ELEKIT 22 [tu: tu:] HYBRID TUBE AMPLIFIER design by a Koichi Futatsumata

This is one of the amplifier that I am determined to get for use in my office owing to its superb design.

Japanese designer Koichi Futatsumata, founder of Case-Real studio, has designed a vacuum tube amplifier for electronics manufacturer Elekit.

Elekit traditionally manufacture affordable, high-end audio equipment in kit form. Fatsumata was commissioned to design an amplifier that would be sold ready-assembled to appeal to a younger generation.

The prototype shown largely follows the established typology of tube amplifiers but the circuitry and mechanical parts that are usually left exposed to aid cooling are hidden inside the steel casing.

Instead, the aluminium top from which the vacuum tubes protrude acts as a heat-sink to dissipate heat from the components.

All the controls have been integrated into two front-mounted aluminium dials.

Photos are by Hiroshi Mizusaki.

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ELEKIT TUBE AMPLIFIER
by Koichi Futatsumata / CASE-REAL

Design of a new generation vacuum tube amplifier for EK Japan Co., Ltd.(Fukuoka, Japan) who develops numerous electronic kits/ gadgets targeted at both children and adults.

Traditionally, the types of assembly audio kits EK JAPAN has developed have been largely for audio or mechanical maniacs, for an affordable price, thereby serving their quality of life by way of spending time to assemble and then to enjoy the audio from what they have made. The direction of a project commissioned to us this time was completely different and was to design a compact, stylish vacuum tube audio consonant with the life style of young generations novice about vacuum tube but are naively interested in the charm and atmosphere created from/ via a vacuum tube amplifier.

The prototype, as shown in the photo, is an embodiment of the concept which symbolically gives an accent on vacuum tubes on the top, supported by aluminum dials on the front integrating all controls thereinto and by the sides made of cast steel. So that a vacuum tube light stands out, the mechanical structure and parts (which usually exposed outside to radiate heat) are kept inside and the top aluminum plate functions as a heat sink instead.
The circuitry a hybrid configuration, and, on the right side is a mini- jack for portable music players like iPod.

[Product]  Vacuum tube hybrid stereo amplifier
[Design]  Koichi Futatsumata / CASE-REAL
[Manufacturer]  EK JAPAN
[Circuit components]  Tone control stage / Tubes (2x 6SN7GT), Power amplifier stage / Semiconductors (IC)
[Rated output power]  10 + 10 Watts
[Rated powe consumption] 38W
[Rated Power source]  100V AC  50-60Hz
[Input / sensitivity]  Rear RCA jacks / 560mV (For component type player), Side mini phone jack / 180mV (For portable music player)
[Frequency response]  5Hz - 50kHz (-3dB)
[Dimensions]  W265 x H103 x D151 (millimeters, including projections)
[Body Weight]  2.6kg
[Special feature] Automatic sleep mode (at no input signal)

After some searching, my Elelkit TuTu has arrived and I have been running in the amplifier for the whole evening. The size is very small and it will be ideal for my office use or when use back in Singapore...

Elekit amplifier TU 8200

I used to have an Elekit amplifier that can uses various kind of KT88, EL34 tubes and 6l6 tubes. Owing to then need to move, I have sold the amplifier to a fellow hifi friend. However, I have kept many vintage 6l6 tubes as well as 12au7 tubes etc. Previously, I used to own many nice vintage gears and of course, the WE124b were my favourite for many years. However, owing to the need for constant traveling plus the hassle of moving apartments, I have decided to just keep a simple set that allows me to enjoy miscue without having to worry about maintenance and service. In short, just plug and play kind of hifi.

I went for a short audition in CNA music for the new release Elekit 8200 and I was immediately attracted by the new look and the great sound and workmanship. The amplifier looks much better then the old TU models and the new amplifier has much added benefits..

After an hour of listening, I have decided to get one... Beside the good sound, since I have many 6L6 tubes, it will be a waste not having any amplifier to use them. Since the Elekit is able to use any 6L6 tubes, EL34 tubes and KT88 tubes, this auto bias enables one to enjoy the fun of changing tubes...

New features:

• Multiple output stages can be configured in a multiple of modes, select from Ultra Linear, Pentode or Triode mode.
• Multiple voltage options: 100V AC, 115(110-120)V AC, 200V AC, or 230(220-240)V
• Now compatible with low to high impedance headphones
• Comes with stock tube set 2x 6L6GC(6L6EH), 2x 12AU7(ECC82) or you can also use: KT88, 6550, 6CA7(EL34) without any adjustments

The design is simple and zen..

Information from the net:

For the past 8 years, hobbyists have been asking for certain features to modify the TU-879S kit. The highly regarded Elekit designer, Mr. Fujita, has taken all those specific features and specifications into consideration and we are happy to welcome the release of the newly designed TU-8200 in January 30, 2014. TU-8200 has a lot more improvements from its predecessor(TU-879S).

DX model included :

4 X Amtrans AMCO 104 Metalized PET film capacitors

4 X Nichikon conductive polymer aluminum electrolytic capacitors

■ "Active automatic bias adjustment function" 
TU-8200 is shipped with 6L6GC power tubes - but also supports a wide range of power tubes such as KT66, KT88, EL34(6CA7), 6550, and others with no modifications. Simply swap power tubes and no need to re-bias. A newly-developed "Active automatic bias adjustment function" automatically adjusts the bias for the optimal 
condition for each tube. No more matching tubes or having to manually re-bias when switching tubes. This function lets you enjoy the best sound of various power tubes without a trouble. 
■Select from 3 types of amplifier modes 
Ultra-linear, Triode, or Pentode 
The mode can be easily changed by simply moving the jumper connections on the PCB. 
■ World-wide power transformer 
TU-8200 is shipped with a world-wide power transformer that supports 4 different voltage 
environments: 100V, 115V, 200V, and 230V. 
■ USB-DAC（PS-3249) - optional accessory 
■ 70μm thick copper PCB 
■ Front panel headphone jack

●Stock tube : 6L6GC x 2pcs, 12AU7 x 2pcs 
●Rated output : 6L6GC (UL connection) 8W + 8W　 
　 　　 6L6GC (Pentode) 8.2W + 8.2W (all 8 Ω loaded) 
　　　　　　 6L6GC (Triode) 4W + 4W 
●Rated input : 6L6GC (UL connection) : 340mV　　 
●Residual noise : 6L6GC (UL connection) : 0.09mV (IEC) 
●Frequency response : 12Hz - 50kHz (-3dB)　 
●Input terminal : LINE x 2 (LINE1, LINE2) 
3.5mm stereo mini jack (Common with LINE2, but has a priority to LINE2) 
●Output terminal : Speaker output terminal (4-6.3Ω, 8-16Ω : Switching) 
　　　　 Gold-plated screw type terminal (Banana plug can be used.) 
●Power voltage : AC100V　50/60Hz (3P inlet) ●Power consumption : 60W (with 6L6GC) 
　　　　　　　　* 115V, 200V, or 230V specification available by changing the connector 
position upon assembly. 
●Dimensions : W252xH158xD285mm (including projections) 
●Weight : Approx.6.6kg (assembled. Excluding the power cord)

The New Elekit matches very well with my Altec755a Fullrange speakers and the music is detail, transparent. The amplifier also has a spekers matching for 4ohms and 8ohms. The amplifier also allows one to upgrade and use one's own power cable, a feature that most audiophiles like as one could easily upgrade one's gear.. Even though at time, I do missed my vintage WE124 and the Mcintosh mc240, the ability to generate good music using these value for money amplifier has greatly satisfy my soul's desire for nice music ..

費玉清

I have always loved the songs by 费玉清. One of my occupational hazard is the constant moving from countries of residents :Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong and the constant moving of apartments have made my trackking of my favouritebCDs a difficult task.

I was at Singei Wang this evening and managed to find these CDs from a CD shops and decided to get them as many of my CDs went missing after lending them to friends...CDs is like 肉包子打狗,有去無回

Rogers Ls3/5a gold badge

Even these speakers were from the 1970s, these were very well kept as the condition of the speakers still maintain its nice condition. Many years ago, one can find many pairs of LS3/5a in Hong Kong. These little beauty are getting harder to find owing to the increasing number of collector from China.

Fat man audio

志平喇叭versus 755a Fullrange speakers

Over the weekend, I played a very cruel game by using the 志平喇叭to compete with my 755a Fullrange speakers.

Since the competition is unfair having the 3 inch Fullrange versus an eight inch Fullrange, I have limited the songs on vocal, violin, and some soft tock...using eagles Cd..

When listening to the 志平喇叭, the speakers sound is very musical with vocal sweet. despite the 3 inch drivers, the sound and sound stage is great as well. 

However, when  doing an AB comparison, the differences are huge. The 3 inch sweet vocal just could not compare with the 8 inch 755a. In terms of handling the soundstage, the 755a win the race by miles. In term of vocal, 755a sound is real, calm and steady.

As such, the 755a speakers clearly resumed its stage after several weeks of the 志平..... Since after doing an in depth AB comparison, I have decided to keep only the 755a Fullrange..

Mi tube Fat man audio

Following my gift of the speakers, I feel that its time to upgrade JJ current cheap hifi to one of tube. Since it is important to have wifi and blue tooth streaming functions, it took me a while to search for an ideal one. The Mi tube is very funky looking plus the size is cute enough to be placed in his room.

Key specifications:

Mi-Tube Valve Amplifier With Bluetooth

Cool beauty delivering 28 watts per channel of pure listening pleasure.

The very latest edition to the range for 2012, the Mi-Tube is compact and sexy, but still packs a solid punch. Producing 28w per channel this is no lightweight when it comes to power. Utilising a radical new hybrid valve design, the basis of which was first suggested in a theoretical paper 50 years ago, it just sings with quality... And looks stunning.

Thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity audio can also be streamed wireless! This opens the Mi-Tube to more than just iPhone's and iPod's, to any Bluetooth Enabled device.

This is a hybrid valve amplifier for the connoisseur. Cool Beauty.

Main Features

• Vacuum Tube Amplifier
• With Bluetooth
• Valve processing gives warm, rich, audio characteristics
• 2 x Line Inputs
• Available in Black or White finish

Specifications

• Max Output Power: 28w x 2
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20Khz (+/- 1.0d)
• Distortion: <> 0.5%
• Signal to Noise Ratio: 86db
• Input Sensitivity: 300mV
• Input Impedance: 100k Ohm
• Output Impedance: 4/8 Ohm
• Amplifier Size: Diameter: 183mm; Height: 145mm
• Weight: 4kg
• Amplifier Type: Hybrid
• Inputs: RCA pair x 2
• Warranty: 1 Years

THE NEW

"Mi-Tube"

BlueTooth

Hybrid Valve Amplifier

"A Small Amp With a BIG Sound"

Producing a powerful 28W per channel and coupled with unrivalled audio quality and the warmth brought to you by high quality thermionic valves.

Bluetooth Compatible With your Bluetooth enabled Device

Just stream your music wirelessly to the Amp

OR

connect your dock via aux phono inputs

OR

Connect Any Other Audio Source Via Aux Phono Inputs

Simply Add Speakers of your choice

TechRadar rating 4/5 star

For

• Small and attractive
• Good price
• Bluetooth streaming
• Great sound

Against

• Mobile device has to stay near amp
• Upscaling isn't great

Fatman Mi-Tube review

Tiny, stylish retro amp combines old-school values with Bluetooth streaming

By Rob Mead-Green from TechRadar  May 17th

Ever since the Fatman brand was founded in 2006, its mission has been to marry upstart digital devices such as the iPod and iPhone with vacuum tube amplifying technology, bringing both a much-needed boost in perceived audio quality to the former and some street cred to the latter - as we saw with the Fatman Mi-Tube's sibling the iTube 452.

Buying Guide

The Fatman Mi-Tube Valve Amplifier with Bluetooth, though, is arguably the smallest and neatest expression of Fatman's philosophy yet.

What you get for is a 28W per channel valve amplifier with the ability to stream songs from your iPad,iPod, iPhone or other suitably-equipped mobile device using Bluetooth.

Features and performance

The Fatman Mi-Tube is certainly pretty to look at: viewed from the top-down it's completely circular, with a translucent covering on the top that houses discreet valves for the amp 'electronics' as well as the left and right audio channels.

Plug the amp into the mains and the valves give off a warm orange glow that's almost primeval in its appeal - like gazing at the leftover embers of a bonfire when you were a kid.

On the front of the main vacuum tube you'll notice a strip containing two glowing blue lights - one at the top, one at the bottom - that flicker into life when you play music through each channel.

The Fatman Mi-Tube's front is pretty spare aside from two conical controls. The one on the left enables you to switch between Bluetooth streaming and the Input 1 and Input 2 RCA phono audio inputs on the amplifier's back - handy if you want to plug in a CD player or other audio source. The one on the right is a simple volume control.

On the back of the amp are the two sets of analogue audio input alluded to above, plus a pair of chunky speaker binding posts so you can hook up speakers to the app using decent quality cable (some of which is supplied in the Fatman Mi-Tube's box).

Getting the Fatman Mi-Tube to work with your iPod, iPhone, iPad or other Bluetooth-capable device is straightforward: you simply switch the front-mounted control dial to Bluetooth and then pair it with your device using its built-in controls, and it should all work as if by magic.

The only catch is that if you walk out of range of the amp with your Bluetooth gadget in your pocket, the sound will eventually break up or stop altogether.

There's another conundrum, of course: streaming low-bit rate tunes to any kind of amp will never scale the heights of audiophile delight - and there's a limit to how much a warm-sounding valve amp can do to ameliorate harsh-sounding artefacts in very compressed digital audio, or even in tunes that were badly recorded in the first place.

Having said that, the Fatman Mi-Tube is a lot of fun. Feed with it high bit-rate MP3s, Apple Lossless or even CD-quality tunes and your ears will be filled with sweet-sounding vocals, melodious bass notes and an exciting, vibrant mid-range.

Team that with the warm glow you'll get from those precious valves and your own feelings of satisfaction from the Fatman Mi-Tube's £240 (around $380) price tag and you'll be very happy indeed.

Verdict

The Fatman Mi-Tube is small, sensibly priced and beautiful to boot. The fact that it can also deliver ear-tickling audio joy (for the most part) almost feels excessive. Bluetooth audio streaming is a neat addition - as long as you accept its obvious limitations.

Seiko 下午茶

I have met up with 7 gor for an afternoon tea at Maxim. 

Seiko 6105-8110 & 6306-7040

Seiko 6309-7040 & 6309-7290

Watches belonging to 7 gor

Chopin

I have bought this Chopin CD in Warsaw, Poland. In fact, this is my only Chopin Cd. Have been listening to these 2 c: using my 志平喇叭 and the music is wonderful.. Next week, I shall listen to it using the LS3/5a gold badge...

My favourite vintage speakers

These few days, I have been busy rotating the speakers between the 755a, Rogers gold badge and the Chi Pin speakers...