[RobertB53]

Is there the modern incarnation of an amplifier with the vintage sound of a Leak Stereo 20, for example.  One less sensitive for use with a high-gain preamplifier.  (I believe that the Shindo Montille has pots to reduce output.  It is nice to see preamps with the option of running with or without feedback.  And amps suitable for use with a passive as well as active seem  a good idea.)

[Les Lammers]

I have an Aurieges and Montille and have heard a lot of EL84 amps but none come close to this pair. If you call around you may find demo or trade in pieces. I would not call it vintage sound but is is DGA, Darn Good Audio.

My 2 cents.

[SET Man]

Hey!

   This is interesting.

   First, what is this vintage sound? What is sound like to you?

   I've never heard the Leak Stereo 20. But I've heard about them on the net. Nice looking amp by the way

   My take on this is that if you like that Leak than why not buy one? Since you are asking for kit than I guess restoring the Leak will not be much of a problem with you. And the plus side is that those old output transformers might be better than some of today kit especially inexpensive one.

   Yes, I know that finding one could be a problem. But if you are not in the rush and have patient than why not wait?

   This way you will have the vintage sound that you want from a real vintage amp. And the other good thing is that the Leak will likely hold it value better than newer kit could in the long run.

   Anyway, good luck

Take care,
Buddy

[JoshK]

Many ways of getting there, but first some questions.  How much gain does your preamp have?  What do you use as a source?

EL84 amps are special IMO.  EL84 aka 6BQ5 has some close kin, the PL84, the 6AQ5, the 6V6, even the EL86 and russian EL83/EL84 alikes (6P13 or something like that).  The PP EL84 amp that most intrigues me is the Red Light District by SY.  Its a DIY project but it is very well documented.  You could have a technician make it for you.  It is possibly the most modern implementation of this type of amp.   I think he actually ran a pair of Apogees off this 15 watt amp.

[JoshK]

I found a clearer copy of the schematic here.  This is low gain?  If so it uses a crap load of feedback, and I mean a crapload.  That has got to be some of the highest gain front ends I've seen (more feedback lowers gain). 

Honestly, this sort of amp is ok for guitars when you want to overdrive the outputs to get a crunchy sound or if you want to wash over a plethora of sins (non-linearity) with gobs and gobs of feedback.  One can do much better than this today.  Have a look at Audio Vista's EL84 amp...this is a much better implementation of an EL84 amp.

[Brad]

Josh - thanks for the note on the Red Light district amp.
I guess you could say I'm an EL84 fan.

My main amp is a Scott 222c
and I just got on the order list for an Eddie Vaughn Carina.
and just picked up one of the Single ended Magnavox console amps.....

Here's a 6v6 amp I ran across today among the many Hong Kong amps on e*ay
Interesting cosmetics

[Brad]

RobertB53 - sorry to take this so far off topic   

[Gordy]

Hi Robert,

I heard these new Dynakits at the VTV show in NJ, looked and sounded great!   There are some nice reviews on them as well if you search around a bit...  dynakit

[RobertB53]

Thanks for the interesting replies.  I currently use an Audio Note preamp and never engage the feedback toggle, but sometimes use a nice passive--Penny and Giles, Vishay--and it sounds good, too.  They match well with the amp section of a Stromberg-Carlson integrated.  Speakers are inefficient Jordans but, sometimes, I get tired of accuracy and hook up something else.  I used the Leak amp as an example because there is just something special about tube rectification.  I'm listening to plain old records more and more and can't get enough gain from the passive for the Jordans.  Have to admit, that Montille looks mouthwatering, too.  Thanks, again.  Very helpful.