Products

This Italian manufacturer has been making high quality audio products for many years and have always offer a much better sound than the price would indicate. Their amplifiers are now in REV2.0 updated versions and the sound is of an even higher quality. The chassis and build quality have been improved considerably with a commensurate improvement in reliability. As the name would indicate, the sound from solid state circuits is less bright and forward than most competitors at these prices. A very modern sound, with a good dynamics and very able in delivering large soundstages. The Composer range offers excellent value for money with the latest technology resulting in high speed and low noise amplification. The Maestro series takes this up a few notches where no restriction is placed on the cost, size and type of components chosen for the circuit design.

Products on Demonstration

Composers Line
Puccini Settanta REV2.0 integrated amplifier – 70wpc – black or silver £1399.00 (pictured top)

Maestro Line
Maestro Settanta REV2.0 integrated amplifier – 70wpc – silver £2499.00 (picture bottom)

Other products could be available. Please ring for details.

Audio Analogue website    Return to top of page

This Japanese manufacturer has a long history of making some of the most respected solid state amplifiers and CD players in the high-end business. Around the world, their equipment is used as references for others to be judged against. The sound for solid state design is very valve like in its presentation. A smooth tonal balance without any bloom, their products produce a very transparent and deep soundstage. Superb power supplies ensure superb dynamics and a realistic presentation of the rhythmic qualities of the music. The build quality is of a very high order which contributes to Accuphase's enviable reliability record.

The appearance is deliberately retro, with meters showing, and has a pale champagne anodised fascia panel. The amplifiers have tone controls and balance adjustment but all of these controls are eliminated from the audio circuit when not in use.

We now have the new integrated amplifiers, the E-350 and the E-450. The significant improvements in the design such as the innovative volume control are very audible. The AAVA-II volume control, used in their separate pre-amplifiers, is a novel concept that completely does away with variable resistors in the signal path. This means that the outstanding S/N ratio and the low distortion of the amplifiers are not compromised; the same superb sound quality is obtained at any volume setting.

Products on Demonstration

E-250 integrated amplifier £4250 (to order only)

E-350 integrated amplifier 100wpc/8ohms £4775 (pictured top)

E-450 integrated amplifier 180wpc/8ohms £6250 (pictured bottom)

Accuphase prices have been adjusted to reflect the current value of the pound. Please note that these prices may be subject to currency fluctuations.

Other products could be available. Please ring for details.

Accuphase website    Return to top of page

This Swiss company is synonymous with making the world’s best professional portable recording equipment, both for audio and visual. They also make some of the finest sounding high-end audio replay equipment. Their design philosophy is based on valves but they also have parallel products with solid state circuitry. The build quality is to military standards with the pre-amplifiers in jewel-like machined case work. Internal circuitry utilises the shortest path possible philosophy and ensures the high level of quality for the signal.

The company is well known for its philosophy of ignoring any compromise on quality.

Forget everything that you have read in the UK press about the Pyramid range of amplifiers. These are amongst the very best we have heard. Exceptionally transparent with a correct tonal balance. Partnered with the appropriate level of ancillary equipment these are a near bargain for the sound they offer.

STOP PRESS. We have just received the very first sample in the UK of the new MSA power amplifier. This has an absolutely tremendous sound by any audiophile criterion. Very transparent, very neutral in tone, ie not warm and not analytical. The most impressive thing that stikes you immediately is the very large and very holographic sound-stage. Nagra is one of the few manufactuers that can do this well and this amplifier excels even by their high standards. A very big sound from a very small component. It occupies the same footprint as their CD player, pre-amplifers and phono stage. Build quality is the usual high standard with a massive heat-sink on top that barely gets warm even after many hours of playing. It can be configured as a monoblock amplifier or bridged at the flick of a switch.

See Nagra MSA review featured in January's edition of Haute Fidélité.

The natural partner would be the Nagra PL-L or PL-P pre-amplifiers. We have had exceptional results with other pre-amplifiers of commensurate quality, notably the Spectral DMC-15 which has a similar philosophy of tonal balance and speed to the Nagra sound. It has an input sensitivity switch which allows for 1v or 2v allowing the best match with various pre-amplifiers.

An early audition is recommended.

Products on Demonstration

PL-L valve pre-amplifier £6750 (pictured top)

PSA Pyramid Stereo Amplifier 100wpc/8ohms £4850

PMA Pyramid Mono amplifiers (pair) 200wpc/8ohms £7850 (pictured bottom)

MSA Stereo amplifer 60wpc/8 ohms; can be configured as mono or as bridged. £7500 (photo to follow)

Nagra prices have been adjusted to reflect the current value of the pound. Please note that these prices may be subject to currency fluctuations.

Nagra website    Return to top of page

This electronics manufacturer has been around for many years and is respected in the industry for making audio equipment of the ultimate quality and that many others use as a reference. Once heard, their sound and presentation is not easily forgotten. Their combinations of pre-amplifier and power amplifiers present the most transparent, holographic soundstages we have experienced, at any price point. The high-speed, ultra-fast settling circuitry produces a level of dynamics and grip that the amplifier can have on any speaker of quality. With high quality recordings, and a commensurate level of ancillary components, it is the closest to a live experience as you can get from an audio system.

The new DMC-15SS pre-amplifier is now with us. It is clearly a major step up in terms of sound compared to the DMC-15S Gen 2. The sound-stage is bigger and more holographic. This pre-amplifier has raised the bar to a much higher level of sonic quality for this price point. Although not at the level of the DMC-30SS flagship design, it is clear there has been a trickle down of the technology from that level.

The DMC 30SS Reference pre-amplifier is probably the finest sounding pre-amplier we have heard even compared to many costing much more. It has very quickly become a firm favourite with customers who have auditioned it.

The transparency level is much improved over the previous versions of the 30 series; low level detail, particularly the harmonics of the instruments, comes across so clearly. Holography is considerably increased and the focus is even more precise than before. Dynamics are there of course but seem more controlled than ever. The lack of colouration is very noticeable, as always with this brand, but this is much more “real”. The new technology incorporated in their unique volume control and an improved power supply has certainly paid off.

We are pleased to announce that we have the Spectral DMC-250 power amplifier on permanent demonstration. The transparency, speed and the dynamic capabilities of this amplifier is on a different level to almost any other we have heard. Partner it with the DMC-15SS for a cost-effective system or go state-of-the art by partnering it with the Reference DMC-30SS. With 60 amps of current delivery, this amplifier with get the best out of almost any speaker.

Spectral/MIT Cables - the reasons why they should be used.

Because of the ultra wide band width, extending up to 5 MHz, and the incredible dynamic power of the amplification, it is highly recommended to use Spectral's ultra linear cables in order to realise the full potential of their systems. There are two ranges of cable - Foundation and Reference series - and these are very competitive in price to other well known high-end cables. We can suggest some less expensive alternatives that are known to work from the MIT range of cables (see our Cables and Accessories page) but there may be some loss in the ultimate performance capable from the amplification. If you have any queries about the suitability of your own cables, please contact us.

Products on Demonstration

DMC-30SS Reference Pre-amplifier - line only, remote, £13500. (pictured top)

DMA 15 Generation 2 High Resolution Pre-amplifier - line only, manual operation £4800. A small number of units left at this price

DMA 15SS High Resolution Pre-amplifier - line only - manual operation NEW PRODUCT. £6250. (pictured middle)

DMA-250 Reference Amplifier - £10750. (pictured bottom).

Other products could be available. Please ring for details.

Spectral prices have been adjusted to reflect the current value of the pound. Please note that these prices may be subject to currency fluctuations.

Spectral Audio website    Return to top of page

We have reinstated this famous brand of valve amplifier manufacturer to our portfolio as their sound has now returned to that they built their reputation on. One of the most musical of valve amplifier sounds without being too euphonic and certainly without being bright and forward like some alternatives. Famous for being able to generate large and detailed holographic soundstages but with an extremely natural tonal balance, this is one of the finest brands in high-end audio, offering a wide range of electronics to suit most price points.

Products on Demonstration

CLASSIC vacuum tube line pre-amplifier £1750 (pictured top)
CLASSIC LINE/PHONO vacuum tube pre-amplifier £2400
ET-2 vacuum tube line pre-amplifier with remote £3700 (pictured centre)
LP-66S vacuum tube stereo power amplifier – 60wpc £4250 (pictured bottom)

Other products could be available. Please ring for details.

conrad-johnson website    Return to top of page

This Japanese company makes some of the finest sounding valve amplifiers at most realistic prices. The level of transparency and the big open soundstage is not normally experienced at these prices. Beautifully built with retro styling and compact sizes. Although the amplifiers have fairly low power output, their sound is full bodied with robust, fast presentation. Even the lowest powered design will work with loudspeakers with sensitivities as low as 87dB.

Leben prices have been adjusted to reflect the current value of the pound. Please note that these prices may be subject to currency fluctuations.

Products on Demonstration

CS-300 integrated valve amplifier 12wpc £2150

CS-300X(S) integrated valve amplifer 12-14wpc (improved circuitry on CS-300) £2730 (pictured top)

CS-600 integrated valve amplifier 6L6 valves 35wpc £4700 (pictured centre top)

RS-28C valve pre-amplifier £4955

RS-100 valve pre-amplifier £3200 (pictured centre bottom)

CS-600P stereo power amplifier - KT66 valves £7100 (pictured bottom)

RS-30 valve phono pre-amplifier (to order only) £2100

MC-30T step-up transformers (available soon; to order only) £t.b.a.

Other products could be available. Please ring for details.

Leben prices have been adjusted to reflect the current value of the pound. Please note that these prices may be subject to currency fluctuations.

Leben Hi-Fi website    Return to top of page