The Art Audio Lab Amati, a valve integrated rated at only 8 W per channel, drives a pair of Davis Acoustics MV One Master single-driver towers here. Vinyl is the sole source, a Michell Orbe SE turntable playing into the p245 EX valve phono stage from the same maker as the amplifier. The core idea is simple, a crossover-free speaker of high sensitivity paired with a small push-pull valve amplifier.
The system at a glance
Four components make up an all-analogue chain with valve electronics from end to end. The Amati lists at EUR 11,000 and the Orbe SE at GBP 5,495 without tonearm, which places the system in the upper middle of the market. The chain is aimed at vinyl-only listening and at owners who prefer low-power valve amplification to a large solid-state amplifier.
Why these components work together
The MV One Master uses one 20 DE 8 driver with a 222 mm diffuser, so the amplifier sees no crossover network at all. Davis quotes 93.5 dB sensitivity in Direct mode and states that impedance never falls below 8 ohm, with a flat impedance curve. That steady load is what the Amati needs. Each channel uses a push-pull pair of 6F6 pentodes driven by a 6SL7 double triode, a 5U4G rectifies the supply, and output doubles to 16 W into 4 ohm. Two further connection modes on the speaker serve smaller or acoustically difficult rooms. The p245 EX has separate MM and MC inputs, the MC side with step-up transformers, 470 ohm loading and at least 65 dB of gain. Its equaliser runs on 6SL7 and 6SN7 triodes with passive RC equalisation and no feedback, a 6N6P buffer drives the interconnect, and a 6Ts5S valve rectifies the supply. The Orbe SE floats its 60 mm platter and inverted, oil-pumping bearing on a three-point spring sub-chassis, while the DC motor stands in a separate housing controlled by an outboard supply.
How it sounds
With one driver covering the band, voices and acoustic instruments come from a single source point and keep their timing intact. The low power is enough for normal levels in a medium room thanks to the sensitivity, while the front port fills out the bass to the 40 Hz limit Davis quotes. Small jazz groups and vocal records suit the system best.
Considering a similar setup
The speaker sets the rules. Any replacement amplifier can stay small, but it should like a flat 8 ohm load. Swapping the Amati for a larger valve design adds headroom for rock and orchestral peaks. The phono side scales freely, provided the stage keeps enough gain for low-output moving coils.
4 components
- Floorstanding loudspeakers
MV ONE MASTER
The Davis Acoustics MV One florstanding loudspeakers are unique in their class. The speakers do not have a crossover and are equipped with a proprietary 20De8 broadband speaker with a 222 mm diameter diffuser. The magnetic speaker system is made of Alnico alloy, which ensures high efficiency and wide dynamic range.
- Integrated amplifiers
Amati
The Amati push-pull integrated amplifier outputs two pairs of 6F6 tubes, two per channel, one in each arm. The drivers are a pair of 6SL7; the kenotron is 5U4G. The amplifier has three line inputs.
- Turntables
Orbe SE
When developing Michell Orbe SE, the goal was to achieve the sound quality of the company’s senior turntable, Michell Orbe, but in a smaller package (150x490x375 mm). This is how the Spider Edition solution appeared – devoid of a large base and a dust cover (you have to buy it separately). Michell Orbe SE uses a system with two layers of isolation and a 60mm thick vibration damping Polymer platter. The drive system is belt, supports speeds of 33 1/3, 45 revolutions, high performance DC motor with dedicated “Never-Connected circut” power supply is used. The turntable weighs 13.5 kg. The turntable looks increbidly.