Not everyone needs an integrated amplifier and not everyone has the room for monoblocks. The ST60P from Icon Audio is the company’s first stereo power amplifier and has no selector, no volume control and the input socket is directly connected to the grid of the first valve.
It has a big power supply, big output transformers, and uses the new KT120 valve.
The new KT120 has 50% more power than the KT88 tube.
The Ultra Linear/Triode switch on the amp allows switching from 80 watts to 40 watts of triode sound.
A built in bias meter simplifies keeping biasing.
Specifications and Features
Built in “Easy Bias” Meter
Hand wired point to point
Class A, Triode front end
Output circuit Ultralinear or Triode switchable
4x KT120
KT88/6550 compatible
2x 6SL7 first stage valves
2x 6SN7 output driver valves
Valve Voltage regulator
Valve warm up, protection circuit
80w RMS* per ch Ultralinear 8Ω KT120
65w RMS* per ch Ultralinear 8Ω KT88
35w RMS* per ch Triode mode 8Ω KT120
Typical gain 70 (High) 20 (Low sensitivity)
Signal to noise level better than -97db
One line level inputs
Tape monitor circuit
44W, 40D, 23H, 35kg
Mmmmmmmmm ive got to get me one of these
Beware ‘flavour of the month’ in valve design. The big 120s are a godsend to designers, because they offer so much power. But the whole history of valve design seems, to my ears, to show that you never get something ror nothing. The big valve amps just don’t sound so good. Maybe the 120 will buck this trend. But I’d want a good listen against a well designed solid state amp. In general, valves seem happiest in low power applications. Well, that’s been my exdperience so far.
I received the following from David Shaw at Icon Audio UK Ltd in response to the comment by Peter Skinner and include it here in full;
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reply.
Peter Skinner is broadly correct, I would agree with him in so much that ANY high powered amplifier will not sound so good with speakers either designed for lower power use or that are from another era when the recordings and ancillary equipment had a different bias. However I would disagree that the sound of the KT120 is in any way inferior. In fact we like the KT120 very much and this has enabled us to design a very sweet sounding (single ended) mono block amplifier using only two valves (6SN7, KT120, plus a GZ34 rectifier) to give an output of 16w triode and 27w ultralinear.
Every amplifier in our range has its reasons for existence. Much as I like vintage designs, many are not suited to drive the “quart in a pint pot” speakers that are popular these days. There are understandable reasons for this. The hi fi press has difficulty in conveying the ultimate sound quality of a an amplifier or loudspeaker in print, whereas the technical findings seem more straightforward., they may in fact be misleading.
Every model of amplifier I have made is a favourite of mine. But I must qualify that by saying WITH THE RIGHT SPEAKERS, as the relationship between amplifier and loudspeaker can make a huge difference to the final result. For example My Stereo 40-2A3 (push pull) amplifier is 17+17 watts and (to me) makes the most delightful sounds when partnered with relatively large sensitive speakers (I must have at least adequate bass). But if you ask “Is there much interest from the hi fi press? has there been a review? does it sell in quantity?”. The answer is no!
On the other hand the headline grabbing designs seem to follow a trend of bigger and bigger transistor amplifiers which now measure power in large fractions of a kilo-Watt, with speakers following suit to handle this huge power.
So at this end of the scale the challenge for designers like me is to make valve amplifiers that can meet this criteria. Therefore the new KT120 is seen as a new opportunity to make a relatively simple affordable amplifier which will perform well with this new generation of speakers in a class ab design, operating comfortably within its power curve. This we do with our Stereo 60, MB90, MB150 (80+80w, 90+90w, 150+150w). It should be remembered that all these amplifiers have a larger degree of “class a” power than smaller amplifiers, and all are designed to operate in triode mode at lower power which many people prefer.
Obviously this a huge subject where opinions and circumstances become very subjective. I have only briefly tried to explain our standpoint. There are many threads coming off from this which I have not touched on.
But rest assured that Icon Audio continues to support the development of lower powered amplifiers and speakers. Our MB30se, ST40-2A3, ST40-6AS7, five MFV (Made For Valves) speakers and three new Full Range speakers are evidence of this.
David Shaw. Icon Audio (UK) Ltd”