WHY is NAT AUDIO tube gear different than all the rest ??

[@idudley72]

Love the video, Mike. Thanks for making the trip and bringing back some behind the scenes views from the factory!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@harrylewis7536]

Building such personal relationships and letting us tune in and get to see the internal boards the vibration dampeners the heatsinks tubes was a awesome tour and you feel like this product has some geart and soul thanks Mikey and thank you Nat for bringing us in and for such awesome products which i hope to investigate at some point in the near future

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thanks Harry !

[@LeonFleisherFan]

Great video! I love brands like Amplifon (from Poland), Aries Cerat (from Cyprus), and NAT (from Serbia), who custom-design, build and machine many of their own parts and chassis (and in particular output transformers, which should be considered an art form, given they're probably the single most important part sonically in any single-ended tube amp). Compared to 99.9% audiophile products on the market, these are true custom builds that sound, look and feel like relative bargains in the audio world. Yes, they're expensive and may be a stretch financially for many (myself included), but look and listen to what you're getting for you money, the pride of ownership completely sets these brands apart. Note QB5/1750 is a tetrode, unlike the 833 and GM70 Amplifon uses that are real triodes. Wiring tetrodes or pentodes (such as the 813 in some Aries Cerat models) as triodes results a different and often unique sound signature (distinctive distortion profiles for each of these transmitter tubes) compared to real triodes.

[@connorduke4619]

Awesome insights Mikey! Jay's Iyagi recently named the NAT Audio with the transmitter tube as the best tube amp he has ever heard (and as a professional seller than reviewer he has heard many).

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Think I play with regular "dealer" audio ?? Lol. C'mon !! You know me !!

[@gil3green]

Excellent clip, nice work! you were making me uneasy reaching around and handling that large tube lol!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Lol. All good

[@legrandgroves8560]

Thanks Mikey! Super interesting brand. Outstanding design and execution!!!! One hell of a great trip!!!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it Rich !

[@seanrogers6118]

Mikey Salute, Thanks that was AWESOME. Great presentation. I want one.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

You may have one !!

[@fabien7079]

Bless you... For the person sneezing in the background. Very well done video, so well made amp.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

I agree... terrific product

[@jean-martingauthier5551]

Really interesting and instructive, thank you Mickey! and nice shirt by the way ;-)

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Glad you liked it!

[@jimbreakall9331]

Hi Mikey. It is great that you got to Serbia and NAT Audio looks fantastic. I just wanted to correct something about the QB5/1750 tube. It is not a triode but is a tetrode. Tetrodes have a screen grid and usually not considered as linear as a triode. They might be using it connected in triode mode by tying the grids together. Another choice for a transmitting triode tube similar to this would be the 3-500Z or the 833A tube. These are also well known RF transmitting tubes but can be used for audio. NAT Audio actually says in their description that the QB5/1750 is a triode - not correct - it is a tetrode. By the way, I have many good friends on Ham Radio in Serbia. Some of the guys at NAT might be Ham Radio guys if you asked. Thanks for the fantastic video of this great company. Prof. Jim

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thanks Jim.. very interesting... ;-)

[@ketubeck7718]

I really can understand your excitement when you are explaining all the parts. Great products great company

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Yes! Thank you!

[@IOSARBX]

OCD HI-Fi Guy, Subscribed because your videos are always awesome!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thx !

[@HotSause]

Looked at their line up for less heat generating amps. While youre there, can you audition the Magneto and the Generator CT amps and report to the Tribe what you hear? Videos on these guys, please!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Magneto and Generator CT are Sublime sounding amps. To date, I've heard nothing made by NAT that did not absolutely floor me. It's why I locked an exclusive distribution deal for North America 5 years ago...

[@rvaillant]

What are the costs and expected lifespan of the tubes used?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

10,000 hours... so 13.6 years of listening every day for 2 hours. $1K per tube.

[@SiNGHA58]

I have a question …. If i use only single ended input ( RCA ) Do I need to upgrade to First step ( pure balanced OFC ) or Premium step upgrade ( silver-OFC ) transformer ? Are the balanced input transformer upgraded will get advantage only if you use XLR input ? Please let me know. Thank you

[@draaronreynolds]

They look amazing on the inside. What speakers are best suited to these high power output direct-heated single ended triode designs? I would imagine that a benign impedance curve is still a prerequisite?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

The big NAT monos are good from .5 Ohm to 32 Ohm. You can call me for the best optimized match. I will consult for free.

[@TheCharlesAtoz]

OCD is still gone! Good to see you while you are on the road. 😊

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Yeah buddy. In Rome right now !

[@charlesmanneschmidt7587]

Agree these are very cool products, and use amazing parts. Thanks for the video! I would just note, though, that virtually all PCBs used nowadays by any company worth its salt employ through-hole plating. NAT's use of curved traces, too, (and lack of soldermask) is very cool, but FWIW I would argue that regular, sharper bends in traces do no harm whatsoever. You would have to get well into the MHz before it would truly matter to performance. If anyone attributes this to better sound quality, that's fine too! In any case, the PCBs, like the rest of the components, show the designer's passion and attention to detail. I like that he does them that way.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Yes, exactly. If he's designing pcbs fit for NASA microwave transmission, it's probably going to be above average for audio. More than anything it let's us know about the designer. How Dejan thinks. He does not settle for what's "good enough for audio". This is the main message. ;-)

[@jasonw512]

Wow. Nice. Thanks for showing us!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

You bet Jason !

[@labalo5]

Mikey you bring us such a unique product line. And no one is more emphatic about it!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thanks !

[@cbo1]

Maaaan I want one of these puppies so bad.

[@dragocelander6671]

Outstanding summary Mikey! Love those red leather shoes!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Right ??

[@KT88gs]

I need this!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Yes you do !!

[@tallpaull9367]

Just out of curiosity, how much did Jay's Iyagi charge for the NAT review?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Lol. The paid part was for that stand up desk. I have no idea what he charges. I did not pay him, nor did NAT. They don't even know him. He stoked me in the vid and I had no idea until i actually watched the video today. And here I thought the other channels hated me... kudos to Jay.. he was being honest.. are you disappointed I actually DO represent the best products made ? ;-)

[@DavidGilden]

Bespoke design at its finest ❤

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

For sure..

[@peblinks63]

Killer !!😀

[@tubefreeeasy]

Gotta love OCD Engineering!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Totally. I get it. Big time...lol

[@iczerman]

200uf at 1500 volt rating film cap!!! WOW!! Is it permissible to know where they source coupling caps?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

No, I'm sorry. N.A.T. does deep dives to find their parts and then hordes them. It's part of the benefit of owning them.

[@iczerman]

@@OCDHIFiGuy Understandable! Thanks!

[@fullranger3435]

Amazing quality of design, built and parts. Unique, performance oriented, building philosophy. It's the first time I see extensive internal vibration control, (actually, the second, there is a Chinese guy in Canada using silicone everywhere inside, but here we also have order and discipline). Also very high level of modular shielding of different blocks or parts. You have skyrocketed my appreciation for this company with this presentation. Well done OCD Mickey! So anyone in need of many watts, can now properly listen to tubes unhindered. Because of NAT Audio.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

For sure. ;-)

[@agear2]

Yeah, most manufacturers are too lazy…..

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Or they need to plan for high production level which means commercial level parts

[@fabien7079]

Hey Mikey, what is the life span (Hours) of the ceramic tube?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

I'll ask. The glass tubes are 10K hours, these must be more

[@QuintEssential-sz2wn]

Thanks for this factory insight. I love tube amps and it would be awesome to own a NAT amp. Love the aesthetics and concept.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@Charles12509]

Hello, this is an excellent tour…wondering if you are going to the Fischer&Fischer facility for a tour or is there a video already…before I buy when you get back…

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

I am.. that one will be the best of all the vids... it will start at the quarry

[@Charles12509]

@@OCDHIFiGuy sounds excellent Mikey….when you get back we can have serious conversation….Charles from Puyallup…my ship landed….

[@iczerman]

Did a little digging on the QB 5... The tube has 1600 watts TOTAL plate dissipation. When used at 50% that is around 500 watts plate dissipation which will roughly equal to 100 watts output in SE. Anode voltage is 4K ( WTF). Filament is 10 volts at 10 amps (!!!) Anode ( Plate resistance) is 16K-26k ohms. The this tube has 2 grids..so load resistance is unknown...but output transformer must be HUMONGOUS! The inter-electrode capacitances are not that far off from a 300b/ 2a3 and since its a transmitter tube the amplification factor is quite high...which means maybe ( however unlikely) a 6sn7 may be able to drive it. That is a supposition...tube curves while triode connected are not supplied with the sources available...So NAT has to measure it themselves....which is what one would expect. ;)

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

6sn7 is a highly microphonic and "spongy" tube. 6n6P is used as driver I believe..

[@keithfox2995]

ok we got the parts are unique 100 times....

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Good. That was my intent.

[@emersonperin4109]

Wow! I worship at the alter of SET, no feedback, class A and transformer coupled. That's what Im talking about! Beautiful video that showcases the passion for quality components and thoughtful build. I build in a similar fashion but given the constraints of very high voltage and the power level of the tubes we commonly work with you can't get that kind of power in this kind of design. He does. Absolutely awesome!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thanks for your feedback Emerson !

[@silviosarunic6709]

Great video. Come here to Croatia too. Its summer now 😎 According to topic of video. Great amps, from great engineers from Serbia, but my choice will always be SET amp: Lamm ML3 Signature 😎

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

RIP Vladimir. Good stuff. Not as robust and strong as NAT, but very good sound. I want to come to Croatia and visit Split !! I'm planning a trip to Ljubljana, with Zagreb, so perhaps we meet then Silvio !

[@johntan4835]

As usual VERY INFORMATIVE

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Thanks !

[@Phloored]

Holy shnikes! ❤️ Lustworthy gear. Magnifico!

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Right?!

[@m4ril4r4njinh4]

Great products. However, the best PCB in audio signal is no PCB. Point to point wiring is the way to go. Audio Note kondo knows that. Cary audio knows that. Not saying that NAT audio sounds bad. They probably sound wonderful. However, it would be better if the were point to point.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Trust me, nobody is complaining. They are all thrilled !! So go buy Audio Note if you like..

[@r1verrat1977]

Where are the Magma M's and Magnetic pre amp?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Same place the Magnetostat SE, MAGMA EVO, and Phono preamp are

[@r1verrat1977]

@OCDHIFiGuy 😆.. if you're still there, I would love to see a video like this on the preamps.

[@MasterofPlay7]

is it better than GaN?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Incomparable.

[@MasterofPlay7]

@@OCDHIFiGuy why not? You have both and you sell borh

[@LorenzoNW]

@@MasterofPlay7 I assume by "incomparable", Mikey meant to say that NAT Audio is in an entirely different league.

[@MasterofPlay7]

@@auggysimcity he might afraid of hurting somebody's feeling if he says one is better than the other 😆

[@Mr.McIntyre]

😱🤯🫨🤩love this

[@philb-ze8sz]

You must be selling NAT, that's when you rave. And put down other products. Good salesman.

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

What did I put down ?? Lol.

[@PP-nh1lv]

Are you sitting on the toilet at 12:23?

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Lol. totally growing a tail....

[@johnpetrakis379]

The Russians built tube factories like Reflector etc for military use. Vacuum tubes are impervious to EMP, what happens when you bust a nuclear cap, especially in the upper atmosphere. In 1976, a Russian pilot defected to Japan in a MIG-29, and of course, it got totally taken apart down to the screws. They were amazed that it used, yeah, you guessed it TUBES !!!. But, you knew that right. they only kept the factories up and running after "Audiophiles" bearing gifts from the West ($$$$) talked them into keeping them up and running, for all of usLee Deforest lovers out there. alos years ago, crazy Dennis Had was building some insanity

[@OCDHIFiGuy]

Mmmmkay

[@johnpetrakis379]

@@OCDHIFiGuy Yeah, I know, nobody likes a know-it-all, but hey I'm watching and it looks like you're having fun and that's what counts!