MiniWatt N3 Tube Amplifier

MiniWatt N3 low power Tube Integrated Amplifier.  Single input. 

• Miniwatt N3 A minimalist integrated amplifier with one pair of RCA inputs and a passive volume control to attenuate the output of its enhanced classical tube circuit comprised of a12AX7 (ECC83) twin triode feeding a single EL84 (6BQ5) per channel, and also with our advanced switching power supply to deliver a 3.5 watts output per channel.
• Power Output: 3.5W+3.5W @ 8 ohms, Response: 30-40Khz (+-1db)
• Input Sensitivity: 500mV, Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -80dB / 3.5W
• Dimensions: 130mm (w) x 130mm (d) x 130mm (h)
• Input: RCA Jacks, Output: Banana Jacks.

From Tone Audio Publications:

The new N3 not only has 3.5 watts per channel, as opposed to the 2.5 watts per channel of the S1, it uses a very different circuit.  Now, it features a more classic tube lineup, using a 12AX7 as a driver and a matched pair of Sovtek EL84’s as output tubes.  The single volume control remains on the front panel, but turning the amplifier around back, you will notice that there are now 4, 6 and 8 ohm taps for speaker outputs.  This is very handy to optimize the amplifier to your speakers.  Again, with 3.5 watts per channel, you don’t want to lose power on speaker mismatch.  If you are a budding audiophile and aren’t familiar with this concept, try all three taps to see which one provides the most effortless sound with your speakers, that’s the one to go with.

MiniWatt has hit another home run with the N3.   

From c/net:

With a highly efficient speaker, like my Zu Essence, the N3 can make a big sound. Bass is seriously deep and tuneful. Granted, some tube amps have soggy bass, but the N3's low end is solid. Treble is pure and clean, which again, is not always true with tube designs. The real magic occurs in the midrange where voice, guitars, and pianos sound incredibly present and alive. 

Jakob Dylan's new "Women + Country" CD had all that going for it with my Dynaudio Contour 1.1 speakers. The soundstage was big and wide, and the bass truly plumbed the depths. 

Classic jazz recordings like Ella Fitzgerald's "Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!" were even better. Fitzgerald's vocals blossomed between the Zu Essence speakers. She was all there, not just the voice; somehow the N3 brought her body and soul along for the ride. That's what tubes do, but the cost of entry is usually a lot higher than the N3's $378 suggested retail price, plus $50 shipping.