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Kit1 300B/2A3 - Standard Edition
Integrated Single-Ended Triode Hi-Fi Amplifier
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The Kit1 300B/2A3 Standard Edition offers you the chance to experience real high quality S.E.T. (Single-Ended Triode) amplification for yourself - but at a highly affordable price. This kit has been evolving since it first appeared in the mid 1990's and, as such, has proved its high reliability and customer satisfaction index time and time again.
AudioNote Kits has enhanced the Original Kit1 in the following areas:
- Can be configured for 300B or 2A3 operation
- New and Improved non-magnetic Stainless Steel Chassis with countersunk holes for the base and driver boards
- Gold 300B/2A3 & 5U4G Valve bases for Signature Version Kit1
- Elna Cerafine Electrolytic 300B/2A3 caps come with standard kit
- Chassis pre-drilled to support TKD potentiometer
- 5mm deeper chassis supports AudioNote copper signal caps
- Optional Silver - Hard Wiring Option for the kit (please enquire)
- Multiple size speaker posts supported with 8.5mm speaker holes
- New larger Mains transformer
- Black covers for transformers now come standard with basic kit
- 9 pin valve base holes in chassis have been enlarged for easier tube installation
- Upgraded Heat sinking on regulator section comes standard
- New online pdf manual complete with many color photos of build process and complete schematics
This version of the Kit1 is an integrated amplifier. That is, it can accept input from any standard line-level Hi-Fi component and a volume control is accessible on the front of the chassis (a power only version is now also available - please enquire).
Output transformer taps of 4 and 8Ohm are available on the rear of the unit to make speaker matching easier. The mains transformer can be internally configured for many different countries. Three inputs are accommodated via an input selector on the front panel.
All necessary components are supplied in the kit, including valves. You simply specify which tube type you want to use (300B or 2A3) when ordering.
The Kit1 in 300B mode has one 300B per channel running at 420 volts with 75mA current giving 9/10 watts of the cleanest power you will ever hear. In 2A3 mode, the result is a very high quality 3.5 Watts output of that special 2A3 sound.
We have designed a new Mains transformer that can support both 2A3 and 300B operation. The Filament Board is also adjustable for 2A3 (2.5V) operation or 300B (5V operation). The only other change are in the value of the resistors on the cathode of the triode - for 2A3 operation we use 1K5 in parallel and for 300B operation we use 1K8 in parallel. So basically there is just about 10 minutes of soldering involved if you want to switch the kit between 2A3 and 300B or back again!
The input stage consists of a 6SN7GT with a 5687 double triode driver stage running in SRPP. The power supply is a capacitor-choke-capacitor with a 5U4G HT rectifier.
Please note that we are always willing to help people who have built the Kit1 in the past who are interested in upgrading their amplifier. Enquiries for new chassis and component upgrades are always welcome.
We now have a stunning new chrome chassis option available (please enquire).
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I completed the build of my Kit1 amp on Sunday and only need to tidy up the wiring now. In the meantime I have been able to listen to two or three CD,s.
Even without allowing burn in time I'm very impressed with the sound and even more impressed with the sound stage. I've come to realise that my speakers are a lot better than I thought. I loved my old Kit1 but it doesn't bear comparison with the new one on any aspect. The thought that it can only get better as it settles down delights me.
Thank you for the efforts you have made to help me to succesfully complete the building of the amp, I couldn't have asked for more.
Terry Kelly
The sounds I am hearing from this setup are just wonderful. As compared to the previous system (which I still have as a reference) the sound is richly detailed against an absolutely black background and very three dimensional.
I have never had a sonic experience like this in my own home before. And this is with only about five hours of burn in time so far.
The amplifier power is beyond adequate for the speakers. It is a perfect match as best I can tell.
I am listening to my kit 1 as I write this on my laptop. Joe Williams is crooning as never before in my living room. The sound of the amp with the Silverline Sonatina's is truely beautiful. The amp probably has perhaps 30 hours on it now. I cannot imagine the sound improving beyond what I hear at this point even though this is still on the low side for burning in a tube amp. The sound is so fine already.
Christopher Miller
After some hours of work when I heard the unbelievable realism and transparency of the sound without any hum I was really surprised. There is no feeling of tiredness even after long hours of listening. The emotional side of the music that you can get only with high end products is delivered without any restriction for a very reasonable price. All the instruments are clearly identified and the special localization of the instruments is perfect. The dynamic is close to the reality from the very deep bass to high frequencies and there are no artificial colorations, the response curve seems to be very homogeneous. The absence of inter modulation effects increase the justness and the reality of the sound. I was used to listen music with my Audio Note Kit four and Preamp kit assembled 5-6 years ago, the result was excellent up to the day when I finished the Kit 1.
I am now discovering all my CDs in a different way and I am surprised with many details which were not audible before. Thanks to Audio Note for this high quality product.
Rifat Gursel - France
There are quite a few DIY kits in the market. After spending many hours researching which kit to build, I finally chose AN Kit1. Last kits I built were over twenty years ago, the Hafler pre and power amplifiers, which I still have, connected to Maggies II with JBL double 10" Alnico inside Acoustat sub box, and a pair of B&W 801s. I still have the Micro Seiki DQ-500 turntable.
The first music I played on my Kit1 was Narada's 'Yosemite'. I could not believe the clearness of all the instruments flowing out from the speakers and you can feel the vastness of Yosemite infront of you. Unlike the solid states, music from Kit1 is softer yet precise and accurate from high to low notes. I can't wait to upgrade my Kit1.
Chris Tsai
During my time with the Kit One I have upgraded it a lot. All capacitors, except for those in the power supply board, are now Black Gates of various types. The Black Gates are well worth the relatively high price – they really are. The Black Gates makes the sound quality climb several steps on the High-End-Ladder. The openness and transparency is now unheard of - I have to laugh every time I put on a piano concert because of the incredible realism provided by the Kit One. I’m a pianist myself and I tell you: If you know how a piano sounds like in a concert hall, the Kit One with some upgrades could probably be the best sounding amp you have EVER heard!
Trond Seland, Norway
From the very first musical notes that emanated from the Kit 1 I knew that this amp was different. As a matter of fact it reminded me of my first tube mono blocks, VTL Compact 100s, in the way it presented a full orchestral sound field. It has gotten better with break in and even though I have in the same room a pair of Atma-Sphere M-60s, I continue to listen to the Kit 1 in happy astonishment.
Yes, the Black Gates warmed up quite nicely and now after a five minute kick start in the morning, my kit 1 becomes a maven of musical presentation. It's just fascinating.
Rick Justice, West Virginia U.S.A
I am going through my vinyl collection again because everything sounds so amazing, like hearing everything for the 1st time!!!
The kit one is DEAD silent and the music flows out of it like nothing I have ever heard before. My humble Rega p3/Dynavector is a shining beacon of analog bliss.
Erik Anderson
I had pretty much made my way through all the established hifi brand names, and had actually placed a deposit on a (then) new Mark Levinson power amp when I stumbled upon a Kit 1 system driving some skanky old Lowthers.
It is no exaggeration to say that all the blood drained from my face ( a friend who was there can testify to this!) and I just could not believe what I was hearing before me. Here was an actual flesh and blood performance being recreated extemporaneously before my very 'eyes', and everything hifi had talked about and promised, but I guess I'd not till then known that they'd never delivered. Nothing short of a paradigm shift could explain the experience---in that one instant, I lost whatever trust I had had for mainstream scribes and dealers in one blow.
A happy kit one owner in Toronto, Canada
It's now 2.5 weeks since I started listening to my 2A3 kit. It never failed and it plays marvelously. It has improved over the days and I think it is a contender amongst the best tube amps on the market. It has fantastic details, wide and deep soundstage and voices sound extremely natural. It matches my First Horn speakers so well.
JP Boudreau
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