i'm skeptical the 211/845 ZOTL Berning mono blocks Rick Brown brought to my room for me to listen to were a 'one-off's'. there was nothing half-way or compromised about them.
i suppose it's possible. that would be inconsistent with my discussions with Rick. but i don't personally know other owners of those amps.
i was certainly impressed, and if i had horns or a much smaller room with a very efficient speaker system they would be on my very short list of amplifiers.
Greetings Mike,
Thank you for your comments. You are indeed correct. I brought you the first production pair of amplifiers after Gary Ko of Genesis visited me in my Carlsbad, Ca demonstration room and was suitable impressed. I then contacted you and brought the amplifiers to your room. The reason was very clear, you are an important opinion leader. Your audition and feedback of the amplifier brought immediate improvements, like the binding post change I am sure you remember.
A revised pair then went to the Absolute Sound and Robert Harley who did two reviews on the amplifiers. I had sufficient stock when the first review was published to meet the demand, and I continue to have sufficient stock for immediate shipment.
David Berning's brilliant ZOTL circuit and switch-mode power supply remains the technical reason we can offer a 211 or 845 switchable OTL. There isn't another to my knowledge. And for the past three years, Steve Mc Cormack of SMc Audio has joined the design team working with David Berning to bring my amplifier visions to commercial fruition.
Bottom-line the amplifiers I brought for you to audition have been in production since their introduction in Munich 2015. They are in the systems of clients worldwide. Many industry professionals have experienced the amplifiers in client systems, Munich, Newport Beach, and my Carlsbad, CA demonstration room. Enthusiastic recommendations and auditions fuel my direct to client sales model. There are no dealers or country distributors involved. Every owner knows me and most have met me in their homes domestically and internationally.
In closing:
a. The amplifiers are now in the second iteration and are co-branded Hi-Fi One edition. I have no idea how at least one member of this forum came to believe the 211/845 Berning OTL was a "one-off". That statement is simply false.
b. I invite the members of this forum to "clear the air" directly with me.
Again, I thank you Mike.
Rick Brown
Hi Fi One