Description
AudioValve produces tube amplifiers in the high-end audio range since 1980. The product portfolio ranges from headphone amplifiers to preamps and power amplifiers in triode and pentode technology. All our power amplifiers have one thing in common, they work with a fully automatic bias regulator developed by Becker in 1982 . named ABR. From the very beginning, Becker – CEO from AudioValve – was aware that the quality of the tubes of future generations would certainly not improve. Show me one audio tube amplifier in this world that you can still do this with …..
::: high power mono tube amplifier series 2020 for 115 to 180 watt power output :::
StereoTimes’ Most Wanted Component Award 2017 for Challenger 115
2017 Stereo Times “Most Wanted Component” Awards
and here the review from 20. august 2019 – please click …
“Lately I’ve been exploring the tube realm, and the more I listen to tubes the more I like them. I must say, tubes do something to the music and I really enjoyed my time listening to the Audio Valve Challenger mono-block amplifiers. The amp had no problem driving the Conspiracy and the Lyra loudspeakers with great control and finesse. Hats off to Helmut Becker! I highly recommend the Audio Valve Challengers. It is fine German engineering that comes with sensible pricing in today’s high-end audio arena.”
Already since 1984 AudioValve produces the amplifier series with the name CHALLENGER. This is also the proven PP concept, with the difference that the entire circuit is fully symmetrical, that is, it handles the negative and positive signal phase. If the end tubes are selected accordingly, e.g. from a 115-watt power amp with EL34, the Challenger 150 model, if you’re equipped with 6550, or a pair of Challenger 180 – when you equip with KT120. The quiescent currents are found by the amplifier with the help of Autobias (ABR).
The magazine HIFI-VISION has already chosen this device series in a test in May 1992 for “absolute top class”. These series also have our so-called automatic BIAS regulators, which precisely set the quiescent current of each individual end tube. You will be alerted to spent tubes via LED’s and can exchange them easily without having to resort to selected tubes. So do not let costly tubes sell for your AudioValve amp because our amplifiers do not need selected ones to sound. The tiresome topic about the right choice of the end tubes is thus over forever.
The use of these devices is primarily dynamic speakers, but also in interaction with electrostatic speakers prove the Challenger their absolute class. With an additional stand-by switch on the front left of the device, the anode voltage can be switched off in longer pauses without completely switching off the device. The tubes remain safely warmed and can immediately max. reproduce musical qualities after switching on in the “Operate Mode”. But the Challenger’s are already fully operational after 10 minutes of commissioning anyway.
Back to the Challenger – on a total of 6 tailpipes per channel, the performance is distributed. No tailpipe is expected too much. Even if one weakens, you will hardly notice. A big advantage, if you think about what services other concepts force the tubes to achieve the same performance only with 2 tubes – that goes on the life – no question. In general, push – pull amplifiers with only two tubes with caution to enjoy. Especially with two tubes in conventional technique, the sound lives from the quality and the symmetry of the tubes – and as these become increasingly aging you will soon experience the changes of the sound – unfortunately.
Unless you purchased a screwdriver with your device and subject your device to constant bias adjustment. Even such devices are still currently being produced from the USA or China. Where is the meaning, or maybe you can not do it better ?? We have had our Biasregulator now since 1991 and offer him in the meantime as a module for third-party products, so that their owners do not have to invest all their belongings in tubes. Perhaps this essay sounds a bit provocative to you, but so far has been explained by the coverage of the “trade press” of this concern for our devices little exhaustive, I think the press understands the technology behind it and can therefore explain the effect also not.
So – whenever you enjoy a range of cheap KT 120s, hit them – you’ll enjoy using them in Challenger. We also do not dispute that the quality of the tubes today has decreased compared to 30 years ago – it certainly causes many devices of the competition biggest problems, but when used in the right circuit environment – as in AudioValve – prepare the tubes today more Enjoy it ever. All you have to do is choose the right concept, and for that you can do that, not a technical introduction to tubes, so that you can make an assessment.
The input stage of the Challenger is realized with a so – called parallel – symmetric – cross – coupled preliminary stage after Zechendorff. It allows effortless processing of XLR and RCA input signals. The Challenger has a huge two-sided PCB with all components and are soldered by hand. This assures best contact points at the solder joints, as the tin goes up through each pad, thus providing an excellent bond. The solder rises in the hole of the soldering eyelet and thus soldered each component from above and below. Good and short cables to the underground in the amplifier located transformers ensure the best electrical connections, so even with the Challenger even a 10 Khz rectangle still looks like the original. Without overshoots or flanks – just as it should be.
Another special feature of these amplifiers are the power supplies. PP requires an anode power supply, but that’s not all, we still need the screen grid voltages for the left and right banks (PTC overcurrent protected), three heating circuits, neg. Grid voltage, reference voltages for the ABR`S, plus / minus power supplies for the OP` s, an anodes driving voltage, and all these voltages are partly floating associated with the respective banks of the right and left rows of tubes of a printed circuit board – so you get only once an idea of the state of development of our devices are.
Musically, preference should be given to equipping with EL34 in the Challengers. These deliver nearly 130 watts and shine with a special midrange and treble range. If you prefer more bass, you may be better off with the KT 120. The bias is set via four-digit DIP switches located on the printed circuit board. With their help, the reference quiescent current for automatic adjustment in all tubes is used. The Challenger series have experienced various cosmetic updates over the past 30 years. From the concept, however, nothing has changed until now – why should it? We do not have to undergo a constant new model policy to remain interesting, we stand by what we do – 1984 to 2020.
Again and again I hear, “one does not know you Mr. Becker …”. That’s not quite true. We deny 95% of our sales abroad and that, because we know and appreciate us. But also in Germany there are attentive hi – fi – friends who have not been influenced for a long time by “test winners” of the press, or “forums – prophets”, but consistently and above all with expertise to form their own opinion. And these listeners always find contact with us too. What I am most pleased about is the fact that they are individualists, both at work and in private life – just like me – in the search for the best result. People with self-determined characters and special charisms. No one is like the other, everyone is special and yet – or that’s why – we come together for the love of music. To know them all makes me proud – and they are not a few – thank you for your trust.
The CHALLENGER series of monoblocs are the foundation of the AudioValve range of amplifiers, which have been refined and perfected since first introduced in 1987. The CHALLENGER is unique in so many key areas. For example, it can use KT-88s, 6550s or EL-34s with equal ease as power tube. And depending on the tube used, its output can range from 110 wpc to as high as 180 wpc. This is made possible by our revolutionary and proprietary ABR circuitry, which monitors, biases and controls each tube independently in the most AudioValve power amplifers.
This feature allows the use of any of the mentioned tubes or, indeed, a combination of any of the three. This redefines in a truly innovative way the concept of “plug and play.” It also makes tube replacement very economical, as there is no need for costly and exotic tubes which have to be matched in order to get the best sound from the amplifier. Another truly impressive detail . That is, the circuitry is totally balanced from input right to output terminals. All of this means the CHALLENGER can drive any speaker on the market, from conventional drivers to exotic electrostatics and ribbons, with complete ease.
The most recent affirmation of the beauty and prowess of this truly unique and great amplifier came in the November 1999 issue of The Absolute Sound, one of the most respected industry magazine in the world. AudioValve Challenger combine also excellente with electrostatic speakers. Already since 1984 we produce our series called “Challenger”. We are likewise using the proved PPP concept with only one difference: the complete circuitry is fully symmetric. By chosing the correct tubes and making some little detailed changes for example a 115 Watt power amplifier with EL34 turns to Challenger 140 at e.g. 6550 / KT 88 / KT120 mounting.
The magazine HIFI-VISION has already chosen this series for being one of the best in a test in may 1992. In the meantime the technology has not stood still here, too. By now also this series is equipped with our so-called BIAS-regulators which define each tubes standby current exactly. LED lamps inform you about used up tubes, so you can change them easily. You can therefore use ordinary stand-tubes, also in case of replacement. Don’t let yourself be talked into buying expensive tubes – our amplifiers don’t need selected tubes for making a good sound. The prefered using of these instrments in combination with conventional dynamic loudspeakers is also the using in connection with electrostatic loudspeakers. Particularly in this case this series shows his enormous advantages regarding the loudspeaker controlling. Without problems and with a high musical sense you can obtain a harmonically interplay between your components.
With an additional Stand-By-switcher on the front panel you can turn down the anode voltage in longer intervals without shutting the amplifer down. The tubes stay warm and can deliver the maximum of musical quality directly after switching-on. Let us try to describe you with simple words what are the advantages of this series with PPP principle. You all remember the conventional PP circuitries . Nearly unexceptional every manufacturer uses this concept because of its little effort – at the expense of the sound we think. In our PPP circuitries we work with a so-called Autotrafo. This means, in our circuitry the transmitter is not in the high-voltage bearing anode, but in the mass bearing cathode. When employing our final tubes we talk about the cathode follower, which means that the cathode voltage follows direclty control voltage at the tubes control grid. So we are not using the characteristics of the final tube dynamic. In fact we use the tubes only as power suppliers. Which tubes delivers the power is getting a subordinated question. In plain language this means, we are not regulated by the characteristics of the tubes in our circuitry. With a little imagination you will soon discover the invaluable benefit of this conception.
The vexed topic of chosing the correct tube is therewith done forever. But we go another step far. Lots of people hold the view that you should not use chinese KT88 tubes and that their use leads to different problems in many units. But not with the Challenger ! Thanks to our Bias-Regulator , which injects each tubes closed current fully automated, the use of the above mentioned KT88s is no longer a problem but rather turns into a great pleasure, because this tube has got a lot of power reserves. So if you ever get the chance of buying economically prized KT88`s, don’t miss it – you will take much pleasure in those tubes. We don’t deny that the quality of tubes has decreased. compared to the quality of tubes 30 years ago And of course there are many units which have big trouble with this fact, but with adequate operation in the correct circuitry surrounding this tube will pleasure you now more than ever before. You just have to chose the right conecpt and therefore our little introduction in the topic of tubes for making a decision easier for you.
the graphic show you: 10 kHz square wave signal by 8 ohm load
But now back to the Challenger – the effort is divided on 6 final tubes on each canal. No tube is overstrained. Even if one decreases, you will hardly notice. A big advantage if you think of how other conecepts constrain their tubes to to achieve the same effort with only 2 tubes – this has got negative effects on the duration of life, that’s beyond question. Generally push-pull-amplifiers with only 2 tubes have to be taken with a pinch of salt. Especially at 2 tubes in conventional technology the sound depends on the quality of the tubes – and because of their continuous aging process you can discover the change in the sound soon. Unless you have also bought a screw-driver and subject your amplifier to a permanent Bias justage. Products like this are still produced today, coming from the USA. We, however, own our Bias-Regulator already since 1991 and offer it meanwhile as a module for machines from other manufacturers as well, in order that they don’t have to invest all their goods and chattels in tubes. Maybe this essay sounds a bit provocative. But all former tries of the specialized press to illustrate our units adequately have been a miserable failure.
The input stage of the Challenger is realized with with a so-called parallel-symmetrical-cross linked pre-stage. It allows the converting of also XLR-signals without problems. It has to be pointed out that the volume does not change , what is usually the case. The Challenger owns a big bilateral printed board with all components and get soldered in our spate bath. This guarantees best contact points at the soldering joints, as the tin rises up through every annular ring and creates an excellent connection like this.The tin runs throught the whole in the annular ring and brazes so every component from above and from the bottom. Good, short cables linking to the transformers in the underground of the amplifier assure best electrical properties. Therefore even a 10 Khz rectangle looks like the original with the Challenger. Without overshootings or flabby sides – just the way it should be.
A further specific feature of this amplifier are the power-supply-units. PPP requests from the outset 2 anode power-supply-units. But not enough, we also need the two screen grid voltage for the left and the right bank, three heater circuits, two neg. grid voltages, two referance voltages for the ABR`s, two plus/minus power-supply units for the OP`s, an anode driver voltage…and all these voltages are, partly afloat, assigned to the right and the left bank of tubes of a printed board – just to give you an imagination of the high stage of development of our units. Not to forget the Computer-Interface. All Challengers are equipped with an interface for computer connection, wait and see what we are planning with this facility in the future. You see – with AudioValve units you are hundred percent up-to-date, if not even in the future if you look at the current stage of development in general.
The Challenger produce a perfect low harmonic distortion sprectrum !
These below-mentioned 3 illustrations clarify in a perfect way the excellent impulse acting of the CHALLENGER. The pictures show the replay of a rectangle at 20 – 1.000 and 10.000 Hertz. You will notice that, even at 10 Khz, no overshoots or other “tube-typical” phenomenons are appearing. The impulse replay is faultless and comparable to the rise rate of a transistor. Picture 3 shows a 1kHz sinus at the beginning of power limitation of the amplifier, which counters with a soft “Softclipping”. The effort is now at circa 170 Watt in the mounting of the power amplifier with 6*6550. All schemas are based on an ampliifer final charge of 8 Ohm. So we are not talking about the frequency range but about the power amplifiers real power bandwith – this must not be confounded, since the requirements by DIN are much higher at the power bandwith.
New feature
The mono blocks of AudioValve have in the power supply so-called “main voltage phase finder”. On the main power socket inside a printed circuit board is soldered, which fulfills different tasks. On the one hand, an NTC reduces the max. inrush current as current limiter, if you turn on the amplifier, this is bridged as soon as all the required voltages are reached in the amplifier and on the other hand, there is a circuit on the pcb, which helps to locate the mains life phase. If the amplifier is switched on, the green LED on this pcb. should light up, then the phase is correctly fed. If the LED does not light up, turn the power plug and check the situation again. If the phase is fed in correctly, it also gives the best musical result.
new feature: self adjust “referenz bias pre selector” for different kind of power pentodes
new feature: live phase finder ( green LED show you right main AC connection )
Helmut Becker (store manager) –
Guten Abend Herr Becker,
die Challenger laufen jetzt schon einige Wochen bei mir. Jetzt ist es mal an der Zeit, dass ich Ihnen über meine Zufriedenheit schreibe.
Ich hatte, wie Sie wissen, anfangs Bedenken, dass die Leistung für die Nuvero 14 ausreichen würde. Diese Bedenken sind zerstreut, die Challenger haben genug Power!
Der Sound ist hervorragend, ich habe nichts zu tadeln. Optisch sind die Endstufen mit grüner Anzeige und sanftem roten Glühen der Röhren ohnehin ein Hingucker!
Rundum bin ich mit dem Erwerb glücklich.
Ich wünsche Ihnen ein schönes Wochenende und hoffe, dass wir uns irgendwann gesund wiedersehen.
Martin F.
Helmut Becker (store manager) –
Jeg tester nye produkter i alle ledige stunder. Mange forsterkere er slik, at de kan være litt vanskelig å matche med andre ting og har egenskaper som gjør at jeg ikke ville ha kjøpt en slik forsterker selv. Da har jeg heller ikke så veldig lyst til å forsøke å selge et slikt produkt til andre.
Derfor blir jeg så VELDIG glad når jeg en sjelden gang finner noe som jeg liker godt selv og som viser seg å være lett og matche med andre ting.
I går pakket jeg ut ett par nye Audio Valve Challenger 115 monoblokker og koblet dem opp.
Fra første sekund var det en nytelse å høre musikken strømme ut av mine Spendor Classic 100 høyttalere. Det er helt uvanlig at helt nye forsterkere kan gi så god lyd med en gang.
Dette er ikke noe for deg som vil ha «knivskarpe» detaljer presentert på en intensiv måte. Jeg opplever at Challenger 115 gir meg alle detaljer som jeg ønsker å høre, men formidlet på en raffinert og elegant måte, så de bare blir en del av helhetsopplevelsen av musikken.
Her tar jeg i mot kunder både på dagtid, kveldstid og i helger. Så bare sende en e-post til meg på: hallvar@audioakt.no og foreslå en dag det passer for deg. Så skal jeg sette av god tid til deg.
Hallvar – AudioAktoren, Norway
admin (store manager) –
Der (lange) Weg zum audiophilen (AudioValve) Nirwana….
(Assistent 30…..Eklipse/Challenger 115)
Nach dem Ankauf von Quad ESL-57 Lautsprechern und der Renovation durch Quad Musikwiedergabe (quad-musik.com/) verlief der erste Hörtest sehr enttäuschend (Lehmann Linear + Quad 303 QR, http://www.quadrevisie.nl/quadrevisie.html#12). Völlig überzogene Höhenwiedergabe, aufgeblasene Basswiedergabe und fehlende Mittenwiedergabe….(dafür konnte aber unmöglich der Lehman oder Quad 303 QR sein…)
Die Akustik des Musikzimmers musste also (dringend) verbessert werden …. Nach 5 Monaten und 3 verschiedenen Firmen/Spezialisten und einem Raumklangprozessor (DDRC-24 mit dirac live, minidsp.com/products/dirac-series/ddrc-24) ist es dann endlich gelungen um die Hörtestsitzungen wieder ernsthaft auf zu nehmen…
Schnell wurde deutlich, dass die Kombination (siehe oben) nicht in der Lage war, die Qualitäten der Lautsprecher und des angepassten Raums voll auszunutzen…..
Upgrade 1: Durch meine äußerst positiven Erfahrungen mit meinem AudioValve Luminare lag es nahe, um wieder bei Herrn Becker an zu klopfen…. Der „Assisstent 30“ wurde angeschafft und brachte direkt eine große Verbesserung ….. ein viel räumlicheres, warmes, aber sehr deutliches, nuanciertes Klangbild mit sehr ausgewogenem, ordentlichem Bas…. Eine Budget- und Klank-freundliche Lösung, mit der ich ziemlich zufrieden war….die aber auch ein paar Grenzen bloß legte: die Kraftreserven des Assistent 30, die die sehr schwierige kapazitiven Last der Elektrostaten ab und zu nur mit (leicht hörbarer) Mühe bewältigten…und auch die räumlichen, akustischen Anpassungen waren noch nicht ausreichend und optimal.
Zusammen mit einem Ton-techniker (post audio producer, http://www.sigertdejean.be/) und einem renommierten Hifi-Händler, der sehr viel Wert auf die Raum-Akustik legt (www.veryfinesolutions.com/) wurde der Raum nochmals klang-mäßig analysiert und angepasst.
Upgrade 2: Mit Herrn Becker wurde überlegt und beschlossen um die Kombination Eklipse/Challenger 115 anzuschaffen.
Jetzt endlich, nach ungefähr 7 Monaten, bin ich am Ziel meiner Reise: Das Zusammenspiel der verschiedenen Komponenten meiner Anlage (Auflistung unten) und die akustischen Anpassungen meines Musikzimmers ist schlichtweg (außergewöhnlich) gut.
Kleinste Details werden durch die Eklipse/Challengers auf eine ganz natürliche, ungezwungene Weise an die Quads durchgegeben – enorme Dynamiksprünge nötig ?…. die Challengers liefern sie wenn immer nötig mit einer spielerischen Leichtigkeit. Ob die Sopranistin/der Tenor links in der Mitte oder rechts vorne steht, die Eklipse/Challengers sorgen dafür, dass die Quads das Klangbild korrekt in den Raum projektieren. Ob ein Orchester unten, vor der Bühne spielt und die Opernsänger sich auf der Bühne bewegen, lässt sich bei guten Aufnahmen perfekt nachvollziehen. Die räumliche Abbildung ist ungeheuer präzise, beinahe holografisch. Aber nicht nur die akribische Detailwiedergabe und die räumliche Darstellung machen die tägliche(n) Hörstunde(n) zum Genuss…. Es ist ebenso faszinierend wie die Eklipse/Challenger in Kombination mit dem DSP und den geschickt aufgestellten Klangverteilern (Artnovion, ) den Quads einen tiefreichenden, trockenen Bas entlocken kann, den ich bisher bei den ESL-57 noch nicht gehört habe. Hart angestrichene Celli, Viola da Gambas oder Contrabässe („Viola Bastarda“ gespielt von Roberto Gini auf Olive Music oder G.C.Wagenseil, Quartets for low strings, Accent…, Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild Side…) besorgen Gänsehaut….Ob Fagott, Bas Saxofon, Oboe, Klarinette, Block- oder Querflöte oder Piccolo, jedes Instrument ist erkennbar und hat/behält seine wunderschöne Klangfarbe, kommt lebhaft und natürlich aus den Lautsprechern und steht (beinahe) greifbar im Raum. Vor allem bei kleineren (Barock) Ensembles habe ich regelmäßig das Gefühl einem intimen, privatem Konzert bei zu wohnen….wunderschön…. im AudioValve Nirwana.
Es gibt einen Nachteil an dieser Geschichte: Mein bis dato treuer Assistent 30 (noch kein Jahr alt und in tadellosem Zustand) wird jetzt viel zu wenig gebraucht….es wäre schön wenn er in einer neuen Umgebung ein „warmes“ Zuhause finden könnte (Interesse? ue@telenet.be)
Die heutige Anlage:
Server (Musik, flac/high-res)
Roon (DSP/upsampling)
Wadia di122 (DAC)
DDRC-24 (DSP-Raumakustik)
AudioValve Eklipse
AudioValve Challenger 115
Quad ESL-57 (Quad Musikwiedergabe)
interlinks: Nordost Purple Flare (RCA) / Horn Audiophile “the Analyst” (RCA + XLR)
Lautsprecherkabel: Nordost Blue Heaven
Diffusors: Artnovion Logan, Duron, Myron
In den nächsten Monaten werde ich folgende Kombinationen ausprobieren
Eklipse:
1) 4 x Electro Harmonix ECC82/12AU7 (ursprüngliche Ausrüstung AudioValve)
2) 4 x RCA ECC82/12AU7 clear tops (NOS)
3) 4 x Genalex 12AU7 Gold Lion
4) 4 x Siemens E82CC (NOS)
Challengers:
1) 12 x EL34-STX (ursprüngliche Ausrüstung AudioValve)
2) 12 x Genalex KT77 Gold Lion
…. Musikgenuss garantiert…
admin (store manager) –
von S. Mengel aus Hamm am 28.10.2014 11:23
Hallo Herr Becker,
wie versprochen, ein Bild meiner Anlage mit den neuen Audio Valve Challenger 115.
Lautsprecher B&W 802d
CD Player LUA Appassionata MK III
Philips C104 NOS mit OPA 627
Philips C104 NOS mit OPA 2132
Laufwerk. Transrotor FatBob s Reference TMD, Tonarm SME 3500 mit Benz ACE-S,
Sun Wire Phono Reference
Phonovorstufe. Trigon Advance
Vorstufe Classé Audio CP 500
Dac. Northstar Essensio
Netzwerkplayer. G-Sonos
MacBookPro mit M2tech HiFace 2 und Amarra 3.0
Kabel alle Sun Wire Audio Reference
Lautsprecherkabel Kimber 8TC
Endstufen. Audio Valve Challenger vom Meister der Röhrentechnik Helmut Becker
Und nun zum Klang:
Mit den Audio Valve Challenger 115 einfach ein Traum, druckvoller Tiefbassbereich, ausgewogene Mitten und seidige Höhen – So kann man “Klangträume erleben”!
Audio Valve Challenger und die B&W 802d – das passt, von mir für die Endstufen 5 Sterne plus!
Auch der Service von Helmut Becker bekommt von mir die 5 Sterne – Danke.Kann gern bei mir probegehört werden – bitte mail ..
26.10.2014