Posted by Duke [ 63.87.108.184 ] on August 28, 2006 at 22:00:13:
In Reply to: OTLs and speakers posted by colinhester on August 28, 2006 at 21:33:45:
Hi Colin,
Good question!
Output transformerless tube amps typically do not like low impedances. They approximate a "current source", whereas a beefy solid state amp approximates a "voltage source".
A current source amplifier's wattage output goes down into a low impedance load, and up into a high impedance load (just the opposite of what we're used to). Sounds better with a high impedance load, too.
For instance, Atma-Sphere makes a nice little 30-watt OTL amplifier that absolutely does not like to see less then 7 ohms minimium, and would really like to see about 16 ohms or so (into a 16 ohm load, it becomes a 45 watt amp). In the price ballpark of the Stormbringer there aren't many 16 ohm loudspeakers, so that's the niche I'm shooting for.
Now in practice high power OTL amps are much more forgiving of low impedance loads than the little 30-watt Atma-Sphere amp is, so if there was a niche for a 16 ohm speaker it would be in a lower price range. "Lower price range" being of course relative - most of my relatives would consider two grand a ridiculous price to ask for a pair of speakers.
As to your other question, I'm not familiar with Elric, alas, nor his well-named sword. The name has a less noble origin, at least with me. When I was in my teens we owned an English Bull Terrier whose kennel name was "Daniel Stormbringer". I always thought that was a cool name, and picked it for my lowest priced speaker because it sort of implies that there's more to come.
I suspect that I was named after the neighbor's dog.
Cheers,
Duke
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