As you know, I'm a big fan of EL84 integrated amplifiers, as they provide a live-like musicality that always seems to thrill me!
So when Mark Still contacted me about writing up his hand-crafted Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier here at Jeff's Place and for Positive Feedback, I was happy to say "Yes!".
Adding to the intrigue was Mark's description of the amplifier as, "Following in the footsteps of Don Garber of fi and Shindo Electronics, making each and every amplifier by hand using the best parts available. Each unit is a work of art and is meant to last a lifetime."
Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier by Mark Still.
Mark's Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier is built to a stunning level of quality that I wish my photo's conveyed, but you really have to hold this one in your own hands to admire its artisan-level craftsmanship in order to really appreciate it!
Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier by Mark Still.
Like Don Garber, Mark is a big fan of Hashimoto transformers, and his Still Audio EL84 is equipped exclusively with Hashimoto transformers!
Don Garber's fi 300B monaural amplifier with Hashimoto transformers.
The chassis of Mark's Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier reminds me of Don's fi chassis, which were works of art, with it's open architecture stainless steel construction. Mark has put some screening around the open architecture chassis to protect creatures with inquisitive fingers or noses from getting accidentally zapped from its electrically charged innards!
Mark says, "Every detail of this amplifier has been extensively researched to find the absolute best possible part available. Everything from the PTFE tube sockets with gold pins for perfect connections to the highest grade transformers I could source. It’s these types of details that make this amplifier extraordinary. We did not invest is expensive machined cases rather we chose the highest quality parts. We found that keeping it cool with the perforated sides to dissipate heat easily was much more important. All the wire is PTFE (Teflon) coated, Silver tined copper."
Bottom view with pictorial of the tube complement. All new production Mullard tubes, by the way.
Top view.
"This EL84 based amplifier takes the EL84 tube to a whole new level of sound. Using transformers capable of 15Hz to 50,000Hz gives this amazing amplifier extraordinary bandwidth taking it beyond the hearing of most people."
Bottom angle view.
Top angle view.
Right now I've got the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier powering my vintage Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers and it's sounding mighty fine!
Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier powering my vintage Altec 832A Corona's!
The Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier puts out 10 watts per channel, which is a massive amount of power for my Corona's, and also comes with a remote volume control (which you can just see in the photo above), which is a really thoughtful touch!
Price for the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier is a very fair $2895 USD considering the incredible parts quality and the hand-crafted nature of the amplifier.
I'll have a lot more to say about the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier in due time, and I'll be trying it in my various systems here at Jeff's Place and reporting back on the results.
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
