"Karl Uppiano" wrote in message
news:QfGvf.1104$em5.335@trnddc05

However, I
think it is rather pointless to compare two circuits that
are as completely different as a direct-coupled,
transformerless transistor power amp and a typical
iron-laden tube amp. I would expect a direct-coupled,
transformerless tube amp to sound much more like a
transistor amp, if such a design is even practical.

Whether any tubed hifi amp design is practical is open for debate, but only
if the tubie wants to lose the debate.

In fact a goodly number of transformerless tubed audio amps have been built
and sold

http://www.atma-sphere.com/reviews/ga/

http://stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/997graaf/

http://members.aol.com/aria3/

http://www.one-electron.com/Fourier.html

http://www.transcendentsound.com/T8OTL.htm

Here are some schematics:

http://www.one-electron.com/Fourier/FC_SPmk3.pdf

http://www.mcmlv.org/Archive/HiFi/OTL1.pdf

http://www.mcmlv.org/Archive/HiFi/OTL3.pdf