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B&K EX-442 Score

Just grabbed a B&K EX-442 amp off of CL for $100. In good shape, aside from the common power switch light (not illuminating at all), and a couple of scuffs. Hooked it up in place of my custom 40 watt tube amp and am favorably impressed. I know that B&K amps are known to be "tubey" sounding, and my initial impressions are just that. Not at all etched or forward sounding.

One question I have concerns which EX-442 model this is. I see that the early models used Hitachi metal cans, and the newer ones Toshiba. There are some other minor differences in the specs (early models have a bit more dynamic headroom). Does anyone know how to tell one from the other? Will I have to remove the top to figure it out?
reedchan

Showing 1 response by reedchan

reedchan OP
9 posts
 
My tube amp was designed by a well regarded guitar amp engineer by the name of John Nau. I've emailed him a few times about how to set the bias and such, and it's clear his design goal was to create a very clean, simple amp circuit, and I think he succeeded. It features 4 EL34 output tubes.

The more I listen to the B&K, the more I think I have been shortchanging my MMGs for many years. I had tried many different SS amps in the past (Adcom, Carver, Marantz, Hafler, NAD, Acurus, Parasound, and more), but all of them, to varying degrees, sounded bright, etched, and very fatiguing. This B&K has been a revelation, and I feel like I'm getting much more out of the MMGs. Much bigger dynamics, more airy highs, but without any harshness.

I'll definitely keep it around for the foreseeable future.
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