As many of you know, it's been almost impossible to get any of those wonderful Almarro tube amps sent to the States from Japan during the past year, and the few orders we placed took three to four months to fulfill.

Well, Almarro has finally managed to ramp up its production, and we are once again taking regular orders. The current wait period for these hand-built amps is three to four weeks.

Of course, the retail prices went up earlier this year due to a number of factors, including the increased cost of parts and labor, and the relatively weak U.S. dollar. Even so, all of Almarro's products still offer incredible value! But nobody likes price increases - especially when faced with the kind of economic environment we're currently in - and therefore I would like to make the following special offer to all registered AK members:

From now until December 15th, you can purchase any of Almarro's amplifiers from me at their 2007 retail prices, and I will toss in free shipping for U.S. residents. Thus, you can get the A205A MKII integrated amp - which now retails for $960 - for $800 even.

http://www.almarro.com/pix/products/p0+.jpg

Likewise, you can get the stunning A318B integrated amp - which now retails for $2220 - for a flat $1850.

http://www.almarro.com/pix/products/p2+.jpg

Oh, and if you've been wanting to get one of these amps for a while, but are not yet an AK member ... well, you know what to do! :D

Oh, my...

Oh, my...

Took the words right outta my mouth Ernie..............Listening rooms have changed so I do not need the big system any more, that 318 looks real purty......... will one be at the fest this year???

Beautiful!

that 318 looks real purty......... will one be at the fest this year???

Not sure. I've shown off Almarro products (including the A318B) at a couple of AK-Fests now, and I do try to mix things up each year...

I LOVE my A205 and it's turned heads with its sound wherever it's gone. Several members here have them and are quite pleased, as were the folks who tested the loaner. Don't think on this one guys, just jump in!!

That 318 is pretty darn nice too. I've heard both at the Fests. :thmbsp:

What is the difference between the two 318's Brian?? Humble apologies if that is a dumb ass question.............

What is the difference between the two 318's Brian?? Humble apologies if that is a dumb ass question.............

No, this is a question that lots of people ask. The A318A and A318B are almost identical in appearance, but they have been "voiced" differently. The A318A has more of a "vintage" sound - the overall presentation is very warm, with a rich technicolor midrange. If you loved the original verion of the Cary Audio 300SEI, you'd love the A318A as well. In contrast, the A318B has a very "modern" sound - the presentation is very even from top to bottom, with substantially better extension at the frequency extremes than the A318A. (Indeed, the A318B has some of the deepest and most textured bass I've heard from any amp, period.) Still, you very much know that the A318B is a single-ended triode amp when you listen to it. Although I described the sound as "modern," I do NOT mean to imply that it has the glassy, almost solid-state sound that typifies many current Chinese tube amps. Does this make sense?

Yes indeed, exactly what I was looking for in an answer. how bout the 318b, any promo on this one??

Both the A318A and the A318B are on offer for this promotion. I've given the pricing of the A318B above - the A318A costs $20 less.

I LOVE my A205 and it's turned heads with its sound wherever it's gone.

Same here. The "little" Almarro is a fine sounding amp. Dead quiet, too.

When Yoshi-San was demo-ing the A205 and the A318A, two years ago, some dealers thought they were listening to the A318A, and talked about what a good value it was, for (then) $1750. Then the selfsame Mr Muramatso, the designer, turned DOWN the A205, and simultaneously turned UP the A318A. These dealers, when they heard the bigger amp/speaker combo, ran from the room. Literally jumped out of their chairs, and rushed out the door. Yoshi-San almost completely supressed a slightly smug chuckle. Me? I fell out laughing.

The A318s have 3 inputs, now, instead of just one, and 4 and 8 ohm taps for speakers. The A318B model is designed with fixed feedback and a plate follower. The A318A is a zero-feedback, cathode-coupled design. If I had a bigger room, I would run my Lector cdp through the A318B and the M3A speakers, with a Yamamoto cherrywood rack on which to put them.

As it is, the A205 and M1A speakers have me VERY happy.

Still, a fellow can dream... :scratch2:

Hi Ernie!

Yes, Yoshi's demonstrations at AK-Fest 2006 really surprised a lot of folks. And that was the A318B he was demonstrating - in fact, that AK-Fest may have marked the A318B's first show appearance.

I had almost forgotten that you have a pair of the Almarro M1A speakers. Sure are sweet, aren't they? :yes:

Cheers,
Brian

That was the B??? That is absolutely not an 'edgy, superdetailed sound'. I thought it was the 'A'.

Rick, get the A318B. In Cherry, it is a thing of beauty, for the ears and the eyes.

Get the M3A speakers, as well. They sound like they were made for the 318 because, well, they were made for it. Good down to 30, and an amazing capacity for imaging. No problem keeping up with dynamic symphonic pieces that were Yoshi-San's favourite demo pieces.

I am running the 318b with some altecs and lov 'in it. Tube rolling the 6sn7 will definitly change the sound and since there are so many versions of this tube there are many options that may suite your taste of sound . My current favorite is a very early black glass rca .I give the almarro two thumbs up.:yes:

That was the B??? That is absolutely not an 'edgy, superdetailed sound'. I thought it was the 'A'.

Yeah, that's what I was trying to get at when I qualified my description of the A318B as "modern" in sonics - this amp is incredible at both frequency extremes, but it still sounds very much like a real tube amp.

As far as loudspeakers go, don't let this amp's 18-watt rating make you think that you need super-sensitive speakers. Indeed, the A318B was designed with 86db to 93dB speakers in mind.

Just a reminder - the offer mentioned at the start of this thread only lasts for two more weeks!