Tube amplifiers are no longer what they used to be. And that’s a good thing. Tube amplifiers in the past: built like something out of a hobby store, operational reliability as good as hell, performance subterranean. Tube amplifiers today: built like a fortress, highly reliable and durable thanks to microprocessor …
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The Octave V70 Class A attempts a special balancing act: it wants to be an integrated amplifier that combines the precision of the transistor with the tonal beauty of the tube and the Class A circuit. It has succeeded quite well… The tube specialist Octave has created its own league …
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Can an integrated amplifier for 20,000 euros excite many HIFi fans? You would think: no. But wrong. The Westend Audio Monaco is currently enjoying an astonishing triumph. Its secret: amazingly precise tube sound plus an individual, perfect surface finish. LowBeats tested the dream amplifier – and probably won’t be giving …
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