FOR YOUR PASSION

The two tube power amplifier monoblocks from Menning Audio Design succeed brilliantly. The rental unit was equipped with the 300B JJ. With the max. output power of about 7.5 W, the monoblocks should also work with a moderately efficient loudspeaker. Everything — even above standard room volume levels — was reproduced excellently with my 3-way construction. Even though my transistor amplifier with its 160 W played tighter and louder at higher room volumes.

So future interested parties should have a pair of speakers with at least 90 dB efficiency or speakers paired with a horn speaker system.

However, what was audible throughout the Menning amplifiers’ performance is simply authentic music reproduction. Personally, I did not find the sound extra “warm”, which is often said of a tube amplifier — it was just right.

For a high-end fan, it can sometimes be the case that it is not always about listening to music, but rather about hearing sounds and interpreting them. And yes, even with the Menning tubes you hear sounds, but even better, you hear music.

Thus, with a better source and correspondingly better “software”, such as audio files in Hi-Res, even more details become audible. Discernment of musical elements, such as the gradation of the stage, become better without any esoteric measures to improve the sound. Of course, an amplifier should amplify neutrally, but the combination of amplifier and loudspeaker has its own life and character. In my tested combination, I would like to emphasise the following sound characteristic — the physicality. A characteristic that, in my opinion, makes instruments appear in the right volume. This certainly has something to do with the recording and the loudspeakers. And whether the sound engineer intended it to sound that way in the recording studio, I cannot judge. But, as in the following listening example, I found what came to the ear pretty awesome.

The first track of Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden album — The Rainbow — makes this clear. Guitar, drums, piano sound credible, and even the harmonica, which progressively and dynamically overrides the music mix, is not annoying at any time. The voice of the artist Mark Hollis, unfortunately already deceased, fits beautifully into its exact unique position on the existing stage.

Now one could argue that the album sounds “fat” anyway and makes even small speakers sound good. As for the bass drum, sure, it’s almost a little too “fat”, but the sound of the guitar amp grows from a 15 W practice amp to a believable size. I could rave on like this for quite a while — but what about the technology?

The monos have the virtues of modern amplifiers — nothing hisses or hums. A clever automatic on-switch only lets the music reach the speakers when the tubes are ready. And when the amplifiers are switched off again via the richly clicking front switch, there is no noise like with old tube radios. According to the manufacturer, Udo Menning, the amplifiers could also be equipped with an optional trigger input, because this would allow the user to switch the two amplifiers on and off with a trigger impulse from other devices.

My recommendation — just have a listen….