mandryka
pfm Member
I’m not sure about this, but far as I can see there are three technically different versions of this amp, the A48 and the A48 Mk 2 and A48 Mk 3.
This site contains some service information for all three
http://www.valve-radio.co.uk/literature/j-e-sugden-a48-amplifier-service-manual/
I have found what may be three different "looks" for the amp, and I'm not sure which (if any) is the Mk 2 and Mk 3. I think the orange is Mk 2 and the wood is Mk 1. The last picture is Mk 3
And to confuse matters further, I can't find any details about the sonic differences between the vanilla A48 and the later incarnations -- did the Mk 2 sound better than the vanilla, the Mk 3 better than the Mk 2? This site contains links to some of Sugden's original promotional literature where Sugden claim that the A 48 Mk 3 was a major improvement over the A28 M2 -- but no mention of previous versions of the A 48!!!!!!!
http://www.albionam.com/amps.aspx
This comment online suggests that while the A48 was really the same as a Sugden A21, the A48 Mk 2 was an improvement
(From http://neophonics.com/?page_id=377)
"The Sugden A4II amplifiers smooth fatigue free listening owes much to the Class A circuitry of the power stages. The configuration has been chosen to give the maximum benefits of the better reproduction qualities of Class A and the economic output of Class B.
During the reproduction of both music and speech full output is required only during very short periods. Sugden had chosen a level of Class A operation which ensured the majority of your listening would be in Class A with short excursions into AB.
The amplifier was dynamic, with precise imaging, sound stage and separation normally found in more expensive “separates” combinations. The colour combination of light brown, orange and white was novel at the time and much talked about. Today the A48II would blend in as an art piece as well as a finely tuned music reproducer!"
But it's not clear what he's referring to because of the expression "A4II", which may be a typo.
HELP!!!! KILL ME NOW!!!!
This site contains some service information for all three
http://www.valve-radio.co.uk/literature/j-e-sugden-a48-amplifier-service-manual/
I have found what may be three different "looks" for the amp, and I'm not sure which (if any) is the Mk 2 and Mk 3. I think the orange is Mk 2 and the wood is Mk 1. The last picture is Mk 3
And to confuse matters further, I can't find any details about the sonic differences between the vanilla A48 and the later incarnations -- did the Mk 2 sound better than the vanilla, the Mk 3 better than the Mk 2? This site contains links to some of Sugden's original promotional literature where Sugden claim that the A 48 Mk 3 was a major improvement over the A28 M2 -- but no mention of previous versions of the A 48!!!!!!!
http://www.albionam.com/amps.aspx
This comment online suggests that while the A48 was really the same as a Sugden A21, the A48 Mk 2 was an improvement
(From http://neophonics.com/?page_id=377)
"The Sugden A4II amplifiers smooth fatigue free listening owes much to the Class A circuitry of the power stages. The configuration has been chosen to give the maximum benefits of the better reproduction qualities of Class A and the economic output of Class B.
During the reproduction of both music and speech full output is required only during very short periods. Sugden had chosen a level of Class A operation which ensured the majority of your listening would be in Class A with short excursions into AB.
The amplifier was dynamic, with precise imaging, sound stage and separation normally found in more expensive “separates” combinations. The colour combination of light brown, orange and white was novel at the time and much talked about. Today the A48II would blend in as an art piece as well as a finely tuned music reproducer!"
But it's not clear what he's referring to because of the expression "A4II", which may be a typo.
HELP!!!! KILL ME NOW!!!!