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SET Asylum: REVIEW: Kennedy Tube Audio STA-3030 Amplifier (Tube) by zeppole

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REVIEW: Kennedy Tube Audio STA-3030 Amplifier (Tube) Review by zeppole at Audio Asylum

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I first came accross Kennedy Tube Audio (KTA) when reading issue 12 of Vacuum Tube Valley which contained an article describing Mr. Kennedy's 30 watt per channel push pull 300B amplifiers. I had tried a pair of Wright 3A's but found that they simply didn't have enough power for my Coincident Speaker Technologies Super Conquest Supremes (I am always amazed by the tacky name that Irael Blume gave these speakers!!). Eeven though the Wright's lacked the power they sounded wonderful at lower levels and I was on the search for the DHT sound with more power. I read the article and although I built a number of audio kits, decided that building them from scratch was not a feasible deal for me. Weeks later while surfing the net I found KTA's website which had a description of a 300B push pull amp that was being built in Hong Kong to KTA's specs -- with much of the circuit topology taken from the $9,000.00 mono blocks described in the VTV article. I called and got as much information as I could -- like many small companies when you call or e-mail you'll be talking to Kevin Kennedy who is KTA. Here's a brief description of the amplifier from the owner's manual: "The KTA STA-3030 is an all triode stereo basic amplifier utilizing 300B DHT output tubes in a zero (loop) feedback, pushpull configuration. The driver circuitry employs self-balancing direct coupled, differential topology with limited local feedback in each successive driver stage. The output stage operates conservatively with fixed bias for the best possible sonic performance and long tube life. High quality custom wound output transformers are utilized, which exhibit excellent broadband frequency response without the use of any feedback whatsoever. Tube rectification with choke base pi filtering is used in the power supply for tight dynamic regulation with minimal noise and ripple. The 300B filaments employ direct current heating to minimize hum generation in the output stage. Only the highest quality compnents operated in a conservative manner are utilized in this desgn, provideing for long service life."
I decide to take the plunge and ordered one for a couple of reasons-- first, it seemed like the deal of a century, a 300B pushpull amp, all point to point wiring with tube rectification for under $1500 and secondly, I like to support small audio businesses like George Wright, Kevin Kennedy, etc. There's so much crap sold today at grossly inflated prices -- guess they need to cover the cost of full page ads in Sterophile and the Absolute Sound -- we are living in an era of $85,000 speakers, $40,000 amps, and other insanely priced products. I own and operate an artisan bread bakery and know how difficult it is to compete in a world of mega corporations. Enough of my biases ----
Recieved the amp last April --- from the first time I put it in my system I knew it was something special. Soundstage was deeper and wider --- incredible detail, timbre and dynamics -- also suprisingly enough the bass was very tight and controlled and low. No low roll off that some DHT's suffer. Tube rolling has been very amply rewarding. The front end uses one 12AX7/5751 and one 12AU7A/6189 per channel. After going through several brands I finally settled on Telefunken 12AX7 ribbed plates and Mullard CV4003/12AU7. I could go on and on with the usual review crap but the bottom line is that this is one great amp. Power seems to be VERY conservatively rated at 20 watts per channel. Build quality is excellent -- removed the bottom plate and the wiring and soldering is of better than average quality. High end caps (I belive Musicaps) are used in the critical parts of thee front end; Cerafine caps in the power supply. Transformers are nicely potted and the amp weighs in at approximately 65 pounds. Binding post are provided for 2, 4, and 8 ohm speaker loads. In my opinion the build quality is on par with seval high end tube amps and better than some of the really big names.
Over the past five months I have been amazed how good this amp is --it simply has to be the best buy on the planet in a DHT 300B amp. "Take Five" on SACD is like a live performance with this amp. I like this amp so much that I just ordered a second one for my home theater rear channels.


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Topic - REVIEW: Kennedy Tube Audio STA-3030 Amplifier (Tube) Review by zeppole at Audio Asylum - zeppole 21:30:15 09/21/00 ( 0)