Production lead time is currently at approx. 8 weeks ready at factory + international shipping time 7-10 business days.
About the Brand:
Who is [Analog Sound™] by Line Magnetic? (click on link to read more)
About AS-127: A 30-year Anniversary product paying tribute to the late Line Magnetic founder
This integrated KT88 output tube amplifier is NOT another ‘Me too’ KT88 tube amp. It combines the legendary Western Electric transformer technology and many user friendly features, to make it a top performance integrated KT88 tube amp and stands out from the mid-market KT88 tube amps.
It is a sister version of the past limited edition AS-126 (based on KT66 tubes, not KT88) – that amp was sold out in a flash at launch years ago in China. Today, a used AS-126 in China is even priced at price higher than its previous price at new – this indicates how good the amp was and how popular it was.
Most Chinese tube manufacturers now no longer produce KT66 type vacuum tubes anymore – so it’s a time to revive this legendary AS-126 to be fitted with the popular KT88 tubes to meet the market needs.
The current Analog Sound AS-127 is also to pay tribute to the late founder of Line Magnetic – Mr. Cai Zheng, the father of the current Line Magnetic Foshan owner and in memory of Mr. Cai Zheng’s venture into HiFi industry at nearly 30 years ago.
Why a KT88 tube amp this time?
Nearly all ‘Analog Sound’ amps in the past (except AS-126 that was based on KT66 tube, only launched in China and produced with very limited quantity) were made with direct heated triode low power output tubes (i.e. 211, 805 type of large triode power tubes). However for those ‘very hard to drive, power craving’ speakers – such as those made with high end Dynaudio & Morel woofers, a higher output amplifier is needed to deliver the much needed music dynamics and speed.
Lower efficiency (below 90dB) speakers – ranging from 84dB to 89dB, are quite common on the Hi-Fi market and take a very large market share in the speaker lines. They typically have multiple woofers with non-paper cone, requesting strong current and sold control from the amplifier to drive the speakers to their designed best sonic performance. The AS-127 is created to allow such speakers’ owners to experience high fidelity tube amp sound.
Note: If you have a pair of 95dB and up high efficiency speakers – such as Zu Audio, PureAudioProject, vintage Klipsch, or other highly efficient horn speakers, we suggest you still consider the AS-125 amp instead. For amp power, it’s not a case of ‘the more, the merrier’. The pairing between speakers and the amp is utmost crucial for both pieces of audio equipment to perform to their designed best. If you pair those high efficiency speakers with AS-127, the amp will not be able to be dialed to its sweet output range to sound to its best, and if you do dial the volume up to such a range, the speakers will simply play too loud to be pleasant to the ears. ( In general, a tube amp sound the best when its volume is at 25% to 70% range, not too low not too high.) When you play a KT88 amp through a very efficient speaker system, you may also hear some floor noise of the KT88 output tubes themselves, and that could be disturbing to some listeners. A 211 tube amp paired with the right speakers is still a step-up sonic enjoyment from a KT88 tube amp.
AS-127 Listening impression:
[New Audiophile] magazine out of Asia had the first professional review on the AS-127 amp. The reviewer compared it with Japanese AirTight ATM-1 (EL34 based amp, 36watts per channel output, market price US$9500) and a 300B based tube amp (22 watts per channel output) paired with JBL 4349 speakers (2 way monitor 12″ driver, 91dB efficiency). EL34 is known for its musical sound, yet lack of a bit power. 300B is known for its sweet midrange but lack of lower bass. The AS-127 handled complex music with absolute ease, and completely outshined the two comparison amps.
Features:
- All manual ‘point-to-point’ wired circuitry
- A real built-in pre-amplification stage, not just a volume control like on many other integrated amps on the market
- Legendary Western Electric Replica Model 618 input transformer for pre-amp stage, and Western Electric Replica model 166A output transformer for output stage
- Front panel switch to choose bypass input transformer or not – when signal passing through input transformer (set at ‘trans’ position), the mid & low frequency of sound stage is wider and with ‘more tube-ish’ sound; when signal bypass the input transformer (set at ‘bypass’ position), the amp will sound with faster speed, better impact and wider sound stage, especially when playing large scale symphony music.
- Separate dual power inputs for the separate high voltage stage and low voltage stage
- Front VU meter can be turn on/off as you wish
- 4 pairs RCA inputs, with 4, 8 and 16 ohm speaker terminals, plus extra 11ohm speaker terminal customized for LS3/5A speakers
- Output KT88 tubes auto bias – no need to fuss with tubes but we recommend customers to use a well matched quad of tubes for best performance and amp care and maintenance
- Tubes: 3 x 12AX7, 2 x 6SN7, 4 x KT88, Chinese origin
- Custom Voltage: when you place order with us, the amp will be built with custom wound transformers to suite your local voltage. Please note 220V version made for China doesn’t work for UK, Australia, New Zealand, nor will they be suitable for Europe where local voltage is continuously over 230V. It will cause transformer humming and shorten tubes and other components’ useful life.
- USA and Canada orders will be custom made for 115V+/-5% 60Hz per each order, to suite for North America’s 110V to 120V+ power grid voltage range in Southern regions of the USA and the northern regions of Canada.
Payment method:
- All factory direct orders are to be paid by Direct Bank Transfer ONLY. Paypal or credit card is no longer accepted. This policy is to avoid minority group of people abuse the return / refund policy by Paypal or Credit card, to intentionally ‘try out’ expensive amps without ever intending to purchase and keep it. It will end up driving all buyers price up, if such minority group of customers continue to abuse the Paypal/Credit card refund policy.
Specifications:
- Input Impedance: 100kΩ/600Ω
- Output Impedance: 4Ω, 8Ω, 11Ω,16Ω
- Sensitivity: 500mV
- Gain control: 40/52dB
- Output Power: 30W+30W (RMS)
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 88dB
- Frequency Response: 10Hz to 45kHz +/-2dB
- THD: 1%
- Dimension: 480mm W ×280mm H ×530mm D (19″ W x 11″ H x 21″ D)
- Weight: 45kg / 100 lbs
- Shipping weight: Crated total approx 70kg
- Voltage: custom built to order, as per delivery country power voltage
- Color: Only grey color available as shown in picture. No custom color options.
A VERY unique Remote Control: It looks like a mini flashlight and can mute and volume +/-. No input selection function through the remote control. Remote can be stored in the front faceplate – right to the center volume control knob is the place to tuck in the remote control. There is no spring loading mechanism to bump out the remote. Simply pull it straight out and do not unscrew the bottom cap of the remote – if hand slippery, use a dry tea towel to help creating friction then pull it out.
Remote control battery installation direction: positive in, negative out. Battery type: (1) CR123A 3V Lithium Battery (not included due to air shipping restrictions of no battery in ANY air shipment ex China.) You MUST use the exact type of battery in order for the remote to work properly. A same sized but different model battery won’t work for the remote!
How we ship heavy amps – custom crate for loading / unloading:
