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Melos Product #001 - GK1 Preamp For Sale
In 1979, George Bischoff and Mark Porzilli founded Melos Audio Corporation. Melos Audio was in operation from 1979-1999 and ultimately became the 3rd largest tube audio manufacturer in the world.
Melos' first product was the GK1 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. The GK1 had an unprecedented amount of phono gain and low noise for an all-tube device. It was the first vacuum tube preamp that could amplify a low output moving coil cartridge without a "head amp", circumventing an entire device in the signal path.
The GK1 was mildly successful in the United States but was huge hit in the UK, Thailand, Korea, Japan and became the #1 high end audio preamplifier in Italy. The GK1 appeared on magazine covers in Asia and Europe and garnered scores of rave reviews around the world.
In the United States, it was rave reviewed in The Absolute Sound and The Audiophile Voice and was owned by several reviewers at Stereophile.
Its primary allure was it could amplify low output moving coil cartridges with only two stages. No transformers, no solid-state devices, pure Class A, no feedback, All SET throughout. At the time this was unprecedented.
It also used what was at the time, revolutionary - non-audio tubes in audio circuits. The use of extremely high gain, low noise RF amplifier tubes enabled it to bypass the additional stages that 12AX7 and 6DJ8 based designs required, cutting the signal path in half. Manufacturers like Conrad Johnson and Sonic Frontiers utilised this design in their later releases.
Melos Audio went on to enjoy over 400 positive reviews on 6 continents in literally every high-end audio magazine in existence to as late as 1999. Melos won two Golden Ear awards from The Absolute Sound, the Product of the Year in Stereophile, it had 10 Class A products in Stereophile's Recommended Components for 10 years, 11 Most Wanted Component Awards from The Stereo Times, over a dozen Best in Show awards from the CES and other trade shows and was even a cover issue in the Robb Report. Melos Audio also designed and sponsored the legendary Pipedreams Line Array loudspeakers as well as the Scaena Line Arrays, both of which received the Golden Ear award from The Absolute Sound as well as plaudits by Harry Pearson and Jonathan Valin.
Some 45 years after its humble beginnings, the very first product that Melos ever produced has resurfaced when the original owner passed away. He left it to the original designer, Mark Porzilli. This specific device, sold in November, 1979 as Melos Audio Product #001 was kept in amazing condition by the original owner and was recently verified by the last surviving member of Melos, their head of design, Mark Porzilli. A signed Certificate of Authenticity accompanies this GK1 preamplifier.
The preamp is in original working condition, it has been rebuilt where necessary (such as worn tube sockets being replaced) and beautifully amplifies ANY phono cartridge with all tube amplification. It is in full working order, fully tested and verified by the original designer.
As mentioned above, only two stages (3 including the line stage), no audio transformers, no solid-state devices, pure Class A, no feedback, all SET throughout. This classic instrument from this classic audio manufacturer is now available to purchase.
Own the first all-tube moving coil phono preamplifier ever designed, the first exotic tube circuit design, the first product ever made by one of the largest, most important and influential tube audio companies. A part of audio history. Please use the contact form here to send an inquiry.
Tube Compliment:
4- 6GK5
4- 6GK5, 6ER5 or 6FH5
120v or 240v (switchable)
2 Main Outs (RCA)
Tape Out
Tape Monitor
6 Auxiliary Level Switchable Inputs
Separate Regulated Power Supplies remotely connected via umbilical cord.
Switchable (internal) cartridge loading from no load or 47,000 ohms - 5 ohms.
Moving Coil or Moving Magnet switchable.
Melos' first product was the GK1 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. The GK1 had an unprecedented amount of phono gain and low noise for an all-tube device. It was the first vacuum tube preamp that could amplify a low output moving coil cartridge without a "head amp", circumventing an entire device in the signal path.
The GK1 was mildly successful in the United States but was huge hit in the UK, Thailand, Korea, Japan and became the #1 high end audio preamplifier in Italy. The GK1 appeared on magazine covers in Asia and Europe and garnered scores of rave reviews around the world.
In the United States, it was rave reviewed in The Absolute Sound and The Audiophile Voice and was owned by several reviewers at Stereophile.
Its primary allure was it could amplify low output moving coil cartridges with only two stages. No transformers, no solid-state devices, pure Class A, no feedback, All SET throughout. At the time this was unprecedented.
It also used what was at the time, revolutionary - non-audio tubes in audio circuits. The use of extremely high gain, low noise RF amplifier tubes enabled it to bypass the additional stages that 12AX7 and 6DJ8 based designs required, cutting the signal path in half. Manufacturers like Conrad Johnson and Sonic Frontiers utilised this design in their later releases.
Melos Audio went on to enjoy over 400 positive reviews on 6 continents in literally every high-end audio magazine in existence to as late as 1999. Melos won two Golden Ear awards from The Absolute Sound, the Product of the Year in Stereophile, it had 10 Class A products in Stereophile's Recommended Components for 10 years, 11 Most Wanted Component Awards from The Stereo Times, over a dozen Best in Show awards from the CES and other trade shows and was even a cover issue in the Robb Report. Melos Audio also designed and sponsored the legendary Pipedreams Line Array loudspeakers as well as the Scaena Line Arrays, both of which received the Golden Ear award from The Absolute Sound as well as plaudits by Harry Pearson and Jonathan Valin.
Some 45 years after its humble beginnings, the very first product that Melos ever produced has resurfaced when the original owner passed away. He left it to the original designer, Mark Porzilli. This specific device, sold in November, 1979 as Melos Audio Product #001 was kept in amazing condition by the original owner and was recently verified by the last surviving member of Melos, their head of design, Mark Porzilli. A signed Certificate of Authenticity accompanies this GK1 preamplifier.
The preamp is in original working condition, it has been rebuilt where necessary (such as worn tube sockets being replaced) and beautifully amplifies ANY phono cartridge with all tube amplification. It is in full working order, fully tested and verified by the original designer.
As mentioned above, only two stages (3 including the line stage), no audio transformers, no solid-state devices, pure Class A, no feedback, all SET throughout. This classic instrument from this classic audio manufacturer is now available to purchase.
Own the first all-tube moving coil phono preamplifier ever designed, the first exotic tube circuit design, the first product ever made by one of the largest, most important and influential tube audio companies. A part of audio history. Please use the contact form here to send an inquiry.
Tube Compliment:
4- 6GK5
4- 6GK5, 6ER5 or 6FH5
120v or 240v (switchable)
2 Main Outs (RCA)
Tape Out
Tape Monitor
6 Auxiliary Level Switchable Inputs
Separate Regulated Power Supplies remotely connected via umbilical cord.
Switchable (internal) cartridge loading from no load or 47,000 ohms - 5 ohms.
Moving Coil or Moving Magnet switchable.
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