@tomchr 's Darn Good 300B measures very well for a SET without NFB (might just be the best in its category). Just look at pages 31-32Purely out of curiosity - what is the best measuring pure tube amplifier you know of?
Off the top of my head I think the Quicksilver Horn Mono's are a serious contender. See here: https://www.stereophile.com/content...n-mono-monoblock-power-amplifier-measurements
Interpret "best measuring" however you wish.
Not bad for what it is, I guess. And that illustrates why the professional world went away from single-ended amps.
nice one.Now this is interesting! That light on the front!
I have a lot of respect for Mr. Carlson.
I'm not an aficionado of tubes, but I don't think you buy them for the practicality.nice one.
But there seem to be 10+ tubes on that thing! That's $1-2000 just for the 'bottles' and a lot of (potential) headaches
You surely don'tI'm not an aficionado of tubes, but I don't think you buy them for the practicality.
Yet, the Carlson is probably more admired for just that reason. I would not assume a rational selection process.You surely don't
But there is quite a difference in headaches&costs between a typical amp with 4 tubes and one with 15 like that Carlson.
Might as well just go for the gusto and get a very vintage EH Scott radio. Statement pieces in electronics from the Duesenberg era.Yet, the Carlson is probably more admired for just that reason. I would not assume a rational selection process.
“The best of solid state and tube” are mutually exclusiveI'm actually pretty interested in this topic. There's a local builder, Linear Tube Audio, that makes OTL headphone amps (among other components) and I'm hoping to swing by this weekend with my DAC and headphones and give this amp a listen:
microZOTL MZ2 Headphone Amp / Preamp / 1-watt Speaker Amp by Linear Tube Audio
The second generation of the product that started LTA, the MZ2 remains the reference introduction to the unique ZOTL circuit.www.lineartubeaudio.com
I've heard it before, but I want to really give it a good listen to see if it floats my boat. Owners rave about it and state it's the best of the SS and Tube attributes in one package. My curiosity is piqued. I've got a RME ADI2 DAC and the SS headphone amp section of this is great, but I suffer from fear that something out there is subjectively better sounding and I'm just not sure. I think giving this LTA amp a listen would be interesting.
The best measuring one is still the one with the highest negative feedback but this isn't going to be consistent in best "sounding" amp.Is there a consensus as to which type of tube amp is the best measuring? e.g. OTL, SET, SEP, Pentodes in push-pull, triodes in push-pull?
When you say best "sounding" amp, what do you mean? In other words, how would you characterize "best sounding"?
Accuracy is replicable. Personal taste, however, is not.
nice ones.Might as well just go for the gusto and get a very vintage EH Scott radio. Statement pieces in electronics from the Duesenberg era.
(none of the above is mine -- although I do have a few lesser H.H. Scott tuners)