Thank you, Sami Hentunen, for that measured response. I had composed something similar but rather less polite. The only thing being "pureed" in the earlier comment is common sense.
As to the comment that another product worked with the valve unplugged, well that got me thinking. I had assumed, as no doubt one is supposed to, that the output stages of this amplifier used valves. If they did, there would be two output transformers (as it's stereo) but there is only one transformer lump, which will therefore be a mains transformer. The valves look like small signal devices, too. So, we are conned into thinking that this is a valve amplifier when it's a transistor amplifier which might possibly have a valve in the pre-amplifier stage. (Output transformers and power amplifier valves are expensive, after all!) Maybe the reviewer can confirm whether the amplifier works instantly on switch-on (before the tubular cathodes of the valves start to glow orange), or if it works with the valves unplugged.
The middle valve is just an EM84 or similar "magic eye" indicator - it does no more to affect the sound than would a VU meter. But at least the reviewer confirms that this one is actually doing something!
The photos look like Photoshopped publicity shots. Valves do not glow like that unless they are being seriously overdriven, and there's no sign of the green phosphorescence from the indicator valve (which is there to a certain extent even if there is no signal, if the indicator is of the EM84 type).
In short: why does El Reg stoop to reviewing such rubbish?
Register
Some common sense, please!
Thank you, Sami Hentunen, for that measured response. I had composed something similar but rather less polite. The only thing being "pureed" in the earlier comment is common sense.
As to the comment that another product worked with the valve unplugged, well that got me thinking. I had assumed, as no doubt one is supposed to, that the output stages of this amplifier used valves. If they did, there would be two output transformers (as it's stereo) but there is only one transformer lump, which will therefore be a mains transformer. The valves look like small signal devices, too. So, we are conned into thinking that this is a valve amplifier when it's a transistor amplifier which might possibly have a valve in the pre-amplifier stage. (Output transformers and power amplifier valves are expensive, after all!) Maybe the reviewer can confirm whether the amplifier works instantly on switch-on (before the tubular cathodes of the valves start to glow orange), or if it works with the valves unplugged.
The middle valve is just an EM84 or similar "magic eye" indicator - it does no more to affect the sound than would a VU meter. But at least the reviewer confirms that this one is actually doing something!
The photos look like Photoshopped publicity shots. Valves do not glow like that unless they are being seriously overdriven, and there's no sign of the green phosphorescence from the indicator valve (which is there to a certain extent even if there is no signal, if the indicator is of the EM84 type).
In short: why does El Reg stoop to reviewing such rubbish?