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 1 response by glory

Had the Tenor 75 and Atma s30

The Tenor gave me no problems and had some work done on it  prior  to me buying them. Crazy great sound and  awesome looking but created too much heat in my Florida listening room. The equal to Atma

Atma s30 why did I sell it?? Stupid not to have gone to the m60 and just deal with the heat. Now in the market to buy a pair. Support is impeccable and reliability is off the charts great.  Bulletproof in my experience with the S 30.