@mikelavigne , I remember when that happened, but even back then the story I heard was they were only doing the transistor amp. In all that time, I've yet to hear about a Tenor OTL that was made after the 1st company went under. I suspect what you are seeing for sale are older amps that have been refurbished.
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?
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?
- ...
- 52 posts total
Ralph, http://tenoraudio.com/press/press-releases/product-press-releases/classic-soundpieces.html re-manufactured. here ya go..... http://tenoraudio.com/high-end-products/high-end-audio/350m-ultimate-reference/ the current model tube hybrid mono blocks.... |
Simple fact is Most OTL on the market are not built Like Atma-Sphere. These companies that try to work on OTL cant seem to figure out a Stable build, Atma did this decades ago. The Simple answer to OP issues is, If you want OTL Stick to Atma-Sphere and you will have Years of trouble free operation. Sorry but DartZeel is not on the same league as the Atma-Sphere Amplifiers. The Atma is a lot more transparent, faster and throws a larger sound stage and does not sound like a tube nor a solid state. Should I even mention the Atma not only has better transparency it is a lot more emotional to listen too. It draws you into the music and does not sound mechanical. DartZeel make good solid state amp but I'm sorry it cant be compared to a Atma-Sphere. |
Tenor has a bad reputation in Asia. They also gave OTL in general a bad reputation. Most buyers don’t understand their were tons of companies coming out with OTL and only to go out of business as none of them could figure out how to make a Stable OTL Design. Everytime i speak of OTL to someone, Tenor would come up into the conversation as something that used to blow up like a dynamite!!! |
- 52 posts total