I have enjoyed a lot with this audition because, sadly only for few days, I have had the chance to test again the George 50/50 tube amplifier, and this has been a real pleasure. Some of you already know the George 50/50 because in September, 2001 we did a test of this amplifier that you can read in this site under the name George Hi-Fi 50/50 integrated tube amplifier. Then we considered the George an excellent performer, with great characteristics and abilities for the musical reproduction. And now, in this audition, the George again has emerged as an amazing piece of audio gear that could give to us many hours of listening pleasure for many, many years.

The basic design of the George 50/50 with KT66 remains unchanged in relation to the first unit tested with EL34 tubes. The amplifier looks the same and so it's the electronic circuit inside the unit. It is an integrated amplifier delivering 40-45 watts per channel, in ultralinear push-pull configuration and operating in Class AB. In the unit we tested, and in all the models made since the beginning of 2003, it is included a switch to change from class AB to class A from. This was optional in earlier models, but due to that is very easy to change the circuit to include this and also due to the sonic improvement it brings to the amplifier, now it is ofered as a standard. In fact this transform the George in a two-in-one amplifier, because the sonical imprint changes when using class AB or class A, as we'll explain later. The George uses, as power tubes, four matched Ruby Tubes KT66 Selected, a copy of the original GEC KT66. As preamplifier tubes the unit we tested used four wonderful Philips ECG 12AU7. This tubes are optional (extra charge) and they were subtituting the original Ruby Tubes 12AU7. But they're very good and so, if you can afford the upgrade, do it. Other features include of the amp are: hand wired circuit, point-to-point wired and soldered with high quality solder (no integrated circuits used), 2mm thick iron chassis, Hammond 1650P ultralinear output transformers, Amptek custom made power transformer, Sprague Orange Drop signal capacitors, Ruby Gold Caps electrolityc caps, ceramic sockets for all tubes, Alps Blue Velvet volume pot, three line inputs with 500mv of sensitivity and 4,8 and 16 ohms loudspeaker connections. Some of the componentes that have been listed (capacitors) are now fixed underneath the chassis, instead of being fixed on it. Also now it is used in all the music path high quality OFC cable. In general terms, the amplifier's looks is better, although it can be improved. Finally, the sound is very,very good, and sincerely it suproised me as we'll later.

For this audition the George was partnered with my Monitor Audio Studio 20 SEC with a sensitivity of 87dB on 8 ohmns and with my TEAC VRDS 10 SE CD player as musical source. I was afraid that the amplifier couldn't work properly with the Studio 20 due to its relatively low sensitivity (at least for a 40 watts tube amp), but I was completely wrong. Let's explain why.

First I used the George in class AB and that means 40 watts of tube power. I started with this class because this was the only class available in the George with EL34 we tested in 2001, and because I thougth that it could we more suitable for my speakers. After 30 minutes of warming up the amplifier I started the audition. First I selected the first track of Gloria Estefan's record Caribbean Souls/Ama Caribeña. The song is called For a Kiss/Por un Beso and well..I drop my jaws when I listened the first seconds of it. This is a song I used because it is dynamic and fast in some parts and the George solved all of them with great control. The bass was deep and with the volume pot at 11h the sound preassure was realy high. The ampliferi didn't show any signs of weakness. Great bass, more than with the EL34 version of the amplifier. In the middle of the songs there's a solo from the orchestra and the George did it damm well. Fast and furious I would call it, for only 40 watts and figthing with a pair of speaker with only 87 dB. Very good

The second musical selection was more relaxed, from the Norah Jones' record Come Away with Me. The guitar in the Seven Years track was very detailed and defined, with richness, well focused and not fatiguing. The voices in Cold, Cold Heart, the 12th track were also great. The music was very good, with very good bass and very clear mids and highs.

The third selection was Partners in Crime by Claire Martin and again the George showed all its character, sounding bigger than it is. Again very well with the voices.

If any "weakness" of the amplifier has to be pointed after more than two hours of listening to it, is that sometimes i felt the bass a little bit out of control, but just a little bit.

After this first conctact using the amplifier in class AB, I decided to change the to class A. My malicious idea was to change the class to see if the amplifier would show any weakness. I own many low-powered tube amplifiers and sometimes they have problems when working with low sensitive speakers. So I switch off the George, I changed the class to A and I switched it on again. Did you know what happen? It was a big surprise. SO big, than I ran to the telephone and I called Jorge Bueno, the designer of this jewel, to confirm that in class A the amplifier only delivers 20 watts. And he confirmed it.

If the amplifier was good working in class AB, in class A it was amazing. It is one of this few products that break your ideas about hi-fi in small pieces. Those ideas that say that a 20 watts amplifer can't sound like this or that it can't be used with low sensitive speakers. It reminded me the first tube amplifier I listened to, the Audio Note OTO SE and how, after that audition, I changed my mind about amplifier and hi-fi. The same has happened now.

With the Gloria Estefan's track the George was working with the same punch as it was in class AB. Well, something had changed. Do you remember what I say before about the bass being a little bit out of control? Now the bass was great. The amplifier sounded more relaxed in this field, but without losing its punch. As I said when I auditioned the George with EL34 this amplifier have the best of both world, the tube world and solid state world. Great bass, controlled and not boomy and also magnificent mids with clear voices. In my medium sized room the 20 watts of the George where enough produce high SPL levels with real quality. Now, I can understand Jorge Bueno when he told that all his customers use the George in class A. Why more power if with 20 watts this amplifier can sound like it does? Maybe in bigger rooms you would need the 40 watts in class AB, but I can't be sure about thta. You'll have to try.

With the songs by Norah Jones there were also differences. The guitar more defined, voices realy good and very good bass. I was enjoying so much, and so, I decided to show my neighbours what the George could do with 20 watts. I chose Brick House by The Commodores and...let's party!!!! Everybody dance!!. Those 20 where incredible. I followed with James Taylor Quartet, with the songs that thre're in the record called In the hand of the inevitable and it was great with all of them. I invited my neighbout to the party. He has "a history" in hi-fi and a critical spirit. He has seen many things in audio and he always wants to listen to what I'm testing and he agreed with my. The George 50/50 knows how to do it.

And so...I spent four days with the amplifier. Listening to everything to see what the George can do. The second uring six hours in order to test the behaviour of the amplifiers in long musical sessions. I was interested in checking the temperature that reaches the amplifier working in class A for many hours. It was hotest than when it was working in class AB but it was possible to touch the three transformers without problems. This shows us the quality of the components used in this amplifier and the life expectancy it could has.

Finally, some more points about this amplifier. First, about the differences between the George with EL34 and with KT66. It 's a matter of personal taste. It's a quetions of tone, no power or anything else. So you have to try what you like. But if you don't get a clear answer to that question, you can ask Amptek to install a switch that allows you to use on the same amplifier both the EL34 or KT66, so you will have four amplifiers in one, two for class AB/A and two for EL34/KT66. Second, read the article I wrote about the George with EL34 as I said at the beginning of this article. It will give you more information about the amplifier.

If you're thinking about buying a tube amplifier, if you are looking for something different to what we find in hi-fi shops, give a chance to the George 50/50, because it can take you to the Nirvana. It's a great performer with great components and with an incredible price. Thanks again to Jorge Bueno from Amptek, the man who designs this wonderful amp, to allow us to test it.