AUDIO ELECTRONICS Super Amp MKII Operation Manual - Welcome
WELCOME
5
OVERVIEW
Dennis J. Had, the founder and president of Cary Audio Design, speaks about the new Audio
Electronics Super Amp MKII amplifier design.
Dear Audiophile Friend:
I am so pleased and excited about the new Audio Electronics Super Amp MKII stereo
amplifier. I have spent countless hours designing and refining this very special vacuum tube
amplifier.
On numerous occasions, my business partner, Billy Wright, warned me that we did not want
to jeopardize the success of the highly acclaimed Super Amp stereo amplifier. “Are you sure
you can deliver the same sweet and intoxicating sound of the original Super Amp?” I was
also hearing from the field that the Super Amp maybe one of the best sounding amplifiers of
all time. Some audio magazine reviewers were stumbling over descriptive words for the Super
Amp. “At $1200, the Super Amp is beyond comparison.”
I must confess that the first renditions of the new Super Amp MKII did not come up to the
sonic greatness of the original Super Amp. This was going to be a tough effort to produce a
sonic presentation equivalent to the lower powered (12 watt) triode class A Super Amp. As
soon as you change a basic design to produce more power, the end result many times is
more power but at a cost of the sonic merits. In retrospect, I believe this challenge forced me
to take a more conservative time frame approach. I mean, when I get excited about a
conceptual product, I am flat out day and night designing. I can hardly wait to listen and in
turn, get the product into production.
The new Super Amp MKII started life in March of 2006. The design goal was to offer a 40
watt per channel Super Amp, operating in a class A/B push-pull ultra-linear design. Another
design goal was to offer a sensitive input drive level to allow passive line level control of a CD
player input. Of course the new matching AE-3 MKII active preamplifier is the best sonic
match for the Super Amp MKII.
I soon discovered this new design would call for a complete redesign of the input drive circuit
along with a new output transformer design. I also wanted to give this new baby a fresh new
look. Well to speed things up… I completed the new design in November of 2006. Does the
new Super Amp MKII meet and beat the original Super Amp? You bet!!!! I love it, and I
believe you will as well.
Enjoy the music in your home with your new Super Amp MKII.
God Bless you and your family.
Dennis
Each Audio Electronics Super Amp MKII is designed for long term stability in virtually any home
operating situation. However, if the unit is operated outside the parameters outlined in this
owner’s manual, damage may result. Please read this manual carefully before putting your new
component into operation.