For me, it’s about matching speaker configurations with amplification to create synergistic magic. I don’t necessarily feel every OTL is the same, or for that matter any other amp typology is all the same. One consistent aspect of well executed OTLs in general is by their very name, there is no output transformer. This often, with the right speaker configuration and in the case of my Atma-Sphere MA-1s or the EVO, both exhibit very rapid transient speeds, lack of added coloration or smearing, utter transparency, and a sense of atmospheric liveness to the performance that many many output transformer based amps, for me, simply don’t equally possess. It’s all about execution.
This compo I mentioned, for me, is very much like what I find in character with an electrostatic like Stax properly amplified.
Matching is magic always.
OTL has an advantage and also a disadvantage.
The tubes used is directly related to the phone it matches to.
my hd800 phones need a higher imp output to achieve great sound
an OTL might work very well with them.
The tube amp I Use has a few outputs to select
Low is good on iems and a low Z phone like hifiman he-6
but on others it alters freq response
Same is on stat amps
A stat phone is basically a capacitive load
So the amp needs to have a low capacicdence output or one that suites the phones well.
A stat amp is very different then amps we use typically
Ralph can explain better
stat amps are all OTL I think.
I agree, an excellent amp/headamp. Did you friend change the tube to q Mullard M8136 (CV4003 tube). In my opinion this took the AIC-10 to a higher level.
Matching is magic always.
OTL has an advantage and also a disadvantage.
The tubes used is directly related to the phone it matches to.
my hd800 phones need a higher imp output to achieve great sound
an OTL might work very well with them.
The tube amp I Use has a few outputs to select
Low is good on iems and a low Z phone like hifiman he-6
but on others it alters freq response
Same is on stat amps
A stat phone is basically a capacitive load
So the amp needs to have a low capacicdence output or one that suites the phones well.
A stat amp is very different then amps we use typically
Ralph can explain better
stat amps are all OTL I think.
I totally agree. OTL are unrelenting on low efficiency and none linear impedance loads. Perhaps not the most versatile all arounder. But give them the right speaker compo, and they are magic.
Stax. I have both solid state for my analog setup and vacuum tube for my digital setup. I bought these around the same around 2010 or so. I also like to use my Sennheiser wireless headphones for casual listening but they are starting to wear out..
