View Full Version : The Art of Sound power amplifier is for sale!
Steve Toy
05-10-2009, 16:56
The Tube Distinctions/AOS valve power amplifier, originally a Puresound A30 valve integrated is for sale.
This amp was purchased by me brand new from Coherent Systems (Mr. C) in April last year before being extensively modified (as was the plan from the outset) by Anthony Matthews (anthonyTD, Supermod of this forum).
The internal circuitry was altered to give the amp more guts as well as power (up from 30 to 38wpc). It measures flat from 4 to 100,000 Hz at half power.
With the right speakers (a reasonable consistent load and ideally 89dB+ sensitivity) this amp has the kind of grip, punch and speed in the bass you'd normally expect from very good solid state amps while giving you the fluidity, transparency and delicacy of valves. It also majors on coherence, dynamics and sheer musical involvement in the right system.
It comes with 4 cryo treated Svetlana KT88s, 4 NOS JAN Philips 6SN7s and two NOS Mullard GZ34 valves and all original packaging.
To replicate this amp you would need to purchse a Puresound A30 integrated for £1400* before sending it to Anthony in Sounth Wales to be modified and revalved bringing the total cost to around £2800.
I am selling it to free up funds to purchase a Tube Distinctions Copper amp on which this amp in its modified form is based.
£1595
*The cheap Bewitch versions are not specified for UK voltages and making them so would incur greater cost and time.
Photos below:
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3503/qsrefrack023.jpg (http://img70.imageshack.us/i/qsrefrack023.jpg/)
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/954/bakeoff0708014.jpg (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/bakeoff0708014.jpg/)
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/189/pictures050608018.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/i/pictures050608018.jpg/)
Very nice amp Steve, it looks like you are going to beat me to it for the Copper amp as i is skint at the Moment, perhaps i could send the wife out for a few shifts on the corner selling her wares:lol:
Very nice amp Steve, it looks like you are going to beat me to it for the Copper amp as i is skint at the Moment, perhaps i could send the wife out for a few shifts on the corner selling her wares:lol:
Hi Jonboy,
Not looking for details, but if she can earn that sort of money in a few shifts ........ :lolsign:
Cheers,
Jon,
The Copper amp is gorgeous (I know, I've got one ;)), but in terms of performance, Steve's amp gets you 95% of the way there...
So why not snap up Steve's amp if the Copper amp is just a little beyond your reach? :)
The only reason Steve's selling his amp is to obtain that elusive extra 5% and because the Copper amp is a collector's item, as no more are being made.
Having heard Steve's amp on many occasions, you'd honestly not better it commercially for less than £5k. I kid you not! The eminently talented Anthony TD has 'breathed on it' quite considerably.
Marco.
Steve Toy
05-10-2009, 18:30
I'm not expecting to have too much difficulty in shifting this amp but if anyone wants to hear it they are welcome to pop round and hear it in-situ.
problem is i have just bought my Tannoys with a promise that i sell some kit too fund that outlay, and now you are dangling that carrot in front of me again :doh: i can't deal with the stress of it all:lol:
LOL - life's a bitch :lol: :lol:
You know it makes sense, though... Opportunities to own an amp like that don't come along every day ;)
I shall say no more.
Marco.
Steve Toy
05-10-2009, 19:04
Hmm. My amp plus Tannoys = .....
Rare Bird
05-10-2009, 21:11
The Copper amp is gorgeous (I know, I've got one
Look s nice
Is the copper on that amp of yours clear Anodized or at least clear coat
http://www.audionote.co.uk/products/amps_monoblock/gaku-on_01.shtml
No idea, matey - judge for yourself:
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3829/copperamp015.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/i/copperamp015.jpg/)
:)
Marco.
P.S The picture was taken when it was round at my mate Ian Walker's place. You can see his mad hard-wired mains set-up to the right, which is similar to mine :eyebrows:
Rare Bird
05-10-2009, 21:48
Very nice, i could do with some of those Copper bell end transformer cover but i need imperial sizes!
Who's the guy with the Copper DAC then Marco?
That's Tubehunter (Duncan) - a mate of mine and Ian's. There's a good crowd down here; it's a pity you aren't nearer :)
Marco.
Steve Toy
06-10-2009, 12:16
To add: I made this thread a sticky not becaise the owner (me) is admin but because the amp for sale bears the AOS label. Anyone selling kit with this label could, in future, request their ad being made a sticky.
So far, one other person has owned equipment bearing this label.
Steve Toy
22-11-2009, 18:48
Sold to Hamish who becomes a member of the owners' club of AOS/Tube Distinctions amplification along with myself and Marco.
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 19:17
:) ... i should get something under my name i recon :)
What do you fancy and we'll arrange it? :)
Marco.
How about 'Tube Distinctions tube'? :lol: :lolsign:
Only kidding, Hamish!
Dimitri might have to look up what being referred to as a 'tube' means in English ;)
I nominate 'Tube Distinctions Daftee'...
Marco.
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 19:33
anyone else got any nominations
What do you fancy?
Marco.
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 19:37
dunno really... let me think, im not to fussed really.... giz a min and il have a think
How about 'Tube Distinctions tube'? :lol: :lolsign:
Only kidding, Hamish!
Dimitri might have to look up what being referred to as a 'tube' means in English ;)
I nominate 'Tube Distinctions Daftee'...
Marco.
A small, collapsible, cylinder of metal or plastic sealed at one end and having a capped opening at the other from which paint, toothpaste, or some other semifluid substance may be squeezed ?
The curled hollow formed on the underside of a cresting wave ?
A can of beer ?
A telescope ?
:lolsign:
Steve Toy
22-11-2009, 19:39
AOS/Tube Distinctions amplification Afficionado
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 19:42
how about "Advanced super amazing king of aos and the best person in the known universe, who also happens to have some amps with aos on them"....
...
or... steves suggestion would be just fine :)
Done! Although, I've fixed Steve's spelling mistake ;)
Marco.
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 19:51
coolio... im special now :lolsign:
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 19:52
can have a capital "A" in my Amplification ... i think it desurves it
AOS/Tube Distinctions amplification Afficionado
Very nice ! :)
This is a very nice amplifier, very good improvement over standard, and at a very fair price to be honest. Some one will get a great amplifier at this price.
We do not sell Anthony's equipment, however I have had the pleasure of listening to the said unit a few times now, a superb bargain for some one.
Tony
can have a capital "A" in my Amplification ... i think it desurves it
Your wish is our command! :)
Marco.
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 20:12
cheers!
tony, i think you might be a bit behind on that post
coolio... im special now :lolsign:
I always suspected you are "special", hamish! :lol:
Aye, 'special needs'!! :lol: :lol: :lolsign:
;)
Marco.
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 21:02
Most people do :lolsign:
The Vinyl Adventure
22-11-2009, 21:52
New signature now and all! Just gotta get the kit in the new house for some phots and I'm done!
electric beach
08-12-2009, 11:23
So far, one other person has owned equipment bearing this label.
I came to this as a direct result of your posts about this A30 project Steve.
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5001/thebeasto.jpg[/IMG]
Congratulations Hamish, you cunning fox! She's gorgeous, I've seen her in the flesh (but not heard unfortunately). Watch out for the wrist ache from that pride-of-ownership polishing. :champagne:
Watch out for the wrist ache from that pride-of-ownership polishing. :champagne:
OMG...Fnar,fnar...:rofl::rofl:
The Vinyl Adventure
08-12-2009, 11:37
:) it should be here within the next hour or so!
Steve Toy
08-12-2009, 11:49
Steve where did you see her in the flesh? So you bought the AOS/TD Yaqin off Ian Walker then.
All you need now is an AOS/TD grounded grid pre and you are well away!
Steve,
No, that's Anthony's own Yaqin which Anthony has modified, not Ian's old amp. It had black transformer covers and chassis, remember? :)
Steve (electric beach),
Nice one. I know that amp well. I had one very similar (although not as good) myself. It's essentially what got Steve Toy and me into valves!
Marco.
The Vinyl Adventure
08-12-2009, 12:07
.... I was gonna say that doesn't look like my amp...
electric beach
08-12-2009, 12:10
Steve where did you see her in the flesh? So you bought the AOS/TD Yaqin off Ian Walker then.
All you need now is an AOS/TD grounded grid pre and you are well away!
No, I bought the Yaqin myself then Anthony breathed on it, changed it to a dual mono power amp only (I think based on the work he'd done on the A30 and Ian's amp). I'd bought a Mapletree pre before I knew about the AOS pre, though that could be a potential future upgrade. Have my eye on Tubehunter's Copper/Brass Dac to replace the MF Trivista21, but it's not the best timing at the mo - damn! :doh:
I saw the Copper amp at Anthony's. Was the AOS pre an original build or a conversion?
No, I bought the Yaqin myself then Anthony breathed on it...
Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification. I knew that Anthony had a standard Yaqin of his own, so I thought he'd sold it to you and modified it :)
Marco.
electric beach
08-12-2009, 12:31
Steve,
No, that's Anthony's own Yaqin which Anthony has modified, not Ian's old amp. It had black transformer covers and chassis, remember? :)
Steve (electric beach),
Nice one. I know that amp well. I had one very similar (although not as good) myself. It's essentially what got Steve Toy and me into valves!
Marco.
It was my first valve experience too. I ran it stock for about a year, was really impressed with it's ability to drive quite difficult speakers (87db) and I never had a problem. But as I've posted before, when Anthony made the upgrade, rebuild would be more appropriate, the sound had the same sonic signatures as the stock Yaqin but became a class act; I liken it to James Bond changing from casual jeans and shirt into his dinner suit - still James, but...
No going back now! You can't unknow something.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.