Synthesis Soprano LE Integrated Amplifier

[ianlenco]

For sale my Limited Edition Synthesis Soprano valve amp. Bought in mid August I was going to keep it but then my Electrocompaniet, which I had bought as a stop gap, didn't sell so I've decided to sell this amp.

Basically the Synthesis LE is a 15w amp using four EL84 valves. Not only does it look great but it sounds great whether you're using the built in DAC or phono stage. The standard model outputs 12w whereas the LE outputs 15w. Finish is titanium rather than black and sockets are upgraded too.

Full details can be found here: https://www.henleyaudio.co.uk/products/Soprano-LE

As can be seen from the photographs condition is as new and includes all original accessories, remote, manual, mains lead and packaging.

https://i.imgur.com/oZc9n9ah.jpg#gWPQG

https://i.imgur.com/PbsYKeoh.jpg#gWPQG

https://i.imgur.com/QkztWKFh.jpg#gWPQG

https://i.imgur.com/i5XNjErh.jpg#gWPQG

https://i.imgur.com/IbBR4Sqh.jpg#gWPQG

It's had very little use, count in tens of hours rather than hundreds. Designed and manufactured in Italy it looks as good as it sounds.

A new LE costs £1449 but you could have mine delivered for less than the lower powered standard model.

£995 including delivery to UK mainland. More than happy for you to come and have a listen and collect.

Review here: https://hifiplus.com/articles/synthesis-soprano-le-integrated-amplifier/

[ianlenco]

I've decided to keep this amp so my Electrocompaniet is back up for sale.

[ianlenco]

Mark at Ming Da spotted an amp I might be interested in so I've decided to put the Soprano back up for sale. Now 3 months older but still in perfect condition, I'll reduce the price to £950 inc postage to mainland UK. It's a beautiful sounding amp which works very well with my 89dB speakers but not quite as good with my 86dB alternatives so a reasonably sensitive pair of speakers would be my recommendation.

[struth]

attractive little amp..

[ianlenco]

It is Grant. The footprint is smaller than your typical amp but it is a bit taller too. Small it may be but with the right speakers it sings with plenty of power.

[ianlenco]

If anybody has a decent mm phono stage I would consider it in a part exchange.

[ianlenco]

Built in high quality DAC and phono stage so basically all most people would need in an attractive, compact box. Drives my 89dB speakers to high levels in a 22 x 14ft room with ease. Happy to demonstrate. Open to sensible offers before it goes to ebay.

[sal_cats]

I have a Puresound p10 phono stage for sale and would be interested in a part exchange. If that interests you could you send me a PM?

[ianlenco]

Hi Salvador,
I can't pm you, I think it might be because you haven't, as a new member, made enough posts to have PM's activated. I might be interested but it depends on how much you want for your P10.

[sal_cats]

Ah okay, fair enough. Would you like to discuss this over text or email or on here?

[ianlenco]

I've got your number and I'll ring you tomorrow. It might be a good idea if you delete your number in the post above.

[ianlenco]

Final reduction before it goes to ebay. £900 collected or £925 to include insured delivery.

[ianlenco]

Sadly now gone to ebay. A lot cheaper here!

[ianlenco]

Still here. Think of the boxes you could get rid of with this compact all in one machine. Your wife will love you even more :)

[ianlenco]

Quote from the HiFi Plus review


I’d hesitate to say this is the most neutral amplifier you can buy because the sound it makes is so sublime and satisfying. Any yet, neither does it go for the warm ‘comfort blanket’ sound of over-rich valve amplifiers. In short, it toes just the right balance. In fact, if the Soprano’s harmonically rich and elegant sound, plus its exceptional imaging, represent a deviation from strict neutrality, it’s a deviation that I’m sure many will happily go for. This also means the Soprano covers its tracks well, too, because you are enjoying the sound too much. In other words, it’s a lovely, sweet-sounding amplifier that makes you want to listen to music more… who really cares if that is not strictly accurate?

Perhaps the biggest plus-point for the Soprano LE sound is its ability to ‘scale’ well. Put something fey and small sounding its way [Feist’s ‘Mushaboom’, Let It Die, Polydor] and it will make it seem small, close, and intimate. Then flip over to a huge wall of sound [Muse’s ‘Invincible’, Black Holes & Revelations, Helium-3] and you can almost hear the stadium (or a haunted house ride full of sci-fi skyscrapers and evil pumpkin teddy bears, if you watch Muse’s crazy video). That ability to move from the tonsils of a breathy girl-with-guitar singer to a large orchestral piece, to post-modern progressive rock with a distinctly sci-fi feel is the mark of something really good, and the Soprano LE does it so very, very well.

Try a cheeky offer for this excellent amplifier.

[ianlenco]

I do need to recoup some of the cost of this amp so I will accept £850 collected or £875 delivered.

[Lawrence001]

Did you buy it new? Feels like a big saving on the new price for a relatively new amp.

[ianlenco]

Yes I did and I agree it is a big saving.:) I bought it from Audio Freaks and did get a discount of a couple of hundred pounds. It was new and not ex-demo. After a mini shoutout with a couple of well regarded EL34 amps with admittedly more power I'm beginning to wonder whether I should hang on to this.

[ianlenco]

Another view. Cute or what!

https://i.imgur.com/aSf4QwJh.jpg#gWPQG

[struth]

i would keep it if i didnt need money. its a lovely little thing. decent price for nearly new. still on sale at 1440 i think too. glws

[ianlenco]

Thanks Grant. It's not so much that I need the money but I like to keep the annual hifi budget within certain bounds so if I buy something I generally tend to sell something too. That way I keep my "membership" costs to the hifi community reasonable - cheaper than the golf membership fees I used to pay anyway. :lol:

[willbewill]

I've heard this amp at Ian's and if I was in the market for a new one it would be on my list. Although quite low powered it can still drive quite difficult loads and has a wonderful delicacy with vocals, especially female, bringing out the detail and character of each perfomer, even dispaying accents which others miss. On good efficient speakers it is sublime and pairs really well with Ian's Jordan Eikona Tls.

[ianlenco]

Thanks Malcolm. Yes, it was a very interesting comparison with the EL34 tubed amps we compared it with. It was quite a surprise how Karine Polwart's Scottish accent came out on her cover of the Big Country song "Chance" most noticeably the rolling of her r's :) My Jordan's are 89dB so and of course, being full range, don't have power sapping crossovers so any speaker around or above this value will go loud as you like without losing its grip.

[ianlenco]

Last price drop, £825 collected, £850 delivered for this excellent, flexible amplifier.

[ianlenco]

Now sold.

[Lawrence001]

Wish there was a like button on here [emoji16]