Интегральные усилители — Audio Note Meishu Phono 300B Tonmeister

The Meishu Phono 300B Tonmeister is an Audio Note (UK) stereo integrated amplifier that pairs a single-ended 300B power stage with a built-in valve phono stage for moving magnet cartridges. The design uses directly heated triodes in pure Class A, runs without negative feedback and relies on valve rectification. Its American price was USD 19,300, and it came with two years of cover on parts and labour from the maker.

Key specs that matter

Each channel delivers around 8 W into 4 or 8 ohm loads, quoted as 9 dBW into 8 ohms and 6 dBW into 4 ohms. The rear panel carries inputs labelled Tuner, Aux, CD1, CD2 and Phono, plus Tape In and Tape Out. Line inputs present 100k ohm and need 240 mV to reach maximum output. The phono input has a fixed 47k ohm and 47 pF load, 37.3 dB of gain and a sensitivity of 10.8 mV for full output, with phono channel balance of 0.25 dB and noise of 1 mV. Height is 220 mm, width 460 mm and depth 530 mm, and the unit weighs 29.5 kg. Maximum draw from the mains is 200 W. Loudspeakers attach to separate outputs for 4 ohm and 8 ohm loads, and the tape sockets form a loop for a recorder.

Engineering and use context

A 5U4G rectifier feeds the circuit, and the listed complement covers two 300B output triodes, two 5687, two ECC82, two ECC88 and two ECC83. Compared with the line version, the phono variant adds the ECC83 and the 6DJ8 or ECC88 positions that make up the moving magnet stage. In the line section, half an ECC82 drives half a 5687 that is capacitor coupled to the 300B, an arrangement taken from the 211 Jinro line integrated amplifier, whereas the earlier Meishu used a 6SN7. The power supply is built from one mains transformer, the rectifier valve and a single choke. Audio Note designed the output transformers specifically for this chassis. Custom resistors, foil capacitors produced in house and custom electrolytic capacitors are used throughout. Mains versions cover 100-120 V and 220-240 V at 50 or 60 Hz.

Pairing

The fixed moving magnet loading suits cartridges designed for a standard input, and any moving coil pickup would need a step-up transformer placed before the phono socket. On the output side, the low power figure calls for efficient loudspeakers.

Alternatives

Audio Note also builds the Meishu Konzertmeister, which replaces one of the four unbalanced input sets of the Tonmeister with a balanced input.