Audioromy FU-29, Latest Model 828A Mini Review

[Mark Allen]

I received my Audioromy FU-29 Model 828A amplifier direct from China via UPS Express saver in just two days this past week. Total cost was ~420 USD including shipping and insurance. Not so much as a ding on the box! The toobes were all wrapped in bubble wrap under the toobe cage and there was no damage at all sustained.

Got the amp out of it's well packed box and installed the tubes. Any of you that get one of these do not try to peel off the tube position identification stickers they put on. Just wait till the toobes are warm... mine literally fell off the 829's after they came up to temperature. And they are easy to peel off a warm toobe.

My amp worked at first power up just fine and has continued to work just fine. There is a slight crackling in the right channel... because of a flakey input stage toobe that clears up after a few minute warm up and I'll need to aquire some better input and driver toobes. I already aquired a set of JAN RCA 829B NOS toobes for when the Chineese FU-29's fail. 829's are very inexpensive toobes! Even brand new Cetron 829B's sell for ~30 USD each. There is some question about what toobes are actually in this version of the amplifier vs. the earlier model that according to the specs used 6N1's & 6N2's. I can only read one of the toobes labeling. Seems that the seller (Tubestein) took considerable time to polish up everything on this amplifier before sending it out... including polishing the numbers almost completely off the small toobes. I can make out a 6N3 on one of the driver toobes so this amp is clearly different than it's earlier version. The main power supply board also lacks the relay that some seemed to say was a constant failure point. The output transformers have also seen a revision and they way they are mounted on the rear of the chassis is different. The power transformer is now centered at the rear with an output transformer on each side of it. This is an integrated amplifier folks... input select is novel... a DC controled DIP relay which is located right at the input jacks does the input selection. The level pot is a 10 cent pot so this will probably be my first mod. Unfortunately a NOBEL pot that I had in my parts stash is too deep to fit so I'll have to explore other options there but the 10 cent pot has to go! The amplifier is not really large but weighs a hefty 40 pounds or for you foreigners... thats 18.2 kg.

How does it sound? Very detailed, lots of depth, excellent imaging and sound stage, decent bottom end punch... this is ONLY 30 watts after all... Vocals are crystal clear but not overly warm... in all this dosn't sound like your typical warm tubey sounding amplifier, it sounds literally amazing. It drives my 6 ohm Dynaudio Audience 9's to decent levels and it is a very amazing little amplifier. I don't know of a USA built amplifier that uses 829B's but if there was one it would probably easily cost ten times this one's price. All in all this amp beats the pants off any of the 5 or 6 Dynaco Stereo 70 amps I've owned over the years including the Curcio modded ST-70 and the Audio Research modded ST-70. It would still be a bargain at twice it's price!

Mark













Not sure why the photos are not working... Here is the url to the set of photos on my flickr site:
FU-29 - a set on Flickr

[Mush]

Thanks for the review. It makes me want to buy one.

I bought my Audioromy 845 by accident. It's been one of the best purchases I've ever made.

[audioanalyse]

hello,

i've just read your review and think the same. I've received mine on monday, with just one Fu29 out of order, the glass was broken on one anode pin. But while i was waiting for it (10 weeks for France!), i've had time to buy a couple of RCA 829B so it's now ok.
On this version, the input stage is 6N23 and 6N3 as phase shifter. As i have russians valves, i gonna replace them. But 6N3 is not a toobe that i really like, so what do you think to replace with a 6N6p ?
I'll try to put MKP capacitors in the power supply too and PIO on the signal.
If you have any experience, you can share !
nice day for all