Valvetron (tm) Amplifiers
The Valvetron
(tm) series amplifiers represent 40 years of research work into tube transfer
function technology. The work of the designer Graham Dicker, has had this work published
in AEM, Electronics Today, Electronics Australia, Silicon Chip, Elektor, and now AudioXpress
magazine over the last 25 years. He has become a regular contributor, and has
shared his knowledge with the high end
The Valvetron
(tm) series amplifiers work on the principal that, if a valve is placed in the
feedback loop of an exceptional high quality amplifier, the amplifier takes on
the SE (Single Ended) transfer characteristics and sonic qualities of that
valve. As the output valves are operated with about 1/10th. the normal dissipation, the life of the valve is extended to
a very long life. Only the worlds best linear
components are used in these amplifiers with Philips chipsets from
NO DSP or digital technology or
emulation is used in the Valvetron (tm) power
amplifiers, the designer believes that if you want an amplifier to sound like a
SE 6V6 or other nice
NOS and NIB tubes (or 100% tested
used tubes) are used in prefererence to new
manufacture tubes. As such there is a resource of over 20,000 in stock tubes to
pick from. Manufacturers include Philips, Mullard,
AWA, GE, Telefunken, Siemens, RCA and others. Customer
choice is always a priority. All power
levels quoted are at rated RMS continuous sine wave. Output impedance is 8
ohms. All prices quoted inclusive of GST.
As well as the examples shown
(mainly in rack case form) most amplifiers can be built using a traditional
powder coated steel or aluminium chassis, with the valves mounted outside for
appearance, and timber end plates. There is usually little cost difference when
made in this manner. None of the rack cases are low cost off the shelf Asian or
Chinese made cases. All have been custom fabricated in
Valvetron HI-FI series
4 watt per channel 2A3 or 300B SE $599 (using military
CV137 valve and curve matching technology)
4 watt per channel 2A3 SE $899 (using 2A3 tubes and
larger case, 300B POA )
1RU 19" rack case 50 watt per channel SE. Mullard 12AT7 valve
(or choice of RCA 6197, 6V6, 6AQ5, EL34, 6BQ5 (EL84) or 6L6) $999
Studio monitor amplifier version ,
balanced input, cannon sockets and Raytheon 5755 (ECC803S) $1499
2RU 19" rack case 100 watt per channel SE Mullard 12AT7
(RCA 6197, 6BQ5 (EL84), 6V6, 6AQ5, EL34, 6CA7, 807, 12E1,
6550, KT88 on
request) $1699
Studio monitor amplifier version ,
balanced input, cannon sockets and Raytheon 5755 (ECC803S) $1999
3RU 19" rack case 200 watt per channel CV272 or
Y2177 ceramic triode preferred $3499
(other alternatives are Eimac 4CX-250B, 4-125A or RCA 813) $3999
The 4-125A or RCA 813 version is built with a glass
window in the front panel
using a 4RU rack case to view the valves while operating.
Valvetron Guitar series
These
use the same technology in the power amplifier
section as the HI-FI series amplifiers. The
preamp uses a special custom valve transfer function, complimentary symmetry,
SSI Mosfet technology design using laser trimmed, low
noise, precision resistor arrays, which transfer curve match, the Telefunken ECC803S and the Mullard
ECC32.
The
preamp has factory selectable gain stages, from 1 to 4 stages of the famous ECC803S (the
high performance SQ - special quality version of the 12AX7) with each stage set
to a gain of 10 giving a maximum gain of 10,000 times for that exceptional
dirty sound, and/or from 1 to 2 stages of the ECC32 (the best ever version of
the 6SN7 ever made) again with a gain of 10 per stage or a total of 100 times
for the clean channel . Each amplifier is custom tuned to the customers guitar for levels and tonal control sweet spots. A
sample of different playing styles is recorded and sampled on a computer. A
fast Fourier transform is then performed with each sample, to locate the sweet
spots. These are identified and a custom tone control circuit designed using
the latest computer simulation technology. The end result is tone controls that
actually do something.
Two
footswitch sockets are provided on the rear. to switch
independently the dirty and clean channels, or footswitches can be wired in
changeover mode, the choice is entirely up to the customer. An optional input channel switch can be
provided to quickly select 2 different guitars, the selected channel is fed to both
the dirty and clean channels at the same time.
30 watt AC30 Guitar amplifier uses Military Specification
CV137
(alternatives RCA 6197, 6BQ5
(EL84), 6V6, 6AQ5, on request) SE $699, 19" 1RU rack case.
70 watt AC70 Guitar amplifier SE Military Specification CV137
(alternatives RCA 6197 6BQ5 (EL84), 6V6, 6AQ5 on request) $999, 19" 1RU rack case.
200 watt AC200 Guitar amplifier SE, RCA 6197
standard
(6BQ5 (EL84), 6V6, 6AQ5, EL34, 6CA7, 807, 12E1, 6550, KT88 on request) $1699, 19" 2RU rack case.
Classic Speakers
Available are a number of different speaker enclosure
designs, based on the original Leo Fender Woody appearance. A selection of
vintage speakers are available at cost, including the Blue backed Goodmans as used in the original VOX AC30 amplifiers, Wharfdale 12RSDD, and KEF B200 speakers as used in the EMI
and Telefunken studio monitor speakers (often used in
Abbey Road studio's in place of conventional open back boxes for sessions). Rola 12UX, and 12U50 speakers as used by Goldentone and other manufacturers. The Rola 15U bass speaker as used with many
Photo of Fender Woody
