The second one is Jadis JA800 with 6 pieces and 400watts.

I had used JA500  (only 4 pieces with 350 Watts) from 2000 to 2002 to drive B&W Notilus 801 with utmost authority and unbelievable slam.

It was kind of lifetime experience to own this beautiful and overbearing monster.

But I could not use it during summer time in modest size room.

Thus I let it go and got Silbatone 300B SET amp to drive efficient full range speaker.

350 Watt to 8 Watt

If you have money or hit the Jackpot, which one will you go for?




shkong78
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,490 posts
 
Charles

Line Magnetic 508 or 805 is quite good with more headroom than most SET.

It also has better control of bass than 100 Watts Rogue Cronus Magnum II fitted with KT120 tubes.

Since ii use, 805, 300b, 6sn7 and 6sl7, it is a dream machine for tube rolling.

If you have Line Magnetic dealer around you, you may ask for home audition of LM805.

Thomas
mapman's avatar
mapman
23,606 posts
 
There seem to be a lot of line magnetic units on the used market these days and rumors of counterfeiting right on the vendor’s website so be careful there.
nquery
104 posts
 
It also has better control of bass than 100 Watts Rogue Cronus Magnum II fitted with KT120 tubes.

I also own a LM805ia and agree that it’s bass control is really impressive. And this is even on the minimal NFB (negative feeback) setting. As mentioned, with a bit of tube rolling it is really hard to find anything wrong with the sound. Just glorious.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,490 posts
 
@nquery



I agree with you that LM 805 or 508 sounds glorious after tube rollinng.

It is kind of hidden gem.

But the choice of any audio components will depend on synergy with amp and personal taste.

Thus it is best to audition it at your home before decision of purchase.
seldenr
60 posts
 

Sorry to be so late to this thread, but I have owned several SET amps (and love them), and was smitten by the Robert Harley review of the Berning 211/845 monoblocks that I bought a pair.  Dang if they didn't just smoke my previous favorite amp (SET), not to mention the 4 other amplifiers in house.  I play them through a pair of Avantgarde Duo XD speakers, and the Berning monos have all the things I've come to love about SETs:  Crazy good dynamics, the timbre that says the artists are in the room, just right warmth, majesty when needed (Mahler) and intimacy when needed (piano trios).  They simply sound live.  Well, the Berning was the first amp to give me that plus have more power and an effortless-ness missed by the SETs in big passages, and WAY better than any solid state amp I've used, despite their power.  Anyway, there is a used pair out there for sale, FYI.

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