INTRODUCTION & FEATURE

A new generation trio of tube amplifiers with a distinctive sound personality for each model

The Flamingo 300B, Magpie 811 and Robin DL50 are a trio of new generation tube amps released by Thivanlabs at the end of 2022. Each model offers a distinct sonic personality while all three models are engineered for optimum performance for power tubes and circuits to get a well-controlled, natural and emotional sound. Creating an emotional sound will be the primary goal of the new generation of ThivanLabs products. Besides elevating the sound, variousity and versatility is also a goal in the new generation of products. Accordingly, this amplifier trio added a feature of choosing the sound modes: High dynamic and standard dynamic with a switch integrated in the front of the amp. In (standard) dynamic mode, the sound has been defaulted to have good dynamics and a balanced sound. High dynamic mode is a flexible choice for tracks that need high dynamics while creating a new audio experience for listeners. The user then chooses the mode that suits the characteristics of the music and sound taste. The new models are easy to combine with high-sensitivity speakers to perform a variety of music genres.

All ThivanLabs tube amplifiers are assembled entirely by point-to-point method with strict quality control. All tubes are designed to operate in autobias, so changing tubes will be very convenient. A new glass-faced tube cage makes it possible to see the tubes without having to remove the cage.

One of the strengths of Thivanlabs tube amps is the complete use of output transformers (OPT) engineered by OLS technology researched, developed and manufactured by ThivanLabs. OLS technology is the optimization of the ratio of insulating materials and winding layers of the transformer that have researched, tested and optimized over the past 15 years, which has brought a characteristic sonic quality with natural and emotional, high fidelity and extremely well controlled. The output transformer (OPT) is a very important component to help transmit audio energy from the tubes to the speaker, which can be considered the most important in the technical design of tube amplifiers, especially with single-ended circuits. After 15 years of designing and engineering output transformers, ThivanLabs currently researches and manufactures almost all types of transformers such as toroidal core, C-core, EI for amplifiers such as Single Ended, Push Pull and OTL for power from 3W – 400W. Through tens of thousands of products of different types that have been produced in the past, a lot of practical experience has been accumulated to optimize technical solutions and transformer technology OLS.

The output transformer (OPT) has been specifically designed for the power tubes to maximize their sonic characteristics. As a result, the sound has a wide frequency range with low distortion, absolutely no feedback is used to preserve the best dynamics and natural characteristics of the sound. The OPTs used in ThivanLabs tube amps are always large. The weight of the OPT has truly great importance to the sound quality. Because if a small OPT is used, the ferromagnetic core will also be small, then the high-power 20-30Hz low-frequency sound signals passing through the small iron core will not load enough and attenuate this frequency range resulting in weak and thin bass. In addition, the small OPT often uses the small winding wire, this makes the coil impedance high, leading to a large signal loss on the OPT, losing the dynamics and details of the sound, especially in the fast segments of the music. When using a lot of feedback, it is easy to have a good bass frequencies specification and measurements. However, the bass sound will often be too tight, no longer preserving the original naturalness. So in this practice the heavier OPT weight really represents the value it gives to the naturalness of the sound.

Using an interstage transformer (IT) is another outstanding advantage of ThivanLabs tube amplification. The use of an interstage transformer optimally controls the frequency range to be always balanced at different operating power levels. As a result, the sound is well balanced and still very detailed when playing at low volume. The sound image is always clear and has a full sound range.

In addition to the main versions Flamingo 300B, Magpie 811, Robin DL50, the versions for both headphone and speaker using 300B, 811 and 6H13C tubes is also developed in parallel with the standard models. Headphone amp versions have got extremely low noise for more detailed and emotional sound. Headphone amplifier model trio includes the following. Headphone amp versions have got extremely low noise for more detailed sound.

– 300B SE Headphone & Speaker

– 811 SE Headphone & Speaker

– DL50 Headphone & Speaker

Robin DL-50

The Robin DL50 is the latest version of the ThivanLabs DL50 series. Amplifier using power tubes 6H13C that was one of the earliest tubes researched and developed the ThivanLabs tube amps and continued to be used to this day. Thus, this power tube has been used longest in ThivanLabs’s tube amp ecosystem. The first version introduced in 2007 was the DL60 using an equivalent power tube Bendix 6080WB. In later versions, 6H13C is mainly used. The 6H13C is a completely unknown tube in the world of valve amplifiers. Through tests and experiments by Thivanlabs, this tube has shown the ability to produce a very balanced sound with a wide range. This is what makes the 6H13C and the DL50 amplifiers very special and great at its price. After the development process with many versions from 2007 to this time, the electrical circuit design has been optimized for the 6H13C to fully exploit the sonic strengths of the tubes. Accordingly, the sound is always well controlled, detailed and balanced. The amplifier plays a variety of music genres and is very easy to pair with speakers. This is really an entry-level model that is rated as “very good for the price”.