In 2004, Ancient Audio made „Silver Grand Mono” power amplifer.

Applied innovative solutions , for classic 300 B concept crearted not only company flagship, but also one of the best audio amplifer ever made.

Fast solid state power supply, multiple decoupling power stages, silver wired output transformer, dual mono / dual extrenal power supply, no feedback output stage set new rules of top-hi end amplifiers design.

Constantly developed, „Silver Grand Mono” is still reference amplifer.

However, even king has some limits.

First was use of double 300 B per chanel. It was not only costly, but generates some troubles with purchase rare editions of tubes.

Second, was long way of power lines; from power supply via 1 meter power cable , then power socket to amplifer.

Eventually These disadvantages were lead us to design „Silver Single Mono”

It still keeps main principles of „Silver Grand Mono”.

But it has only one 300 B tube per chanel. This solution is prefered by some audiophiles. Single tube will be always more linear, than two tubes connected in paralell. Power is lower , 8 W per chanell, but it is sufficient for many systems, where sound quality is over loudness.

The most interesting part of „Silver Single Mono” is power supply .

First, mains AC power is changed to very stable 24 V DC. It also makes a first stage of galvanic separation. This DC power supply bases on switching way, so power transformer is very small, with small capacitance. It prevents to come mains power noise between winding of transformer.

Then, DC 24 V is feeding monoblock next switching power supply.

This power supply is uniuqe.

It makes all voltages, needed for 300 B amplifer:

• 420 V for HT 300 B
• 130 V for gird bias 300 B
• 5 V for heating 300 B
• 6,3 V for heating E88CC

Power supply has two separates transformers to minimize interference. They are driving by separate MOS switches, but with common frequency.

Additionally, voltages are stabilised by high accuracy linear regulators.

Whole unit has another unique feature: start up is very slow, it takes 60 seconds. Eventually, all voltges are growing very gradually. It prevents 300 B delicate cathode wire from thermal shock. Tube fatigue is much lower, and life of sometimes very expencive and rare tubes is significancy longer.

As well as „Single Grand Mono”, new monoblocks has unique auto bias iddle current circuit. It makes amplifier totally mainternace free, keeping requied bias same, after change, or ageing.

Another advantage this complex power supply is extremally low noise of amplifer. It is important, when connected to high efficiency speakers.

Continuing silver tradition, both output winding of speaker transformer, and internal wiring is made of pure silver.

Amplifier has only two stages: driver and output stage. So, signal path is shorter, it needs only one signal capacitor, of course famosy V-Cap Cu Tf.

Last change is cabinet. Both power supply and monoblocks are cased in one piece milled aluminium blocks. It gives both mechnical stability and absolute elegant apperance.

Technical Specification:

• Single Ended Triode, Single 300 B per chanell
• Four piece unit : two mono blocks with two outboard mono power supply components
• Hand made Teflon insulated pure silver output speaker transformer wiring,
• V-Cap Teflon / Copper Foil signal capacitors and carefully selected components
• No global or local feedback
• Internal wiring with Teflon insulated pure silver ribbon,
• Double insulating power transformers
• Very short connection between 300 B tune and power supply
• Large bank of filament ultra-fast smoothing capacitors ( 80 000 uF total)
• Dedicated 300 B bias current meter
• Low impedance HT power supply
• Very slow start of all voltages, over 60 seconds, improved tube life
• All voltages stabilised
• A large capacity of stored energy by HT capacitors ( over 1000 J )
• Output power per channel: 8 W / 4 – 8 ohm
• S/N ratio : over 105 dBA
• Sensitivity: 3,5 Vrms
• Non resonant, aluminium bases
• Dimensions (W x H x D) : 230 x 180 x 380 mm , each of four units