Something to watch for

Posted by Duke (D) on August 23, 2015 at 23:33:25

In Reply to: List of speakers for OTL amps posted by plugmein on July 20, 2015 at 03:19:27:

Aside from decent efficiency and an impedance curve that doesn't dip too low, a fairly smooth impedance curve is desirable. Assuming the speakers were voiced on solid state amps (most are), be aware that an OTL amp will be a bit louder where the impedance is high, and a bit softer where the impedance is low.

This is NOT a "fault" of the OTL amp - we could point out that, relative to tube amps in general, a solid state amp is louder where the impedance curve dips, and softer where the impedance curve is high.

(If you ever read where someone tried an OTL amp and their speakers sounded worse, the culprit was a poor job of matching speakers with amp.)

Okay, on to the thing you might want to watch for: A frequency response curve that zigs where the impedance curve zags. In such a case, an OTL amp will probably result in a more natural-sounding frequency response (in addition to its other benefits).

The Silverline Audio Bolero is an example of such a speaker, note how its frequency response curve zigs (Chart 1) where its impedance curve zags (Chart 4) at the link below. Even though this speaker's impedance curve goes a bit lower than we'd like, I'd expect it to still work well with most OTL amps.

Duke

Me being a dealer makes you leery?? It gets worse... I'm a manufacturer too.

Siverline Bolero frequency response and impedance curves (Open in New Window)

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - List of speakers for OTL amps - plugmein 03:19:27 07/20/15 (28)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - used-hifi 12:30:22 11/26/15 (0)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - berni 01:53:59 10/14/15 (1)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - berni 01:16:51 10/15/15 (0)

Audiokinesis Prisma Speakers - CometCKO 16:42:37 10/13/15 (0)

Something to watch for - Duke 23:33:25 08/23/15 (1)

Thanks, Duke - Lew 07:23:59 09/29/15 (0)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - Frihed89 11:27:32 08/12/15 (0)

Reference 3A DeCapo I - kenzo 16:37:46 08/06/15 (12)

that is an effect of some recordings - Timbo in Oz 02:47:06 08/31/15 (0)

Great speakers! - Lew 06:43:19 08/07/15 (10)

RE: Great speakers! - morricab 07:30:33 08/26/15 (0)

RE: Great speakers! - kenzo 16:05:28 08/16/15 (8)

RE: Great speakers! - Lew 08:20:26 08/18/15 (7)

RE: Great speakers! - morricab 07:33:54 08/26/15 (3)

Crossover in Acoustats - Lew 11:23:34 08/26/15 (2)

RE: Crossover in Acoustats - morricab 05:46:00 09/07/15 (1)

"High voltage crossover"? - Lew 21:12:37 09/08/15 (0)

RE: Great speakers! - airheadair 09:57:42 08/18/15 (2)

RE: Great speakers! - morricab 07:40:22 08/26/15 (1)

RE: Great speakers! - airheadair 22:24:57 08/27/15 (0)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - rhinohifi714 16:00:28 08/02/15 (1)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - airheadair 22:19:18 08/03/15 (0)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - sk 09:31:11 08/02/15 (0)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - Crazy Dave 15:24:43 07/20/15 (0)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - 6bq5 10:16:14 07/20/15 (1)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - collinslaw@fuse.net 10:44:49 07/20/15 (0)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - Ralph 09:36:00 07/20/15 (1)

RE: List of speakers for OTL amps - Lew 17:43:34 07/20/15 (0)

Follow Ups

Something to watch for - Duke 23:33:25 08/23/15 (1)

Thanks, Duke - Lew 07:23:59 09/29/15 (0)

Something to watch for

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