With EL34 or KT88 valves!
Designed by David Shaw, founder of Icon Audio.
Our original award winning Stereo 40 has proved very popular as an amplifier which easily outperforms many of its more expensive competitors. And our highly acclaimed Stereo 60 sets new standards for performance. With the expertise we have gained over the years we have re-designed the Stereo 40 in order build upon its strengths and make further improvements. The ST40 MKII uses a circuit inspired by the H J Leak 1950’s amplifiers. But we chose to use the older, bigger 6SN7 and 6SL7 driver valves from the early 1940’s. These have a reputation for a richer more textured sound, high reliability, and a very long life. This combination of traditional design, excellent valves, audiophile components, custom transformers, massive choke power supply with beautiful looks all adds up to a stunning combination!
The power output stage uses the excellent Mullard EL34. Operating in both “Ultralinear” and Triode mode to give the maximum choice of operating conditions. Over the years the 40 watts of the Stereo 40 have found favour with a wide range of speakers in many different situations. The new larger upgraded transformers have a bigger bandwidth leaving plenty of headroom for dynamics and low distortion. s and smooth clean treble.
Close attention has been paid to the large power supply using eight large capacitors and a large “choke” in a traditional “Pi” configuration. This gives very low source impedance with a huge reserve of power available for large transients without clipping.
This combination gives a very smooth and detailed sound stage which works well to bring out the colour and texture of older recordings and whilst not overemphasizing the harshness of many modern digital recordings. This makes for a very easy to live with amplifier that still has plenty of power to control modern speakers.
Another new feature of the Stereo 40 is the power saving “Warm up/Standby” switch. This prevents valve cathode stripping during start-up and enables the amplifier to remain in standby on low power without wasting valuable valve life or electricity. (only 35w)
The brand new design features high gloss white paint, 20 mm solid alloy front panel with polished alloy knobs. And our famous stainless steel and Plexiglas valve cover to create a stunning visual impression. On the scales at 23Kg this amplifier is 7Kg heavier than the ST40i. No lightweight in quality or performance and should give many years of excellent service.
As each amplifier is prepared to your order here in Leicester. We can offer a range of upgrades including our unique HT delay, premium and “new old stock” valves, the superb Jensen “oil in paper” capacitors. Ask us for a quote.
In recent years it has become accepted that a good specification on ‘paper’ in no guarantee of a good sound. E.G. lots of modern ‘solid state’ equipment sounds ‘harsh’ and ‘clinical’, losing natural ‘warmth’ and ‘colour’, with the dreaded ‘listening fatigue’ which can ruin your listening pleasure after a short while.
We developed the Stereo 40 with the following design criteria:
1, To have a musical, easy listening, “warm sound”.
2, Having adequate power to drive modern speakers to a good volume level on all types of music.
3, To have a total absence of ‘listening fatigue’
4, To work with any modern input source.
5, To be reliable and easy to live with, using easily obtainable valves. (All the valves we use are in production).
6, Easy for owners to do a valve change if required.
7, To have excellent build quality.
8, To be excellent value for money.
We have not used primitive Chinese circuits, but have developed our designs and refined them over time based upon the excellent research and ideas by Mullard, GEC and Williamson in the 1950’s, to mirror the traditional British designs using modern audiophile components.
Most importantly we consider HARD WIRING very important as this has advantages for cool running, simple service and easy upgrade. With no expensive printed circuits to burn out and bullet proof build quality. This method of high quality construction ensures the shortest signal paths, low impedance, low capacitance, low inductance signal paths, with low noise, which promote clean sound quality. Nothing gets hot under the chassis and therefore component life is prolonged.
The amplifier is built to last a life time.
Speaker matching
With 4 & 8ohm taps the Stereo 40 works well with virtually any modern or vintage conventional speaker.
* Comprehensive manual supplied
* Full instructions for valve change included
* All hand wired point to point
* No printed circuit board to ‘colour’ sound
* Japanese Blue ALPS volume pot.
* Class A, all Triode front end
* Output circuit Ultralinear or Triode switchable*
* 4x EL34/KT88 precisely matched for best performance
* 1x 6SL7 first stage valve
* 2x 6SN7 phase inverter valves
* Standby switch to prevent cathode stripping on startup
* Standby switch to save valve life and power only 35w
* Optional automatic HT delay to prevent cathode stripping
* 2x 40w RMS continuous per channel
* 2x 20 Watts RMS in Triode mode
* Signal to noise level -90db
* Freq response better than 20hz-20kHz +0 – 0.5db
* Total harmonic distortion typically less than 0.1% 1khz
* Suitable for 4 to 16ohm loudspeakers
* Japanese steel EI transformers with low oxygen copper
* Attractive valve cover included in the price
* High quality 2W metal film, & wire-wound resistors
* Blue LED mains indicator
* Polypropylene audio capacitors
* Silver TEFLON audio cable
* Custom hand wound output transformers
* Ceramic valve holders for minimum leakage
* Centre tapped heater circuit for minimum hum
* ‘Soft start’ device incorporated
* Gold plated Input & speaker terminals
* Three line inputs
* Tape monitor circuit
* 350mv input sensitivity.
* 230/240volts 135 watts typicly, 200w max. 1.6A AS fuse
* C E certified
* 350W, 350D, 250H, 23kg (remember to allow space for connections and ventilation)
(Specifications subject to change, errors & omissions excepted. General 13/08/08)
