Octave V40SE Tube Integrated Amplifier

The V40SE is where most people start with Octave and where a lot of them stay. Forty watts per channel from a push-pull EL34 output stage, built in Germany with the same protection circuit Octave runs throughout the line — it monitors tube condition in real time and shuts the amp down before a failing tube takes anything else with it. That’s not a common feature at this price point, and it’s one of the reasons Octave amps tend to last. The circuit is genuinely simple, which is a compliment. MM phono stage onboard, remote control included, and the bias adjusts automatically so you’re not chasing settings every time you roll tubes. EL34 is the stock configuration; the V40SE will also accept KT88, KT120, or 6550 with a bias adjustment, which changes the character of the amp considerably if you want to experiment. Andreas Hofmann designed this. He was in the shop last week. That’s the provenance. Specifications Output Power: 40 watts per channel (EL34 push-pull) Compatible Output Tubes: EL34, KT88, KT120, 6550 Driver Tubes: 12AX7 / ECC83 Inputs: 4 × line level RCA, 1 × MM phono Outputs: 4Ω, 8Ω speaker taps Bias: Automatic Protection: Octave tube/speaker protection circuit Remote: Yes Origin: Straubenhardt, Germany