David Berning CoSiegfried, son ofusedDavid Berning 300B OTL Son of Siegfried ZOTL Ultimate SET amp one of a kindHere it is, the amp I said I’d take to my grave: a custom 6 wpc single-ended choke-loaded ZOTL 300B from the master himself. Well, I’m moving to Costa Rica for a while and am not planning on brin...9500.00

David Berning 300B OTL Son of Siegfried ZOTL Ultimate SET amp one of a kind

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Condition
7/10
Payment methods
Ships fromDublin, NH, 03444
Ships toWorldwide
Package dimensions20.0" × 16.0" × 16.0" (30.0 lbs.)
Shipping carriersUSPS, UPS or FedEx
Shipping costFree
AverageResearch Pricing

Here it is, the amp I said I’d take to my grave:  a custom 6 wpc single-ended choke-loaded ZOTL 300B from the master himself.  Well, I’m moving to Costa Rica for a while and am not planning on bringing a big rig down there.  So up on the chopping block it goes.  I’m a bit nervous to sell this as I know that no amount of money will procure me another if I decide I want one down the road.  It is one of a kind and very special, so allow me elaborate:


It is well known that David Berning made a small limited run of Siegfried amplifiers (a handful each of 300B and 811) many many years ago.  They have become legendary, renowned for their uncanny ability to elicit unfettered transparency from those tubes mainly by doing away with an output transformer.  “Cracked the code” someone (Dick Olsher?) said once of Berning.  I couldn’t agree more.  David figured out what every SET designer dreams of:  getting the most out of their output tube.  To get the tube to transmit and amplify ALL the detail, with all the color and harmonic richness we know is in the recorded signal and that the tube is theoretically capable of amplifying.  An OPT seemed like just a necessary obstacle to deal with.  Well, not so, says David.  He first managed to crack this code (as pertains to DHTs) with his Siegfried amps.

Consequently, his Siegfried amps rarely turn up on the used market and when they do usually fetch sums in the five figure range.  To the best of my knowledge, David has built a handful of updates and variations to this general design principle over the past 4-5 years, each one a slight revision over the last.  A few have used different tubes (6B4G), some in PP configuration, some with 845 (in fact, I think one was recently listed on another site for $35K).  This one is the latest version of his choke-loaded single ended 300B design.  Indeed, the schematic he included with this shows that he first came up with this particular design in 2013, with two revisions in 2014, and one in 2017.  I bought it from him in 2018.

So here we have a thoroughly updated Siegfried, using David’s latest ZOTL technology in driver stage (as found in his mega-buck production amps) along with updated switch mode power supply (which also makes this amp universal voltage, btw--no need to do anything, just plug and play anywhere in world). 

I have never heard David’s original Siegfried but by his own account this easily surpasses it.  When I got back to David and told him of my utter disbelief at what he’d accomplished and why in God’s good name hasn’t he turned this into a production amp for every SET lover to hear, he just slyly replied “Glad to hear you’re enjoying the amp…”  Maybe he’s bound contractually, not sure...


While it sounds amazing with even average tubes (say, EH, or JJ 300B, reissue 6sn7s and standard 12au7s, etc…) I have found that it is even more off-the-charts with Elrogs, various NOS 6sn7s, and esoteric 12au7 variants.  Because of its robust PS, the amp can use a lot of the lesser-known esoteric 12au7 alternatives that often use more current (more on those below).  


When paired to my Phy drivers in open baffles (augmented with Bastanis Gemini dipole compression tweeters) the sound is full, lush, with absolutely huge soundstage and just purely holographic imaging.  What probably sets this amp apart from all other traditional SETs I’ve had in the past (and I think I’ve had just about every DHT I can think of, from the usual suspects of 300B, 45, 2A3 to more obscure ones like 71a and 46, from manufacturers such as Wavac, Yamamoto, Coincident, Bottlehead to independent craftsmen like Korneff, Burgess, Garber, etc...) is the level of transparency, which leads to beautiful tonal colors but maybe most importantly retains the attack (as well as decay).  It sounds “quicker” and more lively than your traditional 300B but without any stridency or glare, far from it.  And certainly without shortening decay (a common trick with certain SS amps I’ve heard) that can make an amp sound “faster.”  

 

I have also had dozens OTLs over the years but finally gave up after the last pair of 6C33C monos sent DC to my Phys and fried one.  I was also happy to be done with the heat and tube failure.  Oh, but that transparency, right?


Well, here we have that same level of transparency but are no longer limited to the few rather dry-sounding tubes available to OTL design (namely, 6As7, 6C33C, 509…)


This amp is incredibly relaxing to listen to, yet not boring or dull in the slightest, the detail and microdynamics make sure of that.  There is simply an “ease” to it.  It’s hard to explain or convey, really, because, frankly, no other amp has done it quite like this.  Generally, one would get one or the other, to oversimplify:  “realism” (detail, transients, control, etc) or “romanticism” (harmonic richness, holographic imaging, big soundstage, etc.)  I would get that spooky realism (sharp transient attack and grip) from, say, various First Watt amps, but then they lacked that tube holography and spaciousness and musicality.  I would get that spacious soundstage and that lush swaying romantic sound from various 300b tube amps, but then the detail would be gone, transient response would be blunted, bass would be bloated, etc. It might sound just a little loose or "sloppy."  Here you get everything good, and none of the bad.  It has all the grip, control, bass and attack of good SS, the transparency of good OTL, combined with the glorious midrange, color palette, harmonic richness, and 3-D imaging of the best esoteric DHT amps.

Lastly, I will emphasize that bass is pleasantly robust on this amp.  If you’ve heard David’s other recent production designs like, say, ZH-230 or (admittedly to a lesser degree) offerings from LTA and felt they’re a little bass shy, just a tad anemic down below, then this amp corrects all that.


In addition to the superlative sound of this amp, it is worth pointing out some of its other benefits over traditional DHT-based or OTL amps including:


-Dead quiet (even over sensitive speakers)


-Cool running


-Extremely reliable (David’s amps are always bulletproof and offer speaker protection.  This one has not hiccuped once since I’ve had it.  You can even plug in/out ICs on the fly without hearing a thing!)

-Lightweight (under 10 lbs.)

-Easy on output tubes


-Easy on electric bill


-No need for expensive AC cord (bc of power supply)




Ok, on to what’s included in this sale.  The Elrogs were bought new by me (from George at TubesUSA) last year.  They have only been used in this amp (so not pushed hard like in traditional SETs) and occasionally in my Vinnie Rossie LIO DHT preamp (where they were not pushed  hard at all).  They test as new.  They are the newest generation (more reliable) and have proved to be stellar performers.  


For the lone single 12au7 spot I will include a raytheon 5814 (simply a ruggedized quiet 12au7).  Then, we have a 12au7 alternate, the 12BH7 (RCA manufacture).  Then, as an upgrade to that (all personal opinion of course) I got my hands on a vintage Sylvania 6350 tube which is a major upgrade to 12au7 IMO.  It was only used in 50s and 60s, specifically for computers.  It has same specs as 12au7 but MUCH larger plate structure.  Unfortunately, it gets overlooked because its pin out configuration is different.  But a simple adapter fixed that.  The sound is bigger and bolder.  And if one wants to continue on that trajectory plug in the amazing Philips-made 6085/E80cc.  The sound gets even bigger, with more macro-dynamics.  Huge images in a massive soundstage with super robust tight bass.  This is my fave but I would absolutely recommend trying out the tubes in order to really savor the upgrade of each. 


On the 6SN7 front we have plenty to choose from and it is here that one can really tailor the sound a bit to their system.  A bit of tone control if you will.  Is your system in need of a little jolt, a little pizzazz, want more of that spooky “live” quality?  Try the early Sylvania 3-hole bad boys.  Do you want even MORE bass?  Plug in the vintage JAN Ken-Rads.  Too analytical and needing a little lush romance?  RCA grey glass might just be the ticket.  And so on…I actually found that I liked different tubes for different types of music.  


The others include a few rarities:  a pair of Sylvania-made 7N7 “Frankentubes” (with adapters).  These are little-known, it seems outside of head-fiers.  It is basically the loktal version of the famed early Sylvania (40s) metal base 6SN7W w/ T-plates.  It is super rare, and as of a week or so ago, I couldn’t find a single one for sale anywhere on internet.  They are the earliest 7N7, with tall bottle, specifically flat top, and distinct oval mica spacer.  They are virtually extinct.  Next up is a pair of 6F8G Sylvania’s that need special adapter for anode cap.  Cool looking tube, similar classic clean extended Sylvania sound.  We have a trio of NOS RCA 7AF7 which also use same loktal-to-6sn7 adapter as 7N7 (I only got these recently and haven’t even tried them yet--sound is supposed to be more “lively” and forward).  National Union black glass, Ken-Rad black glass, new Tung-sol reissues (for non-critical listening), a pair of underrated GE side getters, and lastly, the famed Tung-Sol black glass round plate (matching oval micas for you aficionados out there).


One new thick (14AWG) 10 ft power cord will be included.  As mentioned, I (and many other Berning owners) have noticed that upgrading power cords is of no use with his amps.


The two small vintage Sylvania 6AU6WAs are only used to light RF for 300b, no sense in upgrading them.  On that note, I should elaborate a bit on the use of RF.  David uses these tubes to light the 300B filaments with RF, thus reducing noise.  On my 97dB speakers there is no noise.  It is an impressively quiet amp.  I should add here that David has found that certain Chinese 300bs wont light with RF for whatever reason (but why would you use cheap tubes with this caliber amp anyway?).  


When I had the amp plugged into a large isolation transformer there was a *tiny* bit of tizz coming from back of amp (power supply).  I couldn't hear it until I brought my ear literally to the amp, near the output tubes (about a foot away). But just want the buyer to know that the amp makes a *tiny* bit of noise if you are really close to it.  Having had many of David's amps over the years and never noticing even something as slight as that, I inquired.  David thought this must be my noisy AC here in NYC (I live in a multiple unit apt building from 1800s) as he did not have that issue when he made and tested the amp.  So, that may be the case, it may be *absolutely* dead quiet on your AC, can’t say for sure.  It was so insignificant I never bothered to correct it with AC regenerator or line impedance stabilization network (David’s recommendation).  It was no better or worse than just about any other tube amp I've had but we all know the bar is set even higher for David's gear.  But beware that it might produce this faint noise for you and it’s safer to assume that it will (unless you want to use an LISN or some other device).  To clarify, it is not noise through speakers but the PS making a tiny little tizzy noise from rear of amp near output jacks.


As is obvious from pic the chassis is a hand-made affair from David.  I would rate it a 7 as that is how it came to me.  No glaring scratches or anything, just not shiny perfect anodized aluminum like production cases.  


I will cover shipping anywhere in the world.  Local pick-up and possibly audition possible (I’ve been quarantining in rural PA but can come back to city).  I would like to sell amp with all tubes as I will have no use for them going forward.  But, as always, feel free to make offers without tubes or with some and not others and I will weigh all offers accordingly.


Feel free to send along any questions or offers and I’ll do my best…

Thanks!



Mike

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