Audio Space AS8i Tube Integrated Amplifiers KT88

This is an Audio Space AS8i  KT88 Tube Integrated  Amplifier. 50Watt X2

Excellent condition.

Buyers are welcome to inspect the item by appointment.

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Specification & Review:

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The Audio Space AS-8I is indeed a beauty; if you like tube amps in general, then this one will certainly appeal. The aesthetics are the usual for a tube amp -- huge input and output transformers surrounded by vacuum tubes. The front panel is clad in a superb gold finish with a volume and input selector knob for use with the four inputs in this line-level design.

The AS-8I makes use of four KT88 pentodes and, one 12AX7 and four 12AU7 triodes. Just as a refresher, a triode is a tube with only one grid whereas a pentode is a tube with two more grids than a triode. Pentodes tend to have higher distortion than triodes unless special circuit designs are used.

….For a valve job, I was surprised by the AS-8I's drive, which suits a big orchestra on the rampage as much as it does a live set like Eric Clapton's 24 Nights. Indeed, it's well suited to big musical landscapes, producing bass that can be measured in acreage across the floor, allied to a strong midrange and gorgeously liquid treble that you feel you can reach out and touch.

Switch to George Michaels' Jesus to a Child and that sort of effortless seductiveness is just the approach you want. His voice sits beautifully at the heart of a dense, rich soundstage making the most of the track's heavily produced breathy feel, and the super-smooth swingbeat jazz of Erykah Badu's Certainly oozes its way into the room, her vocals beautifully phrased at the heart of the soundstage.

As for rock 'n' roll? I'm afraid not. The amp, although adequate in every other department, doesn't seem to possess the excitement and sheer forcefulness to drive hard, pounding rock. Snarling guitars lack their ooomph and hostility whilst low-end thump doesn't ever really kick in. Suede's Beautiful Ones sounded distant and the sheer bitterness of the presentation is lost as the soundstage shatters. Rockers would certainly do better with some solid-state muscle.