By Bascom H. King,
Audio Magazine, April 1999
deHavilland Aries SE Mono Amplifier
"Single-ended amplifiers are typically rated at 8 to 20 watts per channel, but deHavilland rates its Aries SE mono amp at 40 watts, enough to get satisfactory sound levels even from speakers whose sensitivity is fairly low. The company says the amp gets this high power by operating its output tube (a Svetlana 572-10 directly heated triode) in class A2; the grid current this operating mode requires is supplied by a cathode-follower driver using a triode connected KT88 (more commonly used as an output tube). Other circuit features include variable feedback (0 to 10 dB), a delayed high-voltage turn on for long tube life, and a current-sensing protection circuit for the output tube. The price is $5,995 per pair.
"With Dunlavy SC-III and Tannoy Churchill speakers, a pair of Aries SE amps gave me first class sound. There was a great sense of detail, space, and resolution, and bass quality, extension, and impact were most impressive. these deHavilland amps produced enough power to play the Dunlavys, whose rated sensitivity is 91 dB SPL, quite a bit louder than I wanted, so I concluded that a pair of Aries SEs should drive speakers with 86 dB sensitivity to satisfactorily loud levels for most of the music I listen to. With the Tannoys, whose sensitivity is 95 dB, there was volume to spare. All in all, a great pair of amps. GRADE A+."