VTL IT-85
The VTL IT-85 marries silky tube colour to a substantial, disciplined low end, delivering open treble and spacious imaging without sacrificing speed. Like Hifi found its presentation engaging and revealing, while its 60W Class AB1 output brings confident drive to a wide range of speakers. A compelling high-end integrated for listeners seeking warmth with real authority.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
87/100
Features Connectivity
87/100
Value for Money
88/100
Pros
Deep, controlled bass combines with strong dynamic reserves and convincing speed.
Open, airy and detailed presentation with spacious, freely projected imaging.
Power reserves make it a versatile partner for a broad selection of speakers.
Flexible analogue connectivity includes pre-out, tape-out, direct amplifier input and a tube-driven headphone output.
Cons
The basic plastic remote controls only volume and mute.
High energy use and heat output are inherent to its tube design, particularly at idle and full power.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers describe an unusually complete tube-integrated presentation: open and revealing, but also harmonically rich, smooth and musically cohesive. Bass is repeatedly called deep, controlled and powerful, while the stereo presentation remains free-flowing rather than center-bound.
Transparency Resolution
95/100
Hifitest hears abundant air and fine information extending through the treble, to the point of feeling that nothing is missing. Like Hifi similarly calls the IT-85 revealing, airy and transparent, with remarkably restrained noise even when driving demanding speakers.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
The tonal balance is described as even and well judged, combining warmth and weight in the fundamentals with clarity above. Reviewers also praise its silky, musical character and tube-derived harmonic colour, which makes instruments tactile and recordings feel more cohesive without becoming overly soft.
Dynamics
93/100
Multiple reviewers find the 60W Class AB tube design more forceful than its rating might suggest, citing deep controlled bass, upper-bass slam and convincing speed. It is said to retain composure on demanding low-frequency material and to drive a wide range of speakers with ease.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
Like Hifi praises brilliant imaging, and Inner Magazines reports that music hovers freely between the loudspeakers rather than being pushed into the centre. The reviews give less detail on stage depth and layering, but consistently portray an open, spacious presentation.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
87/100
The IT-85 is described as hand-built in VTL's California factory and as having proven VTL-quality construction. Reviewers also appreciate its enclosed, understated chassis and well-proportioned form, though there is little detailed reporting on internal construction or long-term durability.
Features Connectivity
87/100
The analogue-focused layout includes five RCA line inputs, a direct amplifier input, pre-out, tape-out and a tube-driven headphone output. A volume/mute remote is included, although it is basic and controls no other functions; there are no onboard digital, streaming or balanced connections. An optional MM/MC phono stage was available.
Value for Money
88/100
At the cited €7,900 RRP, the IT-85 occupies premium tube-integrated territory, where buyers will compare it with similarly priced valve and solid-state alternatives. Hifitest rates its price/performance as very good, and the consistently strong reports on control, resolution and speaker-driving ability support a justified premium, although the reviews offer few direct model-to-model comparisons.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Vacuum Tube Complement
- 4 x EL34, 4 x 12AT7, 2 x 12AU7
- Output power
- 60 Watts
- 20Hz – 20KHz <3% THD
- Into 5Ω
- Small signal frequency response
- (<0.2% THD @ 1W), 0-60 kHz
- Class of operation
- Class AB1
- Inputs
- 5 pairs of single-ended RCA, Proc/Amp Input
- Outputs
- 1 pair 5-way binding posts, Pre Out, Tape Out, Headphone Out
- Input sensitivity
- Line in: 180mV, Amp in: 575mV
- Input impedance
- Line in: 20kΩ, Amp in: 135kΩ
- Output impedance
- Amp out: 1.55Ω, Headphone out: 16Ω, Preamp out: 400Ω
- Load setting
- Speakers: 5Ω, Headphones: 50-500Ω
- Power consuption
- Ide = 200W, Full Power=600W
- Dimensions W x D x H
- 15.75 x 11 x 7 inches, 40 x 28 x 17.75 cm
- Weight
- 55lbs (29.5Kg) fully packed
Manufacturer's Description — VTL
The VTL IT-85 Integrated Amplifier is designed for those who seek the simplicity of a single chassis system, but with the performance of separates. Designed with a fully active preamplifier stage, the IT-85 delivers a hearty 60 watts per channel with the sonic characteristic that is similar to our well regarded ST-85 Stereo amplifier and the TL2.5 preamplifier combination – fast, musical 3-D sound, and solid bass support that VTL is known for.
The IT-85 is a full linestage preamp and power amplifier in one chassis, and the linestage section has sufficient gain and a buffered output to be able to drive a subwoofer through the preamp out. The headphone section of the IT-85 is driven off the tube output stage and output transformer of the power amplifier section thus making it an ideal high performance pure tube headphone amplifier for headphone aficionados.
The IT-85 is designed to accommodate future upgrade — when you are ready to add a subwoofer, separate pre- or power amplifier, surround processor or headphones to your system, the IT-85's many different output stage configurations can be easily and painlessly re-configured, often with just the flip of a switch. Hand built in our factory in California with the proven VTL quality, the IT-85 will give you lasting value and listening pleasure for years to come.
Functionality features
- High power, capable of driving a wide range of loudspeakers
- Remote controlled volume and mute (custom remote wand), automatic mute on power up and down
- Pure tube active line stage, with buffered pre-out and regulated B+
- One pair of processor loop / direct amplifier inputs
- One pair of tape outputs
- Amplifier-driven headphone output, front panel selector switch (pre out mutes on headphone insertion)
- No-load automatic shutdown in headphone circuit
- Built-in upgrade path for precisely gain-matched horizontal biamping with VTL ST-85
- Extruded machined aluminum front panel in silver (standard) or black, and protective cage
- High quality VTL ST-85 power supply components and output and power transformers
- Easily accessible individual output tube bias measurement and adjustment points on top deck
- Angled-back chassis for easy access of inputs and outputs, sturdy quality structural fit and finish
- Detachable IEC power cord, high quality gold-plated VTL custom binding posts and RCA jacks
- All hand-built in the VTL California factory
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for VTL IT-85
- Audio Alternative — online and in-store — Fort Collins, Colorado, United States (website)
- Audio Element — in-store — Pasadena, California, United States (website)
- Audio Reference — in-store — Hamburg-Nord, Hamburg, Germany (website)
- Class D Audio USA — online — United States (website)
- CommonSense Audio — United States (website)
- George Meyer AV — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- Innovative Audio Video — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Kronos Audio Visual — online and in-store — Staplefield, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Magic Sound — online and in-store — Italy (website)
- Media Seller — Germany (website)
and 14 more verified dealers