IC: Tektron 2A3/45 Reference Cancelled

jrebman · « **on:** 8 Feb 2010, 02:32 pm »

Looking to sell my handmade Italian beauty of a 2A3/45 integrated. This amp is best used with speakers of 96 dB sensitivity or greater and with an easy, SET-friendly load, for best performance.

The amp uses either a pair of 2A3s or 45s (set the manual bias using the built-in meters for each tube type), a pair of 6SN7s for drivers, and a type 83 mercury vapor rectifier.

There are 3 switch selectable inputs, and a very cool feature is that the selected input is displayed on a nixie tube display next to the selector switch. Input impedance is 100k and input sensitivity is 400 mV, so basically any source can drive it with ease. The attenuator is a DACT, and there is a rotary standby switch and a rocker power switch.

Around back are 4 exquisite large binding posts, the three sets of RCA inputs, and an IEC inlet with integral fuse holder.

The overall dimensions are approx 12" wide x 9" deep, by approx 7 tall. The chassis is crafted of beautifully figured Italian Olive wood (a $500 upgrade) and the top plate is eutectic copper with a durable finish to prevent it from oxidizing.

Amp will come with no power tubes as the two sets I have are either really expensive or on loan and need to be returned, the original pair of Russian 6H8C driver tubes and the original 83 mercury vapor rectifier. I also have another set of nickel collar 6h8cs and a spare NOS RCA 83 that can be negotiated (as I suppose can be the Premium, grade A matched pair of Shuguang Treasure 2A3zs for the right price, and two pairs of 45s NOS GE ST, and TJ Mesh 45 baloons.))

Price will be in the neighborhood of $2500 (retail with olive wood base and no tubes is something like $5k).

This sounds like a good 2a3 amp with better than average PRAT, and wonderful tone, but efficient speakers are a must -- my Tonians at 95 dB are workable, but higher would give better results with a larger variety of music.

I will post pictures when I have the amp back in a few days (it's out getting a checkup at the moment to make sure everything is in order.) Email with any questions.

-- Jim

gregdee · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Feb 2010, 09:57 am »

courious to see some pictures of it

I believe that olive wood finish must be looking nice

mgalusha · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Feb 2010, 04:30 pm »

Quote from: gregdee on 9 Feb 2010, 09:57 am

courious to see some pictures of it
I believe that olive wood finish must be looking nice

The olive wood is very nice and this is a very attractive and cool little amp. I'll be getting it back to Jim, hopefully tomorrow if I can arrange it. He sent it to me to verify everything was working as expected and indeed it seems to be just fine. As Jim mentioned, this little guy needs efficient speakers but it does have great PRAT and tone. I hooked it up with my Abbeys, which have a sensitivity of 96dB and loved the sound. I didn't expect they would fare well with the Abbey since it has a fairly complex crossover, not particularly SET friendly but the sound was very nice within the limits of it's power.

mike

jrebman · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Feb 2010, 06:52 pm »

Thanks, Mike. Didn't want to put you on the spot, but glad you checked in.

Just a note that this interest check is currently on hold pending arrival and demo of a possible amp for trade. I'll update and post pics, real prices (if they still apply) and new info once I've had a chance to listen to the other amp.

Thanks,

Jim

jrebman · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Feb 2010, 02:43 am »

Ok, this will be formally for sale shortly. I'll update everything and add pics in the next day or two, but price will be $2450 with 3 sets of 6sn7s (2 sets are 6h8c), two 83 rectifiers (one absolutely NOS RCA), but no power tubes. BTW, amp sounds really nice with sovtek 2a3s which can be had for less than $100 per pair.

More shortly...

-- Jim

jrebman · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Mar 2010, 11:03 pm »

Sorry to do this, but either Mike sprinkled some of his magic floobydust on the amp, or my reconfiguration of various things in the system, or the free audio upgrade I got from the power company a couple days ago in the form of a new electric meter (which made everything sound noticeably better) has seemingly cleared up the issues I was having and now the amp sounds fantastic -- even with the Sovteks in it, and I'm sure will be even better when I put the Treasures back in.

Wasn't expecting this at all, but now it sounds even better than the Carina did in it's place, which last week I could have sworn was the ultimate amp for this system.

Anyway, not sure if the Carina will eventually be up for sale or not -- first have to give it some time with the Cornwalls before even thinking about it, but the Tektron stays in the office system.

-- Jim

PaulFolbrecht · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Mar 2010, 02:55 am »

Now that it is no longer for sale I must have it.

mgalusha · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Mar 2010, 03:00 pm »

Glad to hear it's going to hang around, I liked that little amp. I did however use up my years supply of flooby dust...

jrebman · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Mar 2010, 01:45 am »

Well Paul, sorry, can't help you

.

Mike, I'll have to buy you some more floobydust -- seriously, maybe this amp is just really sensitive to noise on the power line, but it sounds like something very different from what I sent you. going direct from the dac to the amp was also a big improvement, but that I can't figure as the LDR has been an improvement with everything else I've tried it with. Just goes to show that a lot of times these things are not at all predictable or consistent.

I'm just really glad to have the DHT sound back in this simple system.

-- Jim