EAR (Esoteric Audio Research) 859 Triode Tube Amplifier

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This is a full tube, enhanced triad mode amplifier. By full tube we mean tube preamp and tube amplifier sections. It uses the standard EL519 tube producing about 13 watts.

It's quite a neat design and advancement over your standard triad or single-ended amplifiers. I suspect this would be a pretty neat way to drive high-efficiency vintage speakers such as Tannoy, Altec's, or Klipsch. With 13 watts this should be plenty of power for any of those era, or other full range high-efficiency speaker.

It's beautiful in aesthetics with a chrome front faceplate with gold knobs.  The two tube cages are kind of neat sitting proud in the front of the amplifier.  Next you'll see the main power transformer sitting between the two tubes, and then towards the back you'll see the output transformers wired in short runs to the speaker outputs.  It only features 8 ohm taps, but that should be the most standard tap it's going to encounter.

It's a very simple design internally. I've had a look and there's a couple of small driver tubes and very few parts.  I like to see as few parts as possible like in this simple tube designed amplifier, to not get in the way of the signal path or any other interference.  It is elegant in design and simplicity and has received great reviews from all over in Europe and Japan over the last 20 years.  There are later versions but this is probably the original version.

It says on the amp that it's utilizing Yoshino output transformers, not sure what those are exactly, but they sound pretty neat. Functionally it's a very simple integrated amplifier with 6 inputs and no outputs other than the tape output.

On the front there is a power switch, input selector, and volume control - nothing else. And no remote control.

It came through our lab and produced its full 13 watts with very little harmonic distortion, and without any drama whatsoever.  

Cosmetic condition is top notch and it cleaned up nicely.  I don't see any scratches, dents, or anything else to speak of. The chrome-work is still pretty intact, the two tube cages are fully painted with no issues whatsoever, and the front panel looks absolutely stunning.