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HIFI EXCLUSIVE PREAMP/POWER AMP

here’s no question: in about 40 power amps profits from the symbiosis reliable and high-performance KT120 as
years of personal HiFi history, my of proven technology and the heritage of output tube, which sounds outstanding.
T most impressive listening experi- the “Jubilee SE” line of Überamps, which For a long time company boss and mas-
ences have been connected with Octave are priced at a level way beyond the means termind Andreas Hofmann has been com-
equipment, and more precisely an HP of mere mortals which normal mortals mitted to tuning his own devices and, in
500 SE preamp and MRE 130 monobloc can of course hardly afford. For their 30th addition to the sensible external power
power amps. anniversary, and in this new preamp and supply for the HP 700 preamp, came up
It happened around 2005, when this trio power amplifiers, Octave now offers all with the optional “Super Black Box” spe-
not only brought to life in the STEREO of us a similar pleasure at a price at least cifically for power amps and integrated
listening room an already seven-year-old some of us might be able to afford. designs. This mainly includes drastically
pair of Bowers & Wilkins 801 Nautilus increased power reserves in the form of an
speakers, but really made it take off – to Hear and be amazed armada of EPCOS electrolyte capacitors for
the extent that technology and music Another prejudice needs to be addressed the power supply – there’s be no space for
editors were found sneaking through the right away: rock music and tubes don’t go that in a standard housing, but all those
hallways with analog and digital music together. That this is nonsense is already extra microfarads not only clean up the
under their arms just to get back into the apparent, given that the best-known gui- power supply a lot but also ensure incred-
room and experience this sound again. tar amps are tube-driven, but still tubes ible impulse stability and control. Better
It’s an anecdote repeated to this day, due are considered by many to be soft and than “power from the socket”, the SBBs
to the excitement it created, and Octave’s warm. Word has still not got out that deliver a supply that’s almost battery-like,
new V 80 SE integrated amp is also a very today the best tube amps – and now we and while you don’t need to buy the SBBs
excellent musical stimulant. However, to are not talking just about guitar amps – for the power amps right away, you should
expect that the trio we have on test here combine the benefits of semi-conductors definitely add them later. “It’s worth it”
is no more than an improved successor to and thermionic technology. could be the understatement of the year.
that talking point of more than a decade So then, Rock and Octave is almost a Between 190 and 250 Volt the Octave
back would be missing the point. Rather, must, these amps offering total control power amps are stable – nothing happens
the new high-end combination of the HP over the connected speakers to combine even without load. In the HP 700, which
700 modular pre and MRE 220 mono chiseled and deep bass with three-di- uses the unusually powerful EF184 in its
mensional mobility, charming empathy, output stage, Hofmann now offers an
 The new superstar effortless detail, stupendous dynamics extremely adaptable preamp of absolute
of the tube world, down to the subtleties and textures, a large top-class thanks to a modular construc-
the KT 120 (top left) and enormously energetic reproduction, tion, allowing upgrading or exchanging of
is used in pentode and colors to which the tubes undoubt- modules as required. So to the basic RIAA
mode, with four in edly contribute. AC/DCs “Back in Black” phono stage you can add one currently
each mono amp. for instance, leaves the entire room with eight different modules for MM or MC
mouths agape. Stunning! precisely adapted to the desired cartridge.
At the same time, independent of musi- And the uncompromising approach
cal style, Octave plays to the highest stan- extends to the absence of remote oper-
dards as result of the attention paid to the ation: selecting sources and using the
fundamentals of the modern circuitry as technically optimized fixed resistor net-
much as the top quality of the essential work for gain control is all hands-on. That
components – in no small part due to would be no problem for me.
the fact that the company develops its The Octave Trio creates an incredibly
own transformers and coils. Octave amps wide soundstage and delivers smooth
are extremely reliable, durable, and offer dynamics, power, and sophistication to
wideband linearity, plus a speed and agil- drive Dvorák’s multifaceted Symphony No.
ity uncommon in the world of tubes.
Compared to integrated amps (as prac-
tical as they may be), separated pre- and
power amps have the benefit of separating
small, delicate signals and those at high
levels in separate housings, avoiding inter-
ference and thermal compromises. Octave
takes this a few steps further by going with
 The preamp power mono amps, operating at about 200 Watt
supply is external, while (which power is not exactly commonplace
that for the power amps for tube amps), this configuration also
can be enhanced with achieving the channel separation essential  Clever shielding and space for thermal
the optional "Super for an extraordinarily three-dimensional management characterize the interior of
Black Box" (top). projection. The company also selected the the HP 700.
8 STEREO MAGAZINE ISSUE 07