Valvet E1r Solidstate SE monoblock power amplifiers

[Clive]

These Single-Ended Class A solidstate monoblock amps are a 2.5 years old. They put out 10W into 8 ohms or 18W into 4 ohms. They are in immaculate condition and I have the manaufacturer's shipping box. Their new price is €1,700 (around £1,350), I offer this lovely pair of monoblocks for £800. No power cables are included, postage within the UK is included. Any dust you see on the photos may be included. ;)

As I have 4 sets of power amps to choose from so the time has come to slim down my collection. I tend to rotate the amps I use so in 2.5 years these amps have probably been used for around 6 months. If you like the sound of a good single-ended valve amp you will like the sound of the Valvet E1r.

Manufactuer's page: http://valvet.de/?page_id=2757

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/Vfull_zpsd9bbaf44.jpg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/Vfull_zpsd9bbaf44.jpg.html)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/Vfront_zps27760a7d.jpg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/Vfront_zps27760a7d.jpg.html)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/Vrear_zps2a7f6f2d.jpg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/Vrear_zps2a7f6f2d.jpg.html)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/cmeakins/V_zps3a88b16c.jpg (http://s43.photobucket.com/user/cmeakins/media/V_zps3a88b16c.jpg.html)

[Bens]

Hi Clive,
I am curious about your Valvet E1Rs. Are they still for sale?

I too have Bastanis Chrystalis drivers and gemini tweeters (for which I have yet to make a baffle, but am planning to soon). I have been looking into getting more revealing amplification than my current Naim NAP250. To this end I bought a Jungson ja99c last year and used for about 7 months until it stopped working. As best I could assess with my Naim N-Sats and Epos ELS subs, the Jungson had more mid-range and upper frequency resolution so that voices were clearer and melodies on instruments such as piano were easier to follow. On the other hand the Jungson's deep bass did seem more bloated and bouncy to my ears than the Naim and then there was the heat. In south east Qld Australia, the 26 kg supposed 80watt pure class-A acted like a space heater, which was fine in winter, but not summer. So I am curious as to what you might replace your Valvet E1Rs with? I notice you have been using a representative tube, solid state, and digital amplification for your equipment reviews for the last few years. Are you going to skip out the solid state representative or have you got your eye/ear on another brand or model of low powered solid state monoblock?

Kind regards, Ben

[Clive]

Hi Ben,

I'd have thought any class A amps would be a struggle in QLD unless you run A/C. I use my class A in a cold UK basement so it's quite welcome. The Valvets are still available but as you can tell from the age of the ad I'm not too concerned whether they sell. I'm still very happy to use them and not just as part of my review process but for listening pleasure. In some respects the last thing I need is another amp so no, I've not got my eye on a another amp but something will no doubt come along. The money I have tied up in the Valvets could go towards a new FX DSLR camera for my review photos.

Good luck with your OB's, they are fun and seriously good.

Cheers,

Clive

[Marco]

Where've you been, Clive? You've been rather quiet recently! :)

Marco.

[Clive]

Hi Marco, I've simply spent less time on forums and when I have been on them it's been more about cameras. Similar wars but this time about megapixels, dynamic range, low light sensitivity. I've still been reviewing for enjoythemusic. Work and personal life got in the way too.

[Bens]

Hi Clive or anyone who is interested in this thread,

Since looking into the 10 watts at 8 Ohms Valvet E1rs, I started looking into other options. I am still a bit scared of making my own valve amp, and anything I order has to be under $1000AUD to avoid customs duties in Australia. I did stumble across the NAKSA 100 completed amplifier boards one per channel on their own heat sinks (1400 AUD or so). You have to buy your own power transformer, case, and switch.

The NAKSA 100 is solid state, but made by a guy, Hugh Dean, who has many years of experience making tube amps and has developed circuits to minimize odd order harmonic distortion but allow even order distortion. Reviews say it is not fatiguing and is without the transient edginess normally found in SS. It has been receiving excellent reviews overseas as well as in Australia. John Darko did a review with the NAKSA 100 with high sensitivity speakers (rated at 99 db/watt) and compared them with favourably with Japanese Valve Amps of considerably more expense.

The NAKSA 100 can be configured as monoblocks, which might serve as a suitable upgrade to my working Naim NAP250 or now not working Jungson JA99C (supposedly) pure class-a space heater. The monoblocks would power my Bastani Chrystals wide band (100Hz to 11,000Hz) 12 inch drivers and Gemini tweeters, yet to be installed.


Regarding using high power amps with high sensitivity speakers, Troels Gravesen had this to say about amplification options for his open baffle high sensitivity speakers the OBL-11 rated at 95 dB:


"Can the OBL-11 be driven from your 8 wpc 300B amp? Yes, if you don't play particularly loud. Does the Audio Mirror 20 wpc amps sound more dynamic? Yes. Does the Jungson amp - 80 wpc - really kick butt? Yes!
Generally speaker manufacturers are way too optimistic about how little power is needed for driving their speakers and generally amp manufacturers are way too optimistic about how ineefficient speakers can be driven from their amps."

Does anyone have any experience with the NAKSA or older AKSA amplifiiers? Any pictures videos or advice on building them? Or any opinions regarding using powerful but sweet sounding amps with high efficiency speakers?

Warm regards, Ben Gaffney

[Marco]

Hi Marco, I've simply spent less time on forums and when I have been on them it's been more about cameras. Similar wars but this time about megapixels, dynamic range, low light sensitivity. I've still been reviewing for enjoythemusic. Work and personal life got in the way too.

Hi Clive,

Only just noticed your response! Yup, no worries. Been very busy here too myself. Anyway, take care and pop in whenever you get a chance, as your contributions here are always welcome :)

Marco.

[Clive]

No worries Marco.

Hi Ben,

I've seen the NAKSA articles previously though I've never heard one. Given where you live a Class AB or D or T amp would be a much better proposition than Class A. I know someone in a hot climate who had to given up with their Sugden as it was too unreliable in the heat. Yes I think extra power would be useful even with efficient speakers. My Bastanis run fine on 2W, 8W to 10Ws a little better and I know of some who drive them with 30W to 60W. 100W is IMO more than overkill though. Personally if I wanted more power for efficient speakers I'd be thinking more like 30W to 50W max. More than 50W will simply result in your paying money for capacity you won't need. In a cooler climate I'd be looking for 30W class A....maybe a Sugden.

Clive

[orbscure]

Going off on a slight tangent Clive, would these monoblocks drive a pair of ProAc Studio 140 MK2's (http://www.proac-loudspeakers.com/html_files/Speakers.php?Range=Studio&Speaker=Studio140Mk2)?

[Clive]

Going off on a slight tangent Clive, would these monoblocks drive a pair of ProAc Studio 140 MK2's (http://www.proac-loudspeakers.com/html_files/Speakers.php?Range=Studio&Speaker=Studio140Mk2)?

It's hard to say Pete....it would I think be tight though workable in some situations. The speakers are 4R (min 3.2R) and 91db/m. The amps should give around 18W into those speakers, which is just above the ProAc minimum of 15W. A lot would also depend on the complexity of the crossover and whether this is an awkward load.

[orbscure]

Muchas grassyass Clive... I've always wanted to try monoblocks and these get positive write-ups when I Google them :)

[glyphin]

Are these still available?