Japanese Electronics company Elekit (EK) has announced the 22 (tu:tu:) hybrid stereo integrated vacuum tube amplifier designed by Koichi Futatsumata, founder of Case-Real studio.
EK is known for its high-end audio build-it-yourself kits, but Futatsumata was commissioned to design a ready-assembled amplifier to appeal to the younger generation.
Tube amplifiers use vacuum tubes to increase the power and/or amplitude of a signal. This type of amp, replaced by solid state amps in the 60s and 70s, has been making a resurgence in the music and audiophile communities.
VSIT THE NEXT PAGE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS AND FOR MORE INFO!
[pagebreak]
Most tube amps have the circuitry exposed to aid in cooling, but in the Futatsumata design the wiring is hidden underneath an aluminum top which acts as a heat-sink to dissipate heat. Below is a picture of a common tube amp.
The 22 [tu:tu:] maintains the two front-mounted aluminum control dials – a staple design feature in tube amps.
On the right side there is mini-jack for a portable music player.
Specs on the NEXT Page.
[pagebreak]
President of EK, Hidemi Iguchi, said this of the product:
‘Wrapping our technology with a quality form” — it is the kind of product we have long wished to make. “22”(tu:tu:), our new hybrid amplifier, is IT, and has finally been brought to a reality through collaboration with Mr.Koichi Futatsumata. The utmost simplicity pursued in his design, backed up by our technology, is believed to not only satisfy ELEKIT lovers but also serve a variety of lifestyle scenes and interests. Opening up a new horizon in ELEKIT — this is our aspiration behind.’
Specifications:
[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)
