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I am curious....

Is there a specific technical reason why a non-OTL class A circlotron (with low Rp tubes like 6AS7) should sound any better than a more conventional class A push pull amplifier that uses the very same output tubes and driver circuit?

I completely agree with you that ALL commercial OTL tube amplifiers operate in class A/B - no question about this.

And if I were not a DIY I would certainly push hard the magic triplet of arguments 'class A-OTL-circlotron" (maybe with some flavour of no feedback) for selling my supposed brand new products.

Unfortunately, a practical 'class A-OTL-circlotron' (tube) amplifier would require special high current/low Rp output tubes that have never been invented (and never put into production).

So I suppose that, knowing the above, if I were a manufacturer willing to push the circlotron argument, a manufacturer who knows that another manufacturer has already used two 'OTL-circlotron' (if not 'class A-OTL-circlotron') magic arguments, my only choice would be to push the 'class A-circlotron' remaining arguments.

But in doing so, then there should be some other technical argument to support the hypothesis that 'class A-circlotron' is better than conventional class A push pull.

Otherwise any manufacturer of class A conventional push pull amplifiers could easily argue that 'class A-circlotron' (as well as OTL-circlotron) is nothing special at all.

Based on my past DIY experience, IMHO class A (PP) and class A/B OTL perform almost the same.

However, I personally prefer a class A/B OTL in case the higher output power of class A (PP) is not really necessary.

Best Regards
Luca













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  • I am curious.... - 6AS7_6SN7 12:41:20 09/04/11 (1)
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