Wowed by the Audire Otez

[MATT0404]

I've heard and read great things about the Audire Otez and Parlando amps, so when I stumbled upon this beast for sale, I took a gamble. I'm sure glad I did, because as soon as I fired this thing up, my jaw dropped. Paired with my L2030's, the bass is simply the best I've experienced. I'm beginning to worry about living in a historical home that was built in the 1890's, because I can feel the bass through the floor. It's a very visceral experience.

All other aspects of the amp are top notch, as well. Mids, highs, imaging, this thing does it all. I could write a long-winded review full of superlatives, but I'm too busy listening. I'd venture to say this is the best my L2030's have sounded.

That's an 80 lbs McIntosh amp in the background for size comparison...the Otez is a beast and weighs nearly 100 lbs.
Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

One of my helpers this morning.
Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

16 output transistors per channel
Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

Audire Otez by Audio Database, on Flickr

 

[OMGCat!]

There's a big thread about the Audire amps someplace here that has had me keeping an eye out for one since I read it. By all accounts they are amazing amps.

 

[Sungear]

I have two Crescendo amps and a Forte and I am crazy about them, but I would love to have an Otez (or a Parlando). Enjoy your Otez!

 

[StuartB]

That is a pretty hefty transformer. Very cool.

 

[Zarathustra]

Congrats with your beautiful big amp with almost 96.000uF of capacitance standing by!
What's the VA rating of the Transformer?
Looks a bit like the ML-3's I operated in the past (mainly from the outside that is).
Now I have a CJ Evolution 2000 Mosfet.
Is this a Mosfet too like the Forte?
I've seen the Class A version of this Class A/B amp, the Parlando, as a dualmono version.
Was the single large Xformer in your Otez in a later incarnation changed to a double Xformer configuration? The datecode on your Mallory caps is 8644 implying week 44 year1986 and the Parlando amp I found with the normal Xformers the datecode read 9237, week 37 year 1992 almost six year later.
I suppose the hardware is basically the same across the Otez and Parlando and only the railvoltage of the Parlando is lower but the bias is higher like in the Threshold S and SA and Pass X and XA series.

 

[Bostown]

I think I recall someone saying that the Parlando with the dual toroidal transformers were a custom restoration that was done for a customer. I could be wrong but I remember seeing one for sale for a hefty sum of cash a while back and that's what the gentleman who was selling shared with me. He's the same person who has posted several WANTED listings for Parlando, Otez, Tenendo ( well , other than me) . I'm content with the OTEZ I own and after hearing it compared to the Parlando? I'm not missing out on anything by not having an all Class A unit versus the high bias class A ( A/B) Otez. I'd buy a tenendo just for the curiosity factor though.

 

[MATT0404]

Congrats with your beautiful big amp with almost 96.000uF of capacitance standing by!
What's the VA rating of the Transformer?
Looks a bit like the ML-3's I operated in the past (mainly from the outside that is).
Now I have a CJ Evolution 2000 Mosfet.
Is this a Mosfet too like the Forte?
I've seen the Class A version of this Class A/B amp, the Parlando, as a dualmono version.
Was the single large Xformer in your Otez in a later incarnation changed to a double Xformer configuration? The datecode on your Mallory caps is 8644 implying week 44 year1986 and the Parlando amp I found with the normal Xformers the datecode read 9237, week 37 year 1992 almost six year later.
I suppose the hardware is basically the same across the Otez and Parlando and only the railvoltage of the Parlando is lower but the bias is higher like in the Threshold S and SA and Pass X and XA series.

Thanks for your informative post. Not sure how I missed it, I usually subscribe to threads I create. I'm not sure what the VA rating on the transformer is. There's no indication on it anywhere that I can find. I think you're right about much of the components being similar between the Parlando and Otez, with the Parlando being biased higher and pure class A output. Much the same with my Forte Model 3 which is essentially the same as the pure class A Model 1A just with different rail voltage and higher bias.

I think I recall someone saying that the Parlando with the dual toroidal transformers were a custom restoration that was done for a customer. I could be wrong but I remember seeing one for sale for a hefty sum of cash a while back and that's what the gentleman who was selling shared with me. He's the same person who has posted several WANTED listings for Parlando, Otez, Tenendo ( well , other than me) . I'm content with the OTEZ I own and after hearing it compared to the Parlando? I'm not missing out on anything by not having an all Class A unit versus the high bias class A ( A/B) Otez. I'd buy a tenendo just for the curiosity factor though.

I see there's another WTB ad on USAM from someone looking for the bigger Audire amps.

Back to the transformers in these units....does anyone know the specs? Mine has an audible mechanical hum. It's really only audible when music isn't playing, but it drives me nuts regardless. I've replaced the factory rubber isolation grommets (which were practically destroyed) with nice thick replacements, but the hum persists. I don't think it's DC in the line as I've moved it around my home and have taken it to a friend's home and it still hums. I'm not sure if there are any other options or if need to just live with it. Wonder if there's a suitable (and affordable) toroid replacement available?

 

[Bostown]

Thanks for your informative post. Not sure how I missed it, I usually subscribe to threads I create. I'm not sure what the VA rating on the transformer is. There's no indication on it anywhere that I can find. I think you're right about much of the components being similar between the Parlando and Otez, with the Parlando being biased higher and pure class A output. Much the same with my Forte Model 3 which is essentially the same as the pure class A Model 1A just with different rail voltage and higher bias.


I see there's another WTB ad on USAM from someone looking for the bigger Audire amps.

Back to the transformers in these units....does anyone know the specs? Mine has an audible mechanical hum. It's really only audible when music isn't playing, but it drives me nuts regardless. I've replaced the factory rubber isolation grommets (which were practically destroyed) with nice thick replacements, but the hum persists. I don't think it's DC in the line as I've moved it around my home and have taken it to a friend's home and it still hums. I'm not sure if there are any other options or if need to just live with it. Wonder if there's a suitable (and affordable) toroid replacement available?

I saw that listing too. I'm not opposed to fufilling the request but it really comes down to numbers when an item isn't on my "SELL" list.

I've had similar "hum" situations with Audire Forte amps in the past. it wasn't coming through the speakers and It wasn't audible when music was playing so I lived with it. Even supermodels have flaws so who am I to expect "perfection" from a piece of stereo gear. A little hiss, a bit of hum, a rumble , a rattle. when it comes to this stuff. there are worse things for me to agonize over. If you find a toroid and decide to swap out the existing transformer , definitely make a thread documenting the transplant. I'm not 100% convinced that Toroids solve that kind of issue as often as folks might suggest. Sometimes it's placement of components within the unit that create the hum as things age and drift this way or that way with regards to spec.

 

[Thoft8]

My Audire forte has 96,000 uf of capacitance there’s gotta be more in that otez cmon. Anyways I’m looking to possibly up the uf capacitance available and do the upgrades to my amp that I thought I saw somewhere. Something about changing/upgrading the “gain cards” and the little resistors on the amp board that has the wings on em improving thd and sound quality? Anyways just want to know if anyone knows about missing the amp to take more uf capacitance for storage if that is possible.