Интегральные усилители — S.A.Lab Luthier Series

The Amati is a valve integrated amplifier of the Luthier Series from S.A.Lab, or Sound Laboratory, the Russian maker founded around 2002 by the designer Alexey Syomin, which builds valve and solid-state amplifiers, phono stages, a DAC and cables in small batches. The Luthier Series names its models after violin makers, and it launched with the Amati and the Stradivarius phono stage, with Guarneri and Vuillaume models planned and six or seven units of each to be made. The Amati costs EUR 11,000, the same as the Stradivarius.

Key specs that matter

Output is 8 W per channel into 8 ohm and twice that into 4 ohm. The output valves are 6F6 pentodes, one pair per channel, driven by a 6SL7 double triode, and a 5U4G valve rectifies the high-voltage supply. There are three line inputs and one pair of speaker outputs. Signal to noise ratio is 97 dB, THD is no higher than 0.2% and power consumption is 105 W. The amplifier weighs 30 kg. Its chassis is polished stainless steel, the same size as that of the Stradivarius, with brass plates on the front and rear panels and VU meters on the front.

Engineering and use context

Each channel runs a push-pull pair of 6F6 pentodes, and the 6SL7 provides the voltage gain and phase splitting ahead of them. A valve rectifier such as the 5U4G brings the high voltage up gradually at switch-on, which protects the other valves. The transformers are wound on Japanese-sourced cores, and the winding ratios are printed on the transformer covers. All wiring is point to point, without circuit boards. The parts include vintage new-old-stock components, among them 1950s valves from the Moscow electron-valve factory with military-standard certificates, together with Black Gate and Jensen capacitors and Vishay resistors. The VU meters show the output level of each channel. The output transformer tapping matches the lower load, which is why power rises when the impedance falls. The weight comes largely from the transformers and the stainless steel chassis. Production in very small numbers follows from the series concept, as each model is made in a limited run.

Pairing

With its modest output, the Amati suits high-sensitivity speakers, such as horns or efficient full-range designs, in a room of about 20 m2. Line-level sources connect directly, and records need a phono stage such as the Stradivarius.

Alternatives

The S.A.Lab Thunderbird is the push-pull integrated amplifier with four 6550 valves and 25 W into 8 ohm.