A pre-owned pair of Tsakiridis Achilles single ended valve monoblocks, hand built in Athens. One 300B triode per chassis, 8 watts each, one line input on gold plated RCA and a 6 ohm output. A specialist amplifier for sensitive loudspeakers of 92dB or above in a small to medium room. The Tsakiridis Achilles is a pair of single ended valve monoblock power amplifiers, hand built in Athens. Each chassis uses one 300B directly heated triode and produces 8 watts. That figure is the whole story: this is a specialist design for sensitive loudspeakers, not a general purpose power amplifier. Offered pre-owned through Dreamcrest Audio, with fitted valves, hours and condition recorded below. What it does A monoblock pair replaces a stereo power amplifier with two separate chassis, one per loudspeaker. Each takes a single line level input from a preamplifier, or from the variable output of a streamer or DAC. The circuit is single ended class A: one 300B carries the entire waveform, driven by a 6SL7 and an EL34 in a mu stage arrangement. Nothing shares the output duty. Each chassis has its own handmade power transformer and an output transformer wound in eight layers. How it sounds and where it fits Eight watts is a hard limit, not a guideline, and speaker choice decides whether this amplifier works or disappoints. As a working rule, plan on loudspeakers rated at 92dB sensitivity or above, with an impedance that stays near 8 ohms, in a small to medium room. High sensitivity two way designs, horn loaded speakers and single driver cabinets are the natural partners. A large floorstander rated at 86dB, or any speaker whose impedance dips below 4 ohms, will run the Achilles out of headroom. Tsakiridis quotes one output impedance of 6 ohms rather than selectable taps, so there is no 4 ohm setting to fall back on. Key features Single ended class A monoblock design, one chassis per channel 8 watts per channel from a single 300B output valve Driver stage of one 6SL7 and one EL34 in a mu stage circuit One gold plated RCA line input per unit, Ultimax speaker connectors Handmade eight layer output transformer and 250W power transformer per chassis Built in Athens by Tsakiridis Devices, a long established Greek valve workshop Technical specifications Output power: 8W per channel Valves per unit: 1x 300B, 1x 6SL7, 1x EL34 Input: 1 line level RCA, 100 kohm, 1V sensitivity Output impedance: 6 ohms Frequency response: 14Hz to 50000Hz, -3dB Signal to noise ratio: 83dB Harmonic distortion: 0.40% at 2W, 1kHz Power consumption: 95W per unit Dimensions per unit: 17 x 43 x 22 cm (W x D x H) Condition and what is included Sold pre-owned, without manufacturer warranty, but with a one year legal guarantee. As the goods are second hand, that shorter period is agreed with you at checkout, as the law allows. In excellent condition, with very little use. The original factory valves are fitted. The valves have approximately 50 to 70 hours of use. Supplied in the original packaging. The pair was bought new in 2021. Frequently asked questions Will 8 watts drive my loudspeakers? Only if they are sensitive and an easy load. Aim for 92dB or higher with an impedance near 8 ohms. Send us your speaker model and we will answer honestly. How much life is left in the valves? Valve life materially affects the value of any used valve amplifier, so we record it rather than guess. See the valve note above. The 300B is a current production type and replacements are available. Can I run these from a streamer or DAC? Yes, provided the source has a volume control. Each monoblock has one line input, 100 kohm input impedance and needs 1V for full output. For the condition report, photographs or speaker matching advice, use the enquiry button on this page.
Dreamcrest Audio Fidelity Ltd, Nicosia. Specialist hi-fi and high end audio, 20+ years in the audio business. Full details and photos: https://www.dreamcrestaudio.com/product/tsakiridis-achilles-monoblocks/
