[Vintage-Audio] a New Era?

[Robert Nickels]

I was intrigued to see a new production tube amplifier for sale in the 
latest Parts Express catalog that arrived today.  In contrast to others 
I've seen that have been obscenely priced and shrouded in mists of 
ethereal audiophile jargon, the Nuera 3403PP seems to be a solid piece 
of amplifying gear.   It's an integrated stereo amp with 4 sets of 
switchable line-level inputs that uses 3 each 6SN7s and four EL-34..  
These aren't wimpy tubes, the max plate rating is 800 volts at 140ma - 
that's over 100 watts - with 25 watt plate dissipation.  The Nuera runs 
'em in class AB at what would sound like an honest 35 watt per channel 
rating.  Freq. response is given as 10-100,000 hz at THD of less than 
.1%.    Oddly, they make the same amp with a single-ended class A output 
stage for the same price, but it's only capable of 7 watts over a range 
of 20-65,000 hz at THD of .3%.     (I guess you have to be an ethereal 
audiophile to understand why you'd want 1/5 the power and more distortion).

As to the price - $748.80 - my first thought was wow, that's pretty 
expensive.  But when you consider that a used Dynaco ST-70 that uses the 
same tube compement might bring nearly half that, plus possibly new 
tubes, re-capping, etc., maybe it's not too bad.  Just for fun I went to 
the inflation calculator and found that $750 in today's money is the 
equivalent  $126 in 1965, when you could buy the ST-70 in kit form for 
$89.95. 

I've never seen or heard one and don't own any stock in the company - 
just thought it was interesting to see a decent tube amp at a relatively 
decent price.  Certainly more credible than gold-plated AC plugs and the 
like!   For more info:  
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=306-100

73, Bob W9RAN