New Zealand is internationally renowned for the quality of solid state amplifiers from the likes of Perreaux and Plinius. But lovers of valve amplification have had to look elsewhere in the world - until now...

Introducing the transmit8 SE501

At transmit8 we enjoy music as much as you do. Professionally our role is to expand your appreciation of what is possible from audio equipment and from music itself. Through our design and build decisions we attempt nothing less than to bring up the archetypal child inside you, a child who delights in the variety of music.

Designed by Brian Smith and Wayne Cooper, the SE501 captures shimmer and sparkle, natural midrange and bass without the added hardness and sharpness of a dominant 3rd harmonic. There is no false richness that leaves you feeling the essential verve of the music has not been delivered. We believe that transparency and resolution are best served by ‘single end’ topology with a single output valve. We prefer to have no capacitors in the signal path and to make the output transformer capable of a wide frequency response (15Hz - 50kHz) in order to reproduce higher order harmonics for timbral integrity.

A steampunk masterpiece, the SE501 outputs 45 watts. Inputs are RCA/XLR, input Z is 100K, and input sensitivity is 0.8V for full power. Negative feedback is 4dB and manual bias is adjusted with the built-in bias meter. The driver and output transformers are all in-house wound air-gapped EI cores. The two power transformers for the output and input/driver tubes are also custom-made. This is truly a home-grown product!

For the first time New Zealand has a valve amplifier with world-class performance. The transmit8 SE501 can take you to the music you love.