Интегральные усилители — Audio Note OTO SE 35

The OTO SE 35 is a 35th anniversary edition of the OTO SE integrated amplifier from Audio Note (UK), introduced in February 2026 and shown at AXPONA 2026 with a starting price of USD 5,950, while the Phono SE version is priced at GBP 4,800 in Britain. It is a pure Class A valve design in which four EL84 pentodes work in parallel single-ended configuration, and it is offered with or without an internal all-valve moving magnet phono stage, supplied by the maker in Britain.

Key specs that matter

Output is 8.2 W per channel into 8 ohms at 5 percent THD at 1 kHz. Line sensitivity is 205 mV for 8 W into 8 ohms, and the phono input needs 2 mV for the same output, with a phono noise floor of -100 dB A-weighted referenced to 8 V. The amplifier has five inputs in total, including several line-level connections, plus dedicated Tape In and Tape Out sockets. Separate binding posts are provided for 4 ohm and 8 ohm loudspeakers. The chassis is 140 mm high, 440 mm wide and 410 mm deep and weighs 17 kg.

Engineering and use context

One ECC82 and two ECC83 make up the preamplifier section, while the power section carries the four EL84 output valves. Signature and Silver Signature versions replace the two ECC83 drivers with E83CC types, and phono-equipped models add ECC83 or 7025 and 6DJ8 valves for the moving magnet stage. For this edition Audio Note fitted a new output transformer designed specifically for the OTO SE and wound in house with a revised winding layout. The standard version uses an EI-core laminated transformer in silicon steel, whereas the Signature and Silver Signature versions get HiB and S HiB C-cores. A choke designed in house replaces the old mains transformer on the phono board, and the line stage that used to sit between the phono and power sections has been removed. The standard model uses tin-foil capacitors in critical positions, Seiryu capacitors and tantalum resistors, while the Silver Signature adds silver wiring, silver niobium resistors and Kaisei electrolytics.

Pairing

Efficient loudspeakers suit its modest output, and the separate terminals allow the correct transformer tap to be chosen for the nominal load. The tape loop allows a recorder or an external processor to be inserted in the signal path.

Alternatives

Moving up within Audio Note, the Meishu Tonmeister offers a single-ended 300B output stage.