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View Full Version : Art Audio Concerto MK2 valve amplifier. Superb condition and sound.



Colin151
11-02-2015, 19:17
Up for sale is my Art Audio Concerto MK2 valve power amp, bought late last year from Mike on this forum (Mike Adams) who is a friend of Tom Willis, the designer. The amp is in the highly desirable chrome finish and is 6 years old. It was taken in for servicing by Tom Willis last year and nothing needed replacing. The Caps etc are good to go for many years. Its had very little use as it was apparently sat at the German distributor for many years.

It comes with the highly rated Svetlana Winged C KT88s which cost around £55 each, and it also comes with a spare set of Svetlana Winged C 6550s (which cost around £60 each so that's £240 worth). Very little use with either valves. It does about 40 powerful watts a channel with the KT88 and can also take KT90s and KT120s without a problem and without modification for more power if required. The KT88s sounds fuller and a bit more laidback whilst the 6550s sound a bit more upfront. The Svetlanas are way, way better sounding than the Chinese and Russian tubes I've tried in this amp, which sound very rough/coarse in comparison.

This is the more desirable MK2 version of the Concerto with split core output transformers with 4 and 8 ohm output taps, for compatibility with any speakers, and it has a redesigned chassis for better heat dissipation.

It's currently configured in Tetrode mode, but can be wired in triode coupled mode by Tom Willis if required, and the negative feedback can also be altered. He could also install switches to enable easy switching between the modes and feedback settings if required.

This amp sounds superb, - it has a highly musical and coherent sound, far better than the cheap Chinese stuff that floats around which often sound clinical. This amp is handbuilt in the UK. The output transformers and key to the musical sound and are expensive to make. They are custom wound by Sowter in the UK.

Looking for a firm £1850 for this amp. If it was made today the cost would be near to £4K according to Tom Willis, and it comes with spare expensive valves. Selling as I want to upgrade to something like a big pair of Jadis monoblocks for use with my Maggies.

I have the original box so can send in the UK, but I'd really prefer pickup (from London) on this one due to the value of the item. Can demo if required.

139691397013968

Mike Adams
11-02-2015, 21:34
This was mine; its a great amp for medium sensitivity speakers Ive not heard anything better.

It would be a perfect match with some Tannoys....I used it briefly with some 15 Reds in GRFs, as well as Golds in Lockwood Majors and it sounded fantastic.

Tom Willis is one of the stars of the audio world in my opinion, no BS, lets you make your own mind up, honest and trustworthy.

Buy with confidence.
Mike

montesquieu
11-02-2015, 21:43
Nice amp and I would think be right up there with the best of them for Tannoys (MGs or HPDs). If I wasn't sorted myself with the Radford STA100 (which is also a KT88/KT90 amp) I'd be all over this.

Colin151
11-02-2015, 21:58
Thanks for the words guys. It certainly is a wonderful sounding amp. It's so musical. I have a pair of Proacs it works fantastically with but my Maggies are very insensitive (83 dB) and really demand some monoblocks with 4 output tubes a side.

This amp is supposed to indeed be great with Tannoys but I believe Tom Willis originally designed it for use with his Quad ESL63s so it should also drive some of the electrostatics very well.

SLS
13-02-2015, 11:12
Another +1 for Tom's amps.

I've just bought a pair of Concerto mono blocks as my Jota is not quite powerful enough for my Harbeth speakers.

Tom assures me that the mid and treble from the Concerto is almost on a par with the 300BXLS Jota, which is simply glorious, so it is a bargain at the price.

struth
13-02-2015, 11:20
worthy of a full pic


http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13969&d=1423682136

Colin151
16-02-2015, 20:35
Bump. thanks for the comments guys. The previous owner (Mike) told me he took it to Tom's place and compared to many other of his amps (even the much more expensive ones) and he thought it was the best allroudner. The mid and treble are indeed gorgeous, and the bass has a kick that most SET amps can't achieve.

Colin151
01-03-2015, 18:44
Bump. Still available.

Colin151
03-03-2015, 18:10
Bump. Price reduction to £1750, which is a great deal for an amp of this age with the two sets of pricey tubes included. Can demo no problem.

hifi_dave
03-03-2015, 18:39
Which Jadis are you interested in ? I might be able to p/x.

Colin151
06-03-2015, 22:15
Which Jadis are you interested in ? I might be able to p/x.


Sorry didn't see this earlier. Thanks for the offer but I'm not after a new Jadis (too pricey!)

Cheers
Colin

Colin151
17-03-2015, 17:28
Bump for this wonderful amp.

Colin151
23-03-2015, 18:35
Bump.