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how is the Transcendent 1,5 se otl
compere to a "regular" opt tube amp like a 45 triode with 1,5 watt
what are the pro's and con's?
i read on the website that the se otl sounds like a ss amp
?????
the speakers that i use are the Oris fronthorns
with seperate bass cabinets and own ss amp
regards Robert
Follow Ups:
Hi Robert,I own the Transcendent SE-OTL, the T16, and a completely upgraded (parts, not circuit) Sun 2A3. I also own Lowther DX3 speakers mounted in specially made (by Doc Lowther himself) Medallion II cabinets. I have extensively listened to all the amps and am very familiar with each amp's sound. The SE-OTL is very neutral sounding, almost to a fault. It might be accused of sounding somewhat like an SS amp for that reason, but still retains all the smooth grain-free liquidity of a tube design. It is very extended at both ends, and very detailed. Dimensionality and soundstaging is very good but not the best i have heard. Compared to the T16, the soundstage and images tend to bunch together between the speakers, providing a little more "intimacy" but less expansive soundfield. The fact that there really are no vendors (other than Sovtek) for the 6C19P and 6H30 tubes used in the Se-OTL, means that you really can't tailor the sound with tube-rolling. Compared to the T16, the latter is much more expansive in its soundstage - well beyond the outer edges of my speakers. Because the input/driver tubes in that amp consist of 12ax7, 12au7, and 12at7, you can play with tubes and in fact currently my T16 has some of the warmth lacking in the SE-OTL. Both amps are very fast and detailed, with fantastic bass - as you would expect from good OTL design. The problem is, I keep returning to my 2A3 amp. Yes, the 2A3 amp is not quite as detailed and a little softer/looser in the bass, but the organic nature of sound, the immediacy and physical tangibility of intruments, the naturalness and emotion simply can't be beat. I have rotated all these amps in/out of my system at least 50 times and while each has some virtues the others don't posses, I keep returning to the 2A3 because I literally relax into the music and forget about stereo-stuff while listening. Bruce's components are designed to be very nuetral and largely sound similar ( I also own the Grounded grid preamp and can equally say that this is a very neutral component). The problem with the SE-OTL is that because of its ruthless neutrality, it might not be the best match for Lowthers (others have disagreed, so this is just my opinion), whose inherent frequency nonlinearities may be exacerbated by the neutral presentation, yet because of the 1.5W output of the SE-OTL, this is exactly the kind of speaker you would generally use it with. A bit of a catch-22. In any event, I would certainly recommend trying the SE-OTL and see if it's to your liking. It is a very good amp, just neutral to the extreme. It has a low-enough cost, that buying and trying is not a big deal. I usually own 4-5 amps at any given point in time, and there is really no reason you can't own both the SE-OTL and keep your "classic" SET amps. You too may find yourself rotating them. To answer the other gentlemen's question in this thread - the SE-OTL has 9db gain and I have successfully used it with a passive volume control with my Lowthers. However, really loud volume will require the volume control to be almost all the way up (0db attentuation). It may JUST be on the cusp of insufficient gain used in a passive setup for really loud playing. Hope all this helps.
-Alex
nt
hello Alex
thanks a lot for the very good description of the different amps!
i think i have the point
but on the other hand if i like to hear the se otl
i was a happy owner of lowthers dx3 and 4 for years and i now they are very sensitive for different equipment, amps etc.
they have a shout and must be treated carefully
now i use AER bd3 units in my fronthorns and the shout is gone
amps are more easy to fit
maby i will buy a second hand se otl in the future
what is with yours :-)
regards Robert
I have Lowther Pm2A's in Medallion cabinets. My last amp was the Korneff 45. This is a wonderful sounding amp. I built the Transcendent SE-OTL and it is the best amp I have ever heard. It is more dynamic, more transparent, better base and an incredibly beautiful mid-range and extended top end. I have had this amp for about 5 months now and I cannot stop listening to it. It sounds nothing like a solid state amp. It should be wonderful with Oris Speakers.
Alan
I could not compared SE OTL to my former Wright 3.5. monos, but I sold the latter and would never do that with the former. No, I don't think at all that it sounds like SS, but neither like a (bad) tube amp (i.e. muddy or too warm). To my ears it's a very musical amp which sounds very unforced and natural (and does not lack at frequency extremes!). You don't really think anymore about the amp you are using, but about the music you are listening to. I guess some people might find the amp a bit 'polite', but to my ears it comes quite close to listening to music in a concert hall (where you are not sitting next to a violin, trumpet etc.). Granted, the SE OTL is not my only amp, but if I was forced to choose (or was really considering my budget), I'd be more than happy with Bruce's amp (plus his GG preamp). I should add that I am using sub-supported and slightly modded Khorns as speakers.
hello Wolfram and alan
thanks for the replay
i use now a 45 or 2a3 both amps are diy
the 2a3 is nice
and the 45 is very nice
especialy in 3d image i mean dept and wide imaging
bus lacks a little in high freq. and low end
the 2a3 has more low req.
and de 45 a little more high
but the imaging is very nice ,i like that
how is this with the se otl?
regards Robert
Hi Robert,no shortage of three-dimensionality with the SE OTL, soundstage is wide and deep. Within the next few weeks I should be getting a pair of DRD45 amps and I am already looking forward to a comparison. I don't expect anything 'better', though....just a different flavour.
With the Lowthers, does this amp need a pre-amp or does it have enough gain to be happy with a (passive) transformer volume control.
Cheers
I have never tried a passive in my system but judging by volume settings with my pre-amp I suspect there is plenty of gain to be able to use a passive.
Alan
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