This is the tube amplifier that he ordered from us:
PCL85 Night Light Tube Amplifier
Here goes the review - unedited. :)
Custom designed and build PCL85
Single Ended Triode Amplifier by J and K Audio Design.
A few months
ago, I was trolling the famous Ipoh Sunday flea market and found a box of NOS
PCL82, PCL85, PCL86, and some other TV valves offered at flea market price. I
bought the whole lot on impulse not having a clue what to do with them.
A search on
the internet shows there are many simple spud amplifiers assembled successfully
using PCL86 and PCL85 valves. These valves are equivalent (more or less) to
ECC83/EL84 in one tube. As I own many valve amplifiers, I am curious how these
valves sounds like. I called Ken Loo of J and K Audio Design whom I knew from
previous purchase of his merchandise to find out whether he is interested to
design and build a low cost simple amplifier using these valves on an aluminum
plate. A few weeks later, Ken replied
that PCL85 valves are viable 2W in triode mode and list down the options on the
components he would use and the associated cost. I have no illusion of what a
2W SET amplifier can perform as I already own a 1626 “Darling” SET amplifier
rated at only 0.75 Watts per channel.
After
several Whatsapp exchanges and a visit to Ken’s listening room trying out his Night
Light tube amplifier paired with his 100dB Zu floor standing speakers, I
eventually settled for the “over the top” option of using tube rectification
and his propriety power and output transformers. This way, if the project turns
out to be unsatisfactory, I would be still able to salvage the output
transformer for a SET 300B amplifier and if it turns out to Ken’s confident
claim it will be a keeper, I would have own the best endowed PCL85 SET
amplifier (as far as I know) ever build. Ken informed me it would another month
before he will start work on my project as he has a couple of ongoing amplifier
projects.
The
amplifier is ready for voicing out by September 2014 and after listening to some
difficult music; Ken decided to do away with pentode and UL modes altogether as
it sounded a little bright.
It was early
September 2014 when the PCL85 is ready for audition. I went over to Ken’s place
full of anticipation wondering how the amplifier would sound like. When Ken greeted me with ear to ear smile into
his house, my earlier worries just evaporated away when I hear the music coming
from his listen room upstairs.
We hurried
upstairs into the listening room where the amplifier was cooking for the past
two hours. I was greeted by another Ken’s regular audiophile client and
listening session began.
As usual,
the amplifier was paired up with Ken’s Zu speaker. My first impression was
confirmed. The reproduced music is as immaculate as the amplifier layout and
finishing. It captures the warmth and richness of music played. This little
fellow got guts and bass! (Ken’s is a self proclaim bass freak).
We went
through some audiophile recordings of my choice and the amplifier simply
performed. It has soundstage, low frequency fidelity, texture, midrange clarity
and treble refinement. It is a mini 300B! This is a keeper after all.
I am now a
true believer of components synergy. The
choices of each components used requires the skill of a gourmet cook. Ken got
the ability.
Wong nit
chuw
22nd
November 2014
J&K Audio Design
22/11/2014
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