Alex S
carbon based lifeform
Some years ago I had a Vellemen kit amp with 8 EL34s that was 80W per channel, kindly built for me, and it sounded great. It drove Neat MF9s better than anything else (just - Dynavectors and Patrick Dixon’s amps got close). Since those days I’ve moved to efficient speakers (Zu Druid MKIV, a marmite speaker but I like marmite) and a passive pre (Khozmo dual mono) using Class D/T amps like the Temple Audio and Amptastic that are bang-for-buck-tastic but clearly a move back to valves was an obvious progression, and this time I didn’t need 80W.
So what to get for somewhere near £1000? Vintage and second hand seemed obvious (think I’m done with Chi-Fi anyway). Where better to look for inspiration and purchase than PFM? So: A beautifully restored Leak Stereo 20 being sold by Mike P in the Classifieds. I dithered, knowing a drive to Sheffield and back isn’t the funnest thing from SE London. Luckily, post dithering it was still available (a different story) so I bought it and collected it on Monday.
Except I didn’t. I don’t really want to eulogise about how good this amp is if your system suits it and I’d done enough research to know mine would. It’s everything a clichéd valve amp is: sweet, textured, wide soundstage, fine imaging, and everything it isn’t: dynamic, punchy, pr&ty, plenty enough at frequency extremes (I’m old anyway so don’t perhaps do those). Nor is it just for vinyl, marries brilliantly with my Audial Dac.
No, this thread is really about Mike P who sold me the amp. You may have seen the Classified: rebuilt (perfectly) repainted (perfectly) S20 for sale, and up I went to get it. Except it made a nasty(ish) noise on fire up. So Mike, clearly a little upset, went upstairs to see if he could find the fault whilst I went for a walk and scared a few sheep. Mike thought he’d found the issue and did a bit more fiddling, sadly to no avail. We arranged that he’d sort the problem and drive it down to London or attempt to ship it. I could hardly ask for more. Of course, Sod’s law dictated that Mike found the problem - one small resistor joint - and fixed it an hour after I’d left.
But Mike offered more: did I want his S20 instead? He didn’t want me to drive away empty handed. This was a dilemma since I’m fairly honourable and didn’t want to take his amp if really he wanted to keep it. Nonetheless, I’m not quite honourable enough to refuse such an offer. Not only that but his amp didn’t take spades, my only real option since I’ve lent my banannared Mogami. So Mike went upstairs and soldered terminals that would take spades and off I went.
So this thread is to say the Leak Stereo 20 is a wonderful amplifier but more than that, it is a thank you to Mike.
A couple of additions: Mike’s system is gorgeous, especially in the near field: S20 (or Radford), passive pre, breathed on CDP, idler TT (you’ll find details in Classic threads), vintage Tannoys. Since I did not leave with the amp I actually bought, please don’t be surprised if it’s relisted at some future time.
So what to get for somewhere near £1000? Vintage and second hand seemed obvious (think I’m done with Chi-Fi anyway). Where better to look for inspiration and purchase than PFM? So: A beautifully restored Leak Stereo 20 being sold by Mike P in the Classifieds. I dithered, knowing a drive to Sheffield and back isn’t the funnest thing from SE London. Luckily, post dithering it was still available (a different story) so I bought it and collected it on Monday.
Except I didn’t. I don’t really want to eulogise about how good this amp is if your system suits it and I’d done enough research to know mine would. It’s everything a clichéd valve amp is: sweet, textured, wide soundstage, fine imaging, and everything it isn’t: dynamic, punchy, pr&ty, plenty enough at frequency extremes (I’m old anyway so don’t perhaps do those). Nor is it just for vinyl, marries brilliantly with my Audial Dac.
No, this thread is really about Mike P who sold me the amp. You may have seen the Classified: rebuilt (perfectly) repainted (perfectly) S20 for sale, and up I went to get it. Except it made a nasty(ish) noise on fire up. So Mike, clearly a little upset, went upstairs to see if he could find the fault whilst I went for a walk and scared a few sheep. Mike thought he’d found the issue and did a bit more fiddling, sadly to no avail. We arranged that he’d sort the problem and drive it down to London or attempt to ship it. I could hardly ask for more. Of course, Sod’s law dictated that Mike found the problem - one small resistor joint - and fixed it an hour after I’d left.
But Mike offered more: did I want his S20 instead? He didn’t want me to drive away empty handed. This was a dilemma since I’m fairly honourable and didn’t want to take his amp if really he wanted to keep it. Nonetheless, I’m not quite honourable enough to refuse such an offer. Not only that but his amp didn’t take spades, my only real option since I’ve lent my banannared Mogami. So Mike went upstairs and soldered terminals that would take spades and off I went.
So this thread is to say the Leak Stereo 20 is a wonderful amplifier but more than that, it is a thank you to Mike.
A couple of additions: Mike’s system is gorgeous, especially in the near field: S20 (or Radford), passive pre, breathed on CDP, idler TT (you’ll find details in Classic threads), vintage Tannoys. Since I did not leave with the amp I actually bought, please don’t be surprised if it’s relisted at some future time.