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In Reply to: Tenor Audio posted by Rushton on February 1, 2005 at 17:43:02:
I found it interesting, Lew, that in talking with Ralph that he says the Tenor is based on a circuit Atma-Sphere explored at one time and then moved away from because Ralph never could overcome a coloration in that circuit. He says he hears it every time he hears that amp. You may also recall an interesting thread (was it on ASOG?) some time back in which a listening session after a show (CES?) was described. Chesky was using the Tenor 75s to show a new speaker they were introducing. Ralph invited them to compare to an M-60 after hours. As I recall the thread, it was said that Chesky ended up preferring the M-60 as more neutral and decided to show with it the following year. Dunno if the subesequent show ever occurred.
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Follow Ups:
I was not aware of the incident you mention, but I once queried Ralph about the Tenor, and he only noted that the circuit was adapted from one that had been published in the audiophile press back in the early 90s. He told me no more than that. While I have to respect the reviews of "gifted listeners", like Jonathan Valin, I have been skeptical re the Tenor, because it uses a 12AX7 input tube. Now I know that sounds like the highest form of snobbery and short-sightedness, but I just don't see how a 12AX7 can compete with a 6SN7, or any other of the best medium-mu triodes, as an input tube. And after all, most of the "flavor" of the amp comes from the initial voltage amplifier at the input. OTOH, I am told that the Tenor amp uses regulated hi-voltage supplies and that this may account for its ability to compete with Atma-sphere designs, which traditionally used unregulated supplies. But then in recent upgrades, Atma is now using regulated voltages on its HV supply, too, using the same one-chip regulator that Tenor uses. In fairness, I would have to hear the amplifier before I criticize it. So, I'm withholding judgment. One thing: the cost makes an MA2 look positively sensible, on a dollars per Watt basis.
If I'm recalling this correctly, the circuit that was published in the magazine was actually published by Ralph in explanation of what was going on in the new generation OTL amps he was producing. Ralph later moved away from that specific circuit to another design.
I definitely remember that thread and the fact that Ralph expressed relief after actually hearing the Tenors because he felt they were more colored than his own product and he had been a little concerned about them because of the runaway good press they had been garnering at that time, pricepoint notwithstanding.
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