2024 Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards - Kenzie Integrated

ampsandsound Kenzie Integrated Amplifier

by Steve Lefkowicz

What can I say? I found the diminutive one-watt-per-channel Kenzie Integrated SET headphone / speaker amp to be the most enjoyable amp I've tried with my current speakers, the Tekton Design Perfect SET 15. Granted, the speakers are highly efficient and designed for use with low powered single ended tube amps, but still I found it hard to believe just how dynamic, powerful and tuneful this amplifier was in real life day to day use. This amp possessed tonal beauty that made long listening session a delight. In spite of the low power rating, to the lower limits of my speaker's capabilities (low 30 Hz range in room) produced weight, power and a tactile sense that even the more powerful amplifiers I tried with them couldn't match. The noise floor was extremely low, a consistent trait of Justin Weber's designs, that allowed for running the volume pot all the way up so I could control volume via my Khozmo passive preamp.

As a headphone amp it sounded wonderful with my Meze 99 Classic headphones, bettering my Burson Conductor Virtuoso and Schiit Valhalla by a substantial amount. Since the Kenzie Integratedgives up the "High Z" headphone jack of the regular Kenzie headphone amp (for headphones greater than 250 ohm) it didn't fare as well with my longtime favorite 600-ohm Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro. However, my time with the original Kenzie and the Beyers proved that was one of the best amps I've ever used with those headphones. Tradeoffs need to be made.

Factor in that only three tunes are used, and the 1626 Triode Tubes are plentiful and inexpensive. Tube rolling various 12AT7, 5751, or 12AX7 (only one is used) can change the sound to suit your preferences. I settled on new stock JJ ECC803s (Long Plate 12AX7). To increase gain for use with the passive preamp.

This amp would likely mate up well with many high efficiency (98dB or greater) 8-ohm or higher speakers, be they ported, horn (front or rear loaded) or other high efficiency designs.

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