View Full Version : AOS Tube Distinctions 30W PP power amplifier
schneiderhan
15-01-2012, 22:42
Regular readers of Art of Sound may recognise this amp - I am about 100% sure it's the one that used to belong to Ian Walker. His sales thread is here - http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2433. I performed a noble act of buying it and bringing it back into the AOS fold:).
Basically it's a Yaqin KT88 amp which has been a) made safe (the frankly dangerous output capacitors have been removed and replaced), b) converted from an integrated amp to a power amp only and c) heavily breathed on by Anthony Matthews - Tube Distinctions (http://www.tubedistinctions.co.uk/main.htm). You can read about the mods carried out on the thread above - and note that this one has the better output transformers and also new mains transformers. Plus it's very nicely finished with its acryllic fascia and AOS lettering.
Still has its NOS 6SN7 driver valves, and now has four Genalex Gold Lion KT88s - hours unknown, but they look and sound good to me.
How does it sound - well it's terrific - powerful, dynamic, fast and has all the benefits of a good KT88 amp, including superb bass and treble extension.
And why am I selling - well a recent purchase of a classic valve amp - a perfect match for my Harbeths - means that unfortunately I won't be making proper use of this for a while so I would rather someone did.
Amp is immaculate, as you can see from the photos.
Looking for £1,000 ono. Quite happy to demonstrate in Oxford. Collection only due to weight (although I do have a suitable box, I'd be too worried about any possible damage on route). Collection also possible from Cardiff and can deliver / meet within a radius of say 100 miles of either Oxford / Cardiff for a nominal fee.
Any questions welcome.
www.flickr.com/photos/schneiderhan/6703486589/
www.flickr.com/photos/schneiderhan/6703478017/
www.flickr.com/photos/schneiderhan/6703475133/
www.flickr.com/photos/schneiderhan/6703468177/
www.flickr.com/photos/schneiderhan/6703459573/
Nice one, Matt. Good to see the old chap again :)
Joe (Black Adder), this would be an interesting one to hear on the end of your Croft, with your Tannoys! ;)
Marco.
The Vinyl Adventure
16-01-2012, 00:27
Mines still at Anthony's ... Been there for probably over a year ... I should probably sell it really as I don't realy see me using it
I wante a bit more than this for it, but of ita the now going rate, if this sells and and somone else is interested let me know and I'll have a think about letting it go for this sort of money
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7678
Reid Malenfant
16-01-2012, 00:45
I should probably sell it really as I don't realy see me using it
I wante a bit more than this for it, but of ita the now going rate, if this sells and and somone else is interested let me know and I'll have a think about letting it go for this sort of money
You must be tired Hamish :eyebrows: I've been drinking & that has me confused as feck matey :lol: Look at the highlighted stuff & translate please :)
While I think I get it :scratch: Some others, lots of others may not :eyebrows:
I get the first word as wanted... The rest with the highlighted is fecking Russian mate :lol:
but of ita the now going rate :scratch:
From Hammyspeak:
but of ita the now going rate
To proper Engerlund:
"But if it's now the going rate" (i.e. £1000).
Should I bill you directly for my translation services or contact your agent? :D
Marco.
The Black Adder
16-01-2012, 08:09
Nice one, Matt. Good to see the old chap again :)
Joe (Black Adder), this would be an interesting one to hear on the end of your Croft, with your Tannoys! ;)
Marco.
Sure would. Think I will get my amps up for sale soon anyway. The thing thats just struck me with this one is the size. My shelving won't be able to accomodate it without extending IC's or speaker cables.
Amongst other amps it would be interesting to listen to though.
The Grand Wazoo
16-01-2012, 08:16
With Hamish potentially flogging his one too, there's a chance here for someone to buy them both and assemble a rather naughty bi-amped set up.
Sure would. Think I will get my amps up for sale soon anyway. The thing thats just struck me with this one is the size. My shelving won't be able to accomodate it without extending IC's or speaker cables.
Joe, it's unlikely that any decent KT88 stereo valve amp will fit on your shelving, not to mention whether you'd be able to lift it up there in the first place, and if it would stay there! :eek:
A decent KT88-based stereo amp is going to weigh around 25-30kg. I suspect that you're going to have to rethink things in that respect, unless you go for monoblocks, if of course they would fit your budget.
Marco.
The Black Adder
16-01-2012, 09:09
Yeah... Cheers Marco.
I think mono's is the answer of which I don't mind to be honest.
But this amp looks the DB's... and so all the best to Matt with the sale. :)
The Vinyl Adventure
16-01-2012, 09:19
You must be tired Hamish :eyebrows: I've been drinking & that has me confused as feck matey :lol: Look at the highlighted stuff & translate please :)
While I think I get it :scratch: Some others, lots of others may not :eyebrows:
I get the first word as wanted... The rest with the highlighted is fecking Russian mate :lol: :scratch:
ah, the famous combo of drunk and the iphone's de-senseification filters ...
All the Harbeths really need is enough power to give them a sensible dynamic range. I think the impedance may hit 5 Ohms in the mid on some models, but the designs attempt the overall load to be relatively easy on the driving amps and they try very hard to debunk the matching issues I think....
Good luck with the sale of these. Since Anthony has "done" them, I'd trust them implicitly and be assured of good service in the future...
schneiderhan
16-01-2012, 15:47
Thanks everyone for your responses. I was wondering what had happened to Hamish's AOS amp. Yes it is a big amp but when you hear it you quickly understand why - it makes a big sound:) With all the delicacy and refinement of a good valve amp.
schneiderhan
18-01-2012, 09:59
Price reduction - now £900. Need to raise funds for a new turntable!! You'll be hard pressed to find an amp with comparable power and delicacy for that.
Picture below of amp switched on to show that it works
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schneiderhan/6719338019/
schneiderhan
23-01-2012, 08:39
Bump. Am open to (reasonable) offers on this unique, bespoke amp.
schneiderhan
04-02-2012, 17:00
Withdrawn from sale. I raised the money for my turntable, and this is really too good to sell:). So I am keeping it. Thanks everyone.
I don't think you'll regret keeping it at all and anyway, those of us who are working are probably still sorting out the post Christmas bills. if you do need to let it go, try just before the summer hols, or maybe the autumn?
schneiderhan
04-02-2012, 18:17
Thanks Dave R - I know what you mean, I've only just about scrapped through January myself. I'm very relieved to be keeping it - it really is terrific and I've now come to view it as a necessary restorative to a vintage amp system (it restores the high frequencies:lol:)
As for Harbeths I agree - they are much easier to drive than the figures suggest. Perhaps they don't need the power of the AOS amp but it sounds pretty good I have to say. I would dearly like to hear Anthony's amp with bigger speakers (I have P3ESRs), but I have a 10ft by 12ft listening room so there's not much scope for that at the moment. I am a huge fan of Harbeths - they were game-changers for me, and their smooth impedence curve makes them ideal partners for valve ampflication, provided the output transformers are up to the job.
Nice one, Matt. Glad you're not selling it! :)
I'm very relieved to be keeping it - it really is terrific and I've now come to view it as a necessary restorative to a vintage amp system (it restores the high frequencies:lol:)
Aye, the TD amp is like a pair of (stock) Quad IIs with their in-built 'snooze function' switched off! :lol:
Marco.
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