Tubes Asylum: REVIEW: Housenn Electronics Integrated Model 1 Integrated Amplifier (Tube) by Hong

Model:	Integrated Model 1
Category:	Integrated Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$874
Description:	4 x EL34, 2 x 6AN8A, 2 x 6DJ8, 30W output
Manufacturer URL:	Housenn Electronics
Model Picture:	View

Review by Hong ( A ) on March 23, 2002 at 20:25:44
IP Address: 202.156.2.146

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for the Integrated Model 1

I've been shopping around for an amp that can drive a pair of DIY speakers that use the Dynaudio woofers (sorry, forgot the product number). Anyway, the speakers' efficiency are rated around 87dB. Previously I've been using a 4-watter (SonicArt, http://users.gravity.net.au/sonicart/Legend.html). This is definitely underpowering the speakers, but the sound is very musical and the mids beat my old Jolida 502a hands-down.
Using the 4-watter as a reference, I seek to have something that can provide the very involving mids, and also to provide the adequate "juice" when required for loud passages. I just don't want to be limited to listening to vocals and chamber ensembles!
Singapore, though a small city-state that has a very small community of hifi fanatics, actually have quite a few enterprising audiophiles who actually have the courage and commitment to make a career out of their hobbies. Mr B.C. Ong is one of them. He seeks to produce a neutral amplifier that can match most systems out there in the "mid-fi" region. His target customers are those that who are not willing to splash big money on hifi systems. The per-capital income in this region is not exactly high! This integrated amp is priced at S$1600 (or around US$874).
My room's dimension is around 16'x13'x9' (or about 5m x 4m x 3m) with adequate room-treatmens to keep first-reflections to a minimum, and no apparent bass-boom.
The Housenn Integrated Mod-1 amp uses 2x6DJ8 for the preamp section, 2x6AN8 drivers, and 4 x EL34 to give an output of more than 30W per channel. The stock tubes that came with this home-trial were all from Electro-Harmonix. What really caught my attention was the hefty weight when I tried to pull it nearer to connect the cables! Gosh, they're much heavier than the Jolida 502a.
After warming the amp for about 10min, I start the audition with some simple pieces by Stacey Kent. "Good separation" was the first thing that came into my mind. As the tubes warm up further, I'm beginning to get more drawn into the music. It's just simply marvellous, and was a joy to see the glowing tubes. I was also getting more details from the upper-bass region which I never had when I was under-powering my speakers.
We listened to various vocals from audiophile and non-audiophile labels. I noticed there were more sibilance from the female vocalists. Mr Ong said that perhaps it was my CD player (a modded Marantz 63KI) was emphasizing more on the higher frequencies.
Next I pop in my favorite test CD, the "Sheffield Drive" from Sheffield Lab. I played the 1st track "Escape Clause" by Pat Coil which I think is very suitable for testing the system "PRAT".
I was pleasantly surprised to hear the fast transients and sharp attacks which I thought would not be possible from a budget tube amp. I was getting more than I've bargained for. The control was also very good when more instruments were involved and I never notice any distortion or clipping when I crank up the volume to as high as my ears can tolerate.
We end the audition by playing some large orchestral works, beginning with "Jupiter" from Holst's Planets. Again, the amp did not disappoint in controlling well thru all the loud and complex passages.
The last track we played was Johann Strauss' "Magic Bullet" from the recording of the 1991 New Year's Concert. The experience was truly amazing! When the piece ended with a loud gunshot, I actually thought I was being pushed back against my seat. Exagerrating? Perhaps a bit, but I was truly stupified by the realism. (And thank goddness my speakers were OK because they were rarely pushed to their limits)
Although the amp could not give me the SET-type of mids that I want, I'd strongly recommend to all beginner tube users. In the past I'd recommend Jolida, but I guess I've shifted my loyalty.. *grin*

Product Weakness: None for a tube amp in this price range
Product Strengths: Imaging, control, tight bass

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Housenn Integrated Mod-1
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Marantz CD63 KI
Speakers:	DIY 2-way standmounts with Dynaudio woofers
Cables/Interconnects:	Audience AU-24
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Vocal,pop,wind quintet,orchestra
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 13 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	Minimal reflections, no apparent bass boom
Time Period/Length of Audition:	4 hours
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition

Product Weakness:	None for a tube amp in this price range
Product Strengths:	Imaging, control, tight bass