Non début des années 80 c'est bien cela.
First: A little history.
First examples of this amplifier design [ the Grant Lumley 100AM ] were introduced to the hi-end audio scene way back in the early 1980's when Mr.Harry Pearson of the Absolute Sound reviewed a pair [ issue 21&22] stating: "The Lumley's are a far better amplifier than the ARC D-79b". Very high praise indeed, as the near legendary D-79b is still to this day a wonderful example of a truly great amplifier design particulary when partnered with a begnin speaker load.
The first Grant Lumley's monoblock amplifiers[the GL 100AM monos], were a rather industrial looking design, akin to the "open chassis with cage" type look of the early Quicksilver monos,Conrad Johnson's or Dynakit mk3 monoblocks. The GL-100 design was quickly embraced by the serious audiophile for pairing them with acoustats, Magnaplanars,Infinity RS-1b's, Dayton Wright electrostatics etc, all rather inefficient speakers with a reactive impedance and a difficult load on amplifiers... regardless of being a tube or transistor design.
Mr Ray Lumley and Roy Grant company parted ways shortly after the rewiew in Absolute Sound. At which time Mr Ray Lumley continued forward with this venerable amplifier design.
His new M-100 model was introduced and published specifications that were unheard of for a vacuum tube amplifier! To whit: 100 watts output, 120 into 8 ohms before clipping, a rise time of better than 5 microseconds, a phase shift of less than 20 degrees @ 25khz at full power, overall negative feedback of only 10db, and furnished with Genelec KT-88 output tubes from MO Valve. A new handsome chassis with a thick black faceplate,rack handles and sporting a large bias meter in the centre of its faceplate. The circuit itself was revised and updated, offering the latest techno-logical advances in regulated power supplies, capacitors, resistors,wiring, grounding techniques etc.
After almost a decade of development the latest edition of the M-100 was re-designed once again, now sporting gigantic hand wound output transformers coupled to a fully regulated power supply and now weighing in at nearly 70 lbs each. All power supply capacitors and are filtered and bypassed with film and foil caps.The original coupling capacitors [wondercaps] were changed out for precision matched REL caps. The new M-100 stands alone as a precision instrument for driving the most difficult speaker load.
The pair offered for auction here where the last edition of the M-100. Imported into North America by Mr Isreal Bloom to demonstrate the considerable virtues of the now defunct Apogee speakers systems. Apogees are well known in hi-end audio cirles as an extremely difficult speaker load with a volatile impedance swing [some models dipped below 1 ohm]
My pair were acquired to drive a pair of Dayton Wright XG-8 mk111 electrostatics [another inefficient speaker that presents a rather low reactive impedance] The M-100 drove these panels like no other tube amplifier. Auditioned beside some of the very best tube amplifiers as well as a few highly regarded solid state designs [all of them more powerfull than the M100]. Vacuum tube amplification has always been my "amplification of choice" [and still is] particulary with electrostatic speaker systems. The M-100's were auditioned beside the venerable Audio Research 250, the VTL 220 monos, the Mfa 200 monos, a pair of Jadis Defy 7's. None of these very fine amplifiers could create the magic of the M-100 when partnered with "either" the Dayton Wright or the 3 panel acoustat.
The voicing of the M-100 posses a certain vibe, it's colour is vivid... fine detail,nuance and resolution is simply amazing! The amplifiers offer up a huge holographic soundfield allowing the listener the abilty to clearly hear the back corners of the stage. Musicians and performers remain in proper perspective relative to the scale of a real live person. Are the M-100's still considered the finest 100 watt monophonic tube amplifier in the world?? Who the hell knows......however, if asked to power a difficult speaker [read soundlabs,quads, acoustats,apogees, magnepans,etc] I truly believe the M-100's will compete head on with ANY tube amplifier regardless of cost! To build an amplifier of this quality today would surely be considered mortgage money to most of us.
This pair were serviced, updated, retubed and recalibrated by Mr. Dan Santoni [a highly skilled factory qualified technician] before being retired to storage in 1999 after I acquired a pair of highly efficient horn loaded Tannoy Westminsters[98 db] together with a pair of very expensive low powered set amplifiers.
When in for service, the factory original REL coupling caps were changed in favour of the best [read expensive] Jensen oil caps [a beautiful change btw] , the trim pots and switches in the bias arrangement had developed a little noise and were subsequently replaced with high quality switches gold contacts [Elma] and rewired with cardas hookup wire.... with documentation of parts installed. The original Genelec KT-88 output tubes were tired and subsequently replaced with a matched quad of "old stock" Richardson KT-88's [Gold Aero label]. The input and driver tubes [12au7 & 12ax7] are old stock vintage and test better than new on a calibrated Eico tube tester.
After reading a recent Lumley M-100 thread here in the discussion forum. I decided to retrieve them from storage, re-employ the M-100's and mate them with their beloved old partners...the Dayton Wright XG-8 mk III electrostatics. Well all I can say is WOWZA! The matched quad of old stock kt-88's output tubes have less than 300 hours of run in time.The amps were brought up to speed and recalibrated via a variac. Output tubes were rebiased and the amps will meet or exceed all factory published specs. They are virtually dead quiet at idle, no noise, hum or quirks of any kind. All tubes remained stable in bias,with no drift after warmup. A good friend and fellow enthusiast brought in a pair of the latest Antique Sound Lab Hurricanes [fabulous amps BTW] for comparison purposes. Although the hurricanes are more than twice as powerful.... both of us preferred the Lumley's particulary in the bass drive & decay dep't, where the Lumley's really shine. Furthermore, the Lumleys will play nearly as loud as the Hurricanes [read 95+db here] with out any sign of strain before clipping. The superb build quality and simple wiring design of the Lumley make the Hurricane look like a toy by contrast.
For those that are privy to the sound of these extremely rare amplifiers, look no further.
Don't miss out on a great opportunity here and bid with confidence.
Audiogon auctions only allow us to post 3 pictures. Shown here driving a pair of Dayton Wright XG-8 mk111's as well as my current system using the big Tannoy Westminster. Many more detailed photos available upon request. Photos of the inside,the fronts,sides and rear view as well as pictures of the crates.
Note: The Dayton Wright XG-8 MK111's will be posted for sale or auction after the conclusion of this one.
The amplifiers will come with their original shipping crates,operators manual, schematics, and accompanying literature. I have rated them a rather conservative 7 on the Agon scale only due to age.
They are in beautiful cosmetic condition, fully factory stock circuit, no design mods or circuit changes, complete with original covers, no deap scratches, gouges,or maring of any kind.
Please Note: These amplifiers are extremely heavy [nearly 70 lbs each]and weigh in at 75 lbs packed in their respective crates.
Shipping cost,insurance and choice of carrier to be arranged and paid in advance by the winning bidder.
I reserve the right to cancel bids of those bidders with no feedback or negative feedback.
Payment by certified check,money order, no credit cards or paypal. All checks must clear my bank before being shipped.
Best of Luck!
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Seller added the following on Tue Feb 12 12:20:49 2008
NOTE: After numerous emails asking if the amplifiers can be converted to accomodate Euro voltage supplies. All Lumley amplifiers can be adjusted for accomodate either Euro voltages at 50hz or North American mains supplies at 60 hz. Reference to the proceedure [ colour codes provided] is explained on the back of the Operators Manual. As noted on the back of the manual.....all Lumley amplifiers left the factory set up for a 240 volt [50hz] mains supply. All amplifiers exported to North America had to be rewired for 120 volts & the mains regulator adjusted for 60hz. Warning!!! While the rewire and adjustment for 50hz or 60 hz mains is relatively straight forward, Please understand that you are working with lethal voltages, the proceedure should be carried out by a qualified technician or someone with a thorough understanding in Fundamental Electricity.
. Mais si ma mémoire ne me fait pas défaut, les tiens sont plus beaux que ceux présentés sur les photos. Les poignées sont biseautées non? 
Créé le 25 Fév 2024 11:54
