SOB - The Son of Beast OTL ...continued
I was busting to build a valve amplifier again and came across some interesting reading about OTL (Output Transformerless) amplifiers and decided to bite the bullet and build one, unseen and unheard. The Australian Dollar was high so it only cost around $1200 including freight from the USA. I also ordered the Transcendent Sound GG grounded grid preamp which was around $600 delivered.
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The following summary is from Designer Bruce Rozenblit. His description is absolutely accurate!
" Nothing sounds better than an OTL. No transformer coupled amp, no solid state amp can match the sound. It cannot be imitated. Striking imaging causes instruments to be layered in a three dimensional sound stage that recreates the experience of a live performance. The music "opens up" and leaps out of the loudspeaker eliminating any box like sound. The most minute and subtle sounds are revealed producing uncanny realism. Musical voices are warm and lifelike yet completely neutral with a razor sharp focus. Nothing else can compare. Don't just listen to your music.... experience it."
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Specifications
Size: 17 inches wide by 10 inches deep.
Weight: 19 pounds
Input Sensitivity: 2.2 volts. (Preamp Recommended)
Gain: 14 dB.
Power Bandwidth: 10 Hz to 25 kHz.
Noise: Can’t hear any-none
Distortion: Less than 1%.
Output Impedance: 0.8 ohms.
Power Consumption: 1.4 amps at 120V or 0.7 amps at 230-240V
Tube Compliment: 8-EL509 and 4-12AT7 (ECC81)
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BUILDING the SOB (5 days for me)
WARNING: Lethal voltages are involved and experience in soldering and electrical SAFETY is a MUST.
Building is simple if you READ the INSTRUCTIONS and sort out your components first then FOLLOW THE STEP BY STEP instructions IN SEQUENCE.
I was extremely careful when building and still found some stupid errors in my wiring. But, I always do that!
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Website: http://www.transcendentsound.com
