OTL amps with Wilson Watt/Puppy 6s

Hi Will,

Thanks for your note, I think your curiousity about the Berning products is absolutely valid in regards to how it compares sonically to other OTL amplifers on the market. Aside from the information I have read in various articles and columns I have not yet had the opportunity to listen to another OTL amplifer. Very soon however, a friend of mine and myself are going to Chicago to listen to the Atmasphere MA 1 Mk11's on a pair of Soundlab U1's and we are taking along 2 Bernings with the channels strapped for comparison. I think this should prove interesting and make for an excellent comparison of two different designers out to achieve what they believe is possibly the best sound attainable from audio amplification today. It should be a very intrigueing adventure :)

Chris

Chris I certainly look forward to your impressions. The Transcendent OTL amp has been a revelation in my system. It outperforms, by a significant margin, every tube and solid state amp I've listened to of late including the Rogue m-120's and Pass amps which are highly regarded in this price range. It is an incredible value at 2.1K and the performance is so good that it could encourage one to look for a speaker system to match with its limitations.

I am considering the Joule VZN 80 for my Merlin VSMs (the choice of Bobby P) and would certainly love to hear the Berning. I could use a bit more power at times in my room. One thing is for certain, after having an OTL in the system there is no going back!

Chris, please keep us informed. I would love to hear your comments on this comparison. Thanks much.

I agree with you completely Will about sticking with the OTL sound once you have heard one with the right gear. I have never felt so strongly about any other amplifier I've owned or heard thus far as I feel about the ZH270. I'll bet the Joule's with the Merlins would be great indeed, I would like to hear that combo sometime.
I will report about our experiences in Chicago with the OTL's as soon as we return. It should be an audio day to remember, this is certain :)

Chris

I used to have 5.1's. Like I said, they dip to almost a short circuit in the critical midrange, and are VERY resistive in the bass. I've never understood why speaker designers do this kind of stuff. I played with OTLs before, but have moved on to low powered SETs and horns. I find DHT's to have much lower inherent distortion than any other amplification device ever made. Other designs get good measurements with negative feedback. Same goes for horns for speakers. I used to laugh at 'em, now I love 'em (with triodes).