There\'s just something about a tube amp! Those who have one, know. Those who want one will know once they hear one. The sweetness and musicality is hard to explain, but not hard to hear.This Knight amp was designed and sold by Allied Electronics in Chicago, to be competitive with such legends as the Dynaco Stereo 70. The chassis claims \"330 watts max total output,\" but I doubt that. Current listings of similar-sized Knight amps from the period claim 60 to 75 watts. This amp has four large 6L6 output tubes and a heavy transformer. As the photos show, one of the output tubes is mismatched in size. A local tube amp shop tells me that this is a variation in style among manufacturers, but that all the tubes are within specs for output and resistance. If a matched set matters to you, 6L6 tubes are common and easy to find.
This is an integrated amp, so it\'s ready to plug and play without needing a separate preamp. Inputs are state of the art circa 1960 or so. I\'ve had good results playing CDs using the Auxilliary input. It also has inputs for a radio tuner and two types of phonograph cartridges. It has a full set of the usual controls, with \"contour\" filling in for \"loudness,\" plus my favorite control-- \"Stereo Separation.\" The function is obvious, and it can help compensate for a variety of speaker placements and room characteristics. (I\'ve only ever seen this control on Dynaco preamps.) Unique to this amp is a switch that reverses the stereo mix- perfect if you\'re convinced that the lead guitar was at stage right instead of the left, that day you attended \"Allman Brothers at Fillmore West.\"
It\'s in working condition, recently cleaned. It sounds excellent to me, but it would probably sound even better with some TLC from an experienced technician. The best aspect of the sound is the soundstage. This amp produces deep imaging, with a sense of space that\'s very pleasing and involving, quite different from a solid-state amp. There is some rolloff in the treble and a channel volume imbalance. I wound up listening to this with the treble cranked up high and the balance control at 10 o\'clock. I hear no humming or buzzing when turned on. It\'s at least 40 years old, so tubes and components have aged. To sum it up, this amp gives a lively and lovely listening experience now, and will sound even better with a little TLC.
I\'ve enjoyed this amp for years and I\'m not excited about selling it now, but it is my third stereo amp, so it\'s up for sale.
NOTE TO buyers-- Twice I\'ve sold this amp to buyers who failed to communicate or pay. Each time, I\'ve given them two weeks to respond to my inquiries. I\'m tired of wasting my time like this. PLEASE do not offer unless you have a working email account, some amount of positive response, and the ability and willingness to pay promptly.
