Octave Jubilee Class A: An Introduction
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Jubilee Class A: An Introduction
Octave proudly introduces a new milestone in the world of high-end power amplifiers: the Jubilee Class A, a reference monaural power amplifier that bridges the gap between traditional push-pull designs and the single-ended Class A concept.
For decades, Octave has celebrated the extraordinary musicality of the tube for its unrivaled ability to convey the emotion and soul of music – with depth, nuance, and natural warmth that a transistor can rarely approach – while acknowledging they also have clear limitations: lower output power, higher distortion, and stability issues. Octave's innovation lies in the seamless combination of tube technology and state-of-the-art semiconductor technology to overcome the disadvantages of classic tube circuits, thereby unleashing their full musical expression and potential.
Octave’s push-pull amplifier designs have long been valued for their unique combination of power and control without losing the distinctive character that make tubes special. For listeners who prefer a softer, more romantic sound, founder and chief engineer, Andreas Hofmann, embarked on a series of single-ended Class A concept amplifiers, beginning with the V16 Single-Ended Class A – a single-ended triode headphone and loudspeaker amplifier with exceptionally low distortion and unusually high output power (8W) for such a design.
Following the V16, the Jubilee 300B mono power amplifier was introduced. Among other innovations, the Jubilee 300B employs a unique, dedicated AC filament heater circuit whose massive transformer provides silent, steady power to a trio of 300B tubes at 7Hz. This eliminates any sign of power line hum to reveal the full potential of the venerable 300B. Next, the V70 Class A brought the Octave single-ended concept to a higher-power integrated amplifier; and now, the Jubilee Class A follows, positioned between the powerful MRE220 SE push-pull monos and the mighty, finely-tuned Jubilee Mono Ultimate amplifiers.
Is the new Jubilee Class A better?
At Octave, they don't necessarily believe in "better." What they do believe in, however, is a strong vision – and when that vision translates into sound, true miracles can happen. The Jubilee Class A is not an optimized version of any predecessor, rather the realization of a new approach born of the unique vision and technical expertise of Andreas Hofmann. From the circuitry to the mechanical construction, everything was designed by Andreas and executed by his dedicated team at Octave, with the vast majority of parts made in-house, or sourced from within an hour of the factory in Karlsbad, Germany. The inaugural pair of Jubilee Class A was manufactured by the Octave team with the same dedication and commitment to quality for which Octave amplifiers are valued worldwide.
Sonically, the Jubilee Class A was not designed to surpass the Jubilee Mono Ultimate as such, but rather to play a crucial role in the Octave portfolio: a power amplifier that combines the musicality and smoothness of Class A with the endurance and control of push-pull technology. The result is an amplifier in which musicality, finesse, and power come together in perfect balance. For the appropriate loudspeakers – where bandwidth and dynamics go hand in hand with timbral richness and refinement – the Jubilee Class A is the ideal partner.
The Jubilee Class A is more than a new product – it represents a new chapter in amplifier development.
A balance of power and refinement, control and emotion, precision and soul.
