What new tube amplifiers are good for Thiel CS7

Dear Audpulse: Are you really recommending an OTL amplifier design for those Thiel's?, if yes then IMHO you have no single idea of what means matching speaker electrical impedance curve with an amplifier output impedance and obviously you don't have idea why that speaker/amplifier impedance matching is a must to have.

On this subject tube OTL amplifier design is the worst of the worst choice for those speakers, please read about Ohm Law before give that kind of advise.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Raul,are you familiar with the Berning 220 watts otl ? I do not need to read Ohms Law. The same kind of expression you showed is what others have showed when I mention the Berning otl. Go read the design specs. on the otl. This otl is not like the conventional otl you see out there. After that, seek out the amp and have a listen. There is no speaker out there that this otl will not drive with ease.

Dear Audpulse: David Berning is a designer from what I have great respect, IMHO he and Ralph ( Atmasphere ) are the ones that really bring the tube technology to a different league understanding the tube technology " problems " and though their designs solving many of those " problems ".

Even that and as good are the Berning items the trouble with the Thiel 7's is its electrical impedance curve that needs a very low amplifier output impedance to handle " seamless " in favor of quality performance.

These are the output impedance specs on the today top of the line amplifier Quadrature ZH270 that for a tube and OTL design is really good ( btw, Ralph use the OTL " road " on amplifiers. ):

" Typical output impedance (measured at 1 amp, 60 Hz): 0.8 ohms, NORM feedback; 2 ohms, MED feedback; 5 ohms, LOW feedback. "

IMHO it is not enough, those impedance values are higher that what Thiel's are asking for.
Maybe you could think that 0.8 ohms is a good one but even this does not made a good match and in this amplifier design you " pay " a fee because for you can get 0.8 ohm the feedback goes at 12db in that top of the line amplifier.
I'm still tink that you need for those speakers at least: 0.1 ohm in amplifier output impedance.

Now, you can choose whatever you want and this depend of what you are looking for, I almost look for excellence and this kind of level always needs a very carefully decisions on audio items.

Regards and enjoy the music,
raul.

Raul once again I hear you and respect the points you are making. Most amp designers cheat on their specs. If I mention a very well respected German SS amp,you will agree with me that it is a match for the speaker. Please do not ask me to mention that German SS amp. But 3 years ago at RMAF, there was a small demo between the SS amp and the Berning otl with a very difficult German speaker. Everybody at the demo were shocked how the otl easily handle the speaker better than the SS.
Today the one SS that I have respect for is the KARAN but unfortunately it is not very popular in this country. Forget the paper specs. on the Berning but go have a listen please and you will rethink. Understand that the Berning is not a true pure otl like the Atmasphere. It is otl on stereoids. Sometimes in audio,we have to look seriously at designers that think outside of the envelope. To me the Berning otl and I mean the 220 watts is like no otl today e.g it does not get crazily hot like others and the tubes will last five times if not more than other otl tubes.
We can argue all we want but please do yourself a favor and listen to the amp.
Just to let you know you are my mentor on the topic "Who Needs A MC When There Is MM". You are the reason why my knowledge of cartridges have improved to date.
Thanks for that.

Dear Audpulse: Last time I heard a Berning amp was mated with MBL speakers and sounds good. I don't want that you could have a misunderstood on my opinion.
If it is true that a tube amplifier ( like the Berning. ) could make that those Thiels makes " sound " that does not means IMHO that a tube amplifier is a better match that a good SS design.

For me it is not enough that " something " sounds good it is important that sounds good and be accurate. I don't know if you understand what I mean but I can't explain in other way due to my English limitations.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.