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Amplifiers › PRE-POWER COMBI

– the author is still and remains very (which correspond to ECC 82 and still insulated using paper-based materi-
sceptical as to Octave’s “tube rolling“ – 12AU7). The 6SN7GT driver tube also al and not polyester. Unlike many com-
can toggle between “High“ for the combines two triode systems in one litt- petitors Octave doesn’t offer discrete
KT120 and “Low“ with a switch on the le vacuum glass tube. The steadily refi- taps for speakers with an impedance of
rear panel. A stability doping for the ned circuit dates back to the year 1994 say 4, 8 or 16 ohms. Why is this? First
MRE 220, which cost a little under when Hof-mann launched his first pent- because these values fluctuate over the
20,000 euros per pair, is also quite le- odes with the MRE 120. frequency anyway, and second because
gally available: via the Black Box (1,090 Octave pentodes should be able to cope
euros) or the Super Black Box (2,750 eu- PLENTY OF FLEXIBILITY with the majority of the world’s louds-
ros), the capacity of the power supply Now as before his company winds the peakers no matter what.
can be beefed up substantially. transformers inhouse. That way he has Clearly more flexibility is demonstra-
The signal processing is done by good full control over the soundwise crucial ted by the connection panel of the HP
old friends: two ECC802 double triodes output transformers as well, which are 700 SE preamplifier. For the line level

OPtIOn: The “Control Module“ for the HP 700 SE is optionally available. It serves to switch the outputs, dial in the balance via pre-level control
(right) as well as lows and highs with the ECC 88 double triode (left). The unit which is operated from above sits in the front part of the cover lid then.

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