Allnic T-1500 MK2 Integrated Tube Amplifier - Complete

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General:
This Allnic T-1500 Mk2 Integrated tube amp has a lot going for it. 

Its pure Class A tube-powered amplification sounds fantastic outputting a clean 10W to each channel. This is perfect for a horn speaker or high efficiency vintage speaker.

Also because it's modern it includes a remote control for convenience. Not something that most integrated tube amps have.

This amp is a perfect addition to any owner of other Allnic gear and will include the original remote, manual, and box.

MSRP on this piece is $9,600.00

More From Allnic:
The T-1500 mk2 stereo amplifier is Allnic Audio’s top of the line 300B SET stereo integrated amplifier model. Like all Allnic Audio products, the T-1500 mk2 has Permalloy (iron and nickel alloy) for its transformer cores.

Allnic is grateful to Mr. G.W. Elmen of Western Electric for inventing Permalloy for transformer core use, and in so doing, providing an enormous service to recorded music listeners everywhere.

The T-1500 mk2 has the following features:
• 10 watts per channel of pure class A high power output.

The T-1500 MK2 is a single ended, stereo integrated amplifier. Almost all other 300B amplifiers are under, and distortion, driven. This is a result of the use of conventional “Resister-Capacitor” circuits, which give only up to around a 70V swing voltage, with high distortion. This means that an already distorted signal of a lower than optimum swing voltage is directed to the deep biased 300B grid. Allnic’s powerful “Inductor Drive” circuit gives up to a 150V swing voltage, with very low distortion (about 0.3%). It is this drive delivered to the T-1500 MK2 that allows for a higher output (10w) with much less distortion than can be expected from standard 300B circuits.

• Real power drive. 

The drive tube, 6SN7 is a moderate-mu (about 20) twin triode. We use this to drive the 300B’s via a choke plate inductor. Our choke inductor (100% nickel permalloy PC core) has very low power loss and infinitely high load impedance. This configuration is an ideal drive stage for 300B SET. And as the first tube, a twin triode 6SL7, has a very high-mu (about 70), the T-1500 MK2 has a total gain of +35dB.

• Nickel alloy output transformer.

Allnic uses sophisticated ratio mixed nickel permalloy PB cored output transformers. Because of their extremely high initial permeability, it is possible to use fewer turns on the primary winding while retaining very high ‘open circuit inductance”. That means a resulting very wide frequency range and low distortion bass response. This is another reason why the T-1500 MK2 excels over other 300B integrated amplifiers. Allnic also uses a very big nickel core, so as not to be magnetically saturated at a high current level of 100mA.

• Long life and trouble-free operation. Allnic employs a “soft start circuit” to protect the tubes and other parts. It applies the high B+ voltage only after tubes are fully warmed-up.

• Self-bias control grid.

• Analog Power Tube Current Monitors. Allnic uses analog current meters to display the condition of each channel’s power tube. The meters make it exceptionally easy to see the status of each tube at any time and offer a simple, unambiguous indication of each tube’s status compared to conventional LED bias monitors.

• Natural negative feedback. The T-1500 MK2 applies about -6dB of negative feedback. This is a very complimentary amount of negative feedback that differentiates the Allnic 300B single ended amplifier from the standard, which has a very coloured and weak speaker driving force. With this natural feedback, the T-1500 MK2 has a relatively high “damping factor’, very low distortion, and a higher S/N ratio, without losing the signature single ended natural sound quality.

• We use a NEW remote controlled high quality 41 step silver contact attenuator Ver.2 (all resistors non-inductive) instead of a carbon filmed slide potentiometer.

• Beautiful 20 KHz square wave response

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
Very good condition overall with very minor scratches.

Brand Background:
Allnic Audio Labs, founded in 1990 by Mr. K.S. Park, is based in South Korea. Previously, Mr. Park co-founded Silvaweld, a company renowned in its time for transformer-coupled and single-ended-triode tube designs.

After great success as head designer at Silvaweld, Kang Su Park went solo to pursue his masterplan. Allnic Audio Labs was formed with the intention of matching and, indeed, exceeding the heights achieved by any tube amp companies.

Mr. Park has not failed in his goals. We believe he has created some of the world’s finest valve equipment. His designs are truly unique, employing highly unusual tubes and design techniques which are simply too difficult or costly for others to even consider.

Working with direct heated triodes, hand wound nickel alloy transformers, LCR RIAA equalisation, output transformer-less and output capacitor-less circuitry, Kang Su is one of the industry’s master innovators.

Legacy pieces like the astonishingly capable H-1201 and the ‘impossible to build’ H-5000 – tiny moving coil voltages married with normally noise ridden DHT tubes – will go down as landmarks in the Hifi halls of fame.

The Allnic sound elicits all the superlatives that can be levelled at the very best vacuum tube designs but with an extra dynamism and sense of life which is rare at any price. Spookily natural and ‘at ease’, Allnic equipment removes itself from the mind’s eye and allows a deep and unhindered connection to the music.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Connections:
4 RCA Inputs, Speaker 5 way binding posts, Balanced XLR inputs

General Sound:
Neutral sound with little to no coloration

Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Included:
Complete Kit as it Left the Factory

Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing

Specs:
Output Power: 10w + 10w (4, 8 or 16Ω load, at 1 kHz)
Distortion: 0.3% at 1 kHz at 2.83V
Frequency Response: 20 Hz-20 kHz Flat
S/N Ratio: 80dB (CCIR, 1kHz)
Damping Factor: 10 at 8Ω load at  1kHz
Voltage gain: +35 dB
Input Impedance: 10kΩ (single-ended, unbalanced)
Input Sensitivity: 230mV for rated power
Fuses AC Mains: 3A / 250V (110W) (two supplied – one is a spare). Tubes -0.5A, 250V, 20mm glass type
Tubes: 300B X 2 (power triode)**, **6SL7(6N9P) x 1 (First tube), 6SN7 x 1 (Second tube)

Dimensions:
430mm(17 inches) x 380mm(15 inches) x 240mm(9.5 inches)

Weight:
49 lbs.

Link to Manual:

Click Here

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - Speaker Cables - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

If the device has the ability to decouple the preamplifier from the power amplifier, we remove the jumpers and independently test each section. If the device cannot be decoupled, we assess the electronic condition of the piece by analyzing the speaker level output only.

We start by connecting the "Pre-Out" jacks of the integrated to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface. The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1 KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope.

We then switch to a 1 KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment.

Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources.

If the preamp section is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve.

Next we test the power amplifier section by connecting the integrated amplifier speaker outputs to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which acts as a dummy load, DC offset monitor, and oscilloscope interface. We start with a low level 1 KHz test signal at the "Main In” jacks and slowly increase its amplitude while monitoring the output on an oscilloscope for signs of noise, clipping, distortion, or improper channel balance. We continue increasing the signal level until the amplifier reaches clipping.

At this point we take an output power measurement and compare it to the spec sheet of the amplifier to verify proper performance. We finish off the bench evaluation with a 1 KHz square wave check and a 20 Hz to 20 KHz sine sweep to assess the amplifier’s frequency response characteristics.

This battery of tests will usually reveal if the amplifier has any issues that need further attention.

If the preamp and power amp both pass these tests, we reconnect the sections and verify that the preamp section can drive the power amp to rated power with a 1KHz tone on one of the line level inputs.

Before the device leaves the bench, we perform a listening test with actual music using a variety of preferred test tracks. Our benches are outfitted with familiar monitor speakers which help us identify inconsistencies that will not always show up on our test gear. The main things that we are listening for are hum or noise with no signal present, proper center image, clicks, pops, or any other obvious undesirable audio characteristics.

If the unit passes all of these tests it moves to our long term testing rig where we simulate real word operating conditions for 6-8 hours minimum. This allows us to monitor the unit for signs of thermal runaway or intermittent issues that only crop up when the unit has fully come up to temperature.