Интегральные усилители — MasterSound Icona

The Icona is an Italian valve integrated amplifier produced by MastersounD, the firm founded in the 1950s by Cesare Sanavio and relaunched in 2015 by his sons Lorenzo and Luciano in Arcugnano near Vicenza. It uses KT150 beam tetrodes in Class A and adds a moving magnet phono stage, so a turntable can connect without a separate box. UK pricing was GBP 6,950.

Key specs that matter

Output is 2 x 24 W in pentode mode or 2 x 12 W when switched to triode operation. Three line inputs and a Direct RCA input, which bypasses the volume stage so that a separate preamp or AV processor can take over level, sit next to the MM phono socket, which has its own gold-plated grounding terminal. A combined subwoofer and preamp output is fitted alongside a fixed-level line output. Input sensitivity is 1 V. Input impedance is 50 kohm and the amplifier works into 4 or 8 ohm loads through separate speaker terminals for each value. Bandwidth is 20 Hz to 37 kHz at 0 dB. Power consumption is 225 W. The chassis measures 49 x 33 x 23 cm and weighs 22 kg.

Engineering and use context

MastersounD fits two ECC802 input tubes and two KT150 output tubes, one KT150 per side in single-ended Class A. The triode or pentode selector sits behind the valve cage, letting the owner trade power for the other operating mode. Bias is automatic, yet MastersounD notes it can still be adjusted, and the circuit runs with zero overall negative feedback. MastersounD makes its own output transformers, each wrapped by hand one at a time. Three black spherical covers house the mains transformer and the two output transformers, and a Y-shaped metal cage protects the four tubes. Wooden side panels frame the metal top, and the layout of the top plate is symmetrical, with the valves grouped in front of the transformer covers. At the rear the speaker binding posts are gilded, and the phono ground post sits beside the line inputs. The front panel holds only two rotary controls for input and volume plus a power switch and an LED, and a handset for remote operation is included.

Pairing

With its modest output in either mode, the Icona suits efficient loudspeakers rather than low-sensitivity designs. The built-in phono input covers moving magnet cartridges, and the preamp output lets an active sub or a separate power stage join later. The brand's range of integrated models also spans EL34, 300B, 845 and KT120 based designs, from the Box and Dueventi to the Gemini.

Alternatives

The MastersounD Compact 300B is a smaller single-ended integrated using 300B triodes and rated at 2 x 15 W.