Which one to choose between two 80K$ tube amps?

[Atmasphere]

These do NOT sound like your typical, colored tube amp.

They aren't- Berning's design is brilliant and high end audio is desperate for talent of his caliber.

But just for the record, just so you know, its not an OTL. The patent shows an output transformer, albeit a very unusual one that is an air-core device (prior to this design, all output transformers were iron-core). 'OTL' stands for 'Output TransformerLess' so by definition an amplifier with an output transformer isn't an OTL (and usually refers to a tube amplifier otherwise, as nearly all solid state amps are also output transformerless).

 

[knghifi]

Oh, btw, Rick Brown is one of the finest audio dealers I have yet had the pleasure to deal with. No one will work harder to help you reach "Audio Nirvana".

I agree Rick is an excellent dealer.

 

[calloway]

audiopie....calloway here.. where do you live...reason i ask..i have Tidal Contriva Diacera-SE speakers and have SET amps..Chalice Audio 'Grail' that very easily drive the Contriva without loosing anything..The 'Grail' amps are 50 watts class A and can drive almost any speaker. They are expensive and are a special order. The Grails are the best tube amps i have ever heard.The only other pair drives Tidal T1 Sunrays.That gentleman has heard most if not all the amps being talked about on this forum and thinks the Grails are the best tube amps made. He has auditioned most of what would be considered 'the best'. The company is finishing up a lesser expensive SET in the $60k range that will offer almost everything the top of the line offers.Just a thought..Good Listening'..

 

[audiopie]

audiopie....calloway here.. where do you live...reason i ask..i have Tidal Contriva Diacera-SE speakers and have SET amps..Chalice Audio 'Grail' that very easily drive the Contriva without loosing anything..The 'Grail' amps are 50 watts class A and can drive almost any speaker. They are expensive and are a special order. The Grails are the best tube amps i have ever heard.The only other pair drives Tidal T1 Sunrays.That gentleman has heard most if not all the amps being talked about on this forum and thinks the Grails are the best tube amps made. He has auditioned most of what would be considered 'the best'. The company is finishing up a lesser expensive SET in the $60k range that will offer almost everything the top of the line offers.Just a thought..Good Listening'..

calloway, thanks for your input, I'm in Colorado. see pm

 

[calloway]

audio pie...a little far from Virginia...oh well..just a thought..good luck with your journey..dave

 

[Gregadd]

They aren't- Berning's design is brilliant and high end audio is desperate for talent of his caliber.

But just for the record, just so you know, its not an OTL. The patent shows an output transformer, albeit a very unusual one that is an air-core device (prior to this design, all output transformers were iron-core). 'OTL' stands for 'Output TransformerLess' so by definition an amplifier with an output transformer isn't an OTL (and usually refers to a tube amplifier otherwise, as nearly all solid state amps are also output transformerless).

Maybe that is why he calls them ZOTL.

 

[DoctorWhy]

My wife says you can never have too many.

Wow, that's what my Tesla dealer says too!

 

[Atmasphere]

Maybe that is why he calls them ZOTL.

It isn't.
Harvey Rosenburg came up with that moniker, and told me that it has no meaning at all. David kept using it after Harvey's death. Think of it more as a trademark.