Page 78 - Hi-Fi World (January 2020)

LETTERS & EMAILS

any doubts, ask Elite whether they
can measure the voltage across the
cathode resistors of each output
valve: they should be similar, matched
within 10%. I suggest you pay for
this service: it is dangerous and only
for those aware of the safety issues.
If Elite would rather not do this
then Dave Tutt can help – see the
next letter for details. He works in
Sony STRDN-1080 AV amp. Its sound is "spacious, powerful and Chatham, Kent, so you might have to
effortless, but also smooth and detailed" says Mike Tartaglia get into the car.
Kershaw. The lower damping available
from a valve amplifier will give
use a sub-woofer and selected the Quad At 29kg, I really do not want to slightly more obvious bass. As you
22L because it has powerful bass for its have to post this amp off each time the say, increasing negative feedback will
size (and that lovely veneer). valves need to be changed. Is this really raise the electrical damping but not
Recently I bought a 4K TV and necessary if I purchase a matched quad by much on valve amplifiers. It does
so I needed a new 4K compatible AV set? sound like you need some acoustical
amplifier. I decided on a Sony STRDN- Also, as you note in your review, I damping for the loudspeakers – and
1080 AV amp which had received good did not notice a great deal of difference a pair of socks stuffed in the port is
reviews over a number of years and between the max and min NF Adj a classic solution! Slightly better is
seemed good value at £429 at Richer settings. I presume one setting gives an open-pore acoustic foam of course,
Sounds. It was a good decision! I have improved damping factor when using my or you can even try another trick
never heard the Quad 22Ls sound so very efficient Heco Direkt Einklangs? from the 1970s, a clutch of drinking
good with stereo music. No, the sound is At the moment the bass is tending straws. NK
not as solid, pure and three dimensional to be over emphasised on either setting
as the PrimaLuna Premium HP amp and I feel I am going to have to try TUNER SERVICING
and Monitor Audio Gold speakers in my some port blocking to tame things down. A main part of my listening is to Radio
main stereo system but boy does the My first venture into valve 3 via a Technics ST-3150AM/FM tuner.
Sony/Quad come close. The stereo sound ownership; hope you don’t mind me Although a budget model it has given,
is spacious, powerful and effortless, but tapping into your wealth of experience. and continues to give, reliable service
also smooth and detailed, and fills my Any other tips would be greatly and great musical pleasure.
16 ft living room. appreciated. I am aware, however, that it is now
The Sony amp has brought out the Kind regards, some 45 years old and that electronic
deep bass of the Quad 22s for the first Trevor Rea components degrade with age. I have,
time since 2004. I really believe this therefore, been wondering about having
amp is ‘audiophile on a budget’ and well Hi Trevor. A matched valve set in it serviced but am having difficulty
worth a review. It has been out for many an auto-bias amplifier like the Ekco finding an individual or company that
years and may be replaced soon but I (review October 2014 edition) does has the equipment/expertise to service
think it might become a bit of a second- not need checking: that is the whole FM tuners. I am also wondering whether
hand classic, like the Marantz SR8002 point of getting ‘matched quads’ as I should just put the thought aside on
I let go many years ago. If anyone is they are called. And very good of the basis of if it ain’t broke ....
in the market for a good value good Elite Audio to fit a new set of KT88s, Given that the tuner is still
sounding AV amp get a Sony STRDN- since this is expensive. If you have performing well would you recommend
1080 while you can.
Best wishes,
Mike Tartaglia Kershaw
EKCO ECHO
I hope you don’t mind me asking a
question regarding a rather old review
you carried out some time ago!
I recently purchased a second
hand Ekco EV55SE valve amp which,
unfortunately upon delivery I discovered,
had one of the KT88 valves broken. Elite
Audio were fantastic and took back the
amp, checked it out and replaced all the
output valves with a new set of Electro
Harmonix KT88s. Bravo them!
The question I have is that the
instruction booklet states that if valves
are replaced the amp should be
returned to the manufacturer, whereas The Ekco EV55SE valve amplifier, weight 29kg. “I really do not
your review states that the design is want to have to post this amp off each time the valves need to be
auto biasing. changed. Is this really necessary?” asks Trevor Rea.
78 HI-FI WORLD JANUARY 2020 www.hi-fiworld.co.uk