Усилители мощности стерео — European Audio Team (EAT) E-GLO I

The E-Glo I is an all-valve integrated amplifier from European Audio Team, the Austrian company better known as E.A.T. for its turntables and phono stages, and it was the brand's first amplifier. It uses four KT88 output valves in Class A and can be switched between ultralinear and triode operation from the front panel. The US price is about USD 9,995. The E-Glo S valve phono preamplifier belongs to the same family of E.A.T. electronics.

Key specs that matter

E.A.T. equips it with one 12AX7, two 12AT7 and four KT88. In ultralinear mode the amplifier delivers 2 x 35 W into 4 or 8 ohm, and in triode mode 2 x 18 W, with separate 4 ohm and 8 ohm output taps. There are five gold-plated RCA line inputs, with 500 mV input sensitivity and 30 kOhm input impedance. Frequency response is 10 Hz to 50 kHz ±0.5 dB at 5 W, signal to noise ratio exceeds 95 dB and THD is below 0.05% at 1 kHz and 5 W. Power consumption is 375 VA at 230 V. E.A.T. gives the dimensions as 435 x 170 x 485 mm and the weight as 26 kg.

Engineering and use context

Automatic bias with cathode feedback keeps the KT88 valves at their correct operating point without manual adjustment as they age. The switch between ultralinear and triode changes how the screen grid of each KT88 is connected. In ultralinear mode the screen grid is fed from a transformer tap, giving the higher output, while triode operation ties it to the anode and lowers the output. Volume is set by a relay attenuator with two independent blocks per channel, adjustable in 1 dB steps, with a maximum attenuation of 63 dB and a channel deviation below 0.05 dB. Because a relay network uses fixed resistors, the two channels track each other precisely at every setting, unlike a conventional potentiometer. The output transformers have sectioned bifilar windings, a method that reduces leakage inductance and widens the transformer's bandwidth. The chassis uses heavy-gauge aluminium for the top, front and sides and steel for the bottom and back, and real wood side panels, for example black or Macassar, complete the case. An aluminium remote control is supplied.

Pairing

With its moderate output in either mode, the E-Glo I suits loudspeakers of medium to high sensitivity, and the separate output taps match the load of the speaker. The five line inputs accept CD players, DACs and streamers, and a turntable connects through an external phono stage such as the E.A.T. E-Glo S.

Alternatives

European Audio Team currently offers no other amplifier, as the E-Glo I is the only model on its amplifier page.