This amplifier was designed to be the ultimate desktop amplifier having the same footprint as an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.
We
wanted to re-create the same experience on the desktop as we have in
the listening room... which is to say we want the same imaging and
sound-stage performance with a seductive beauty found only with tubes.
To achieve this goal a desktop amplifier actually needs to be a listening-room amplifier and be able to be used in either place.
A
major feature that makes this amplifier unique is the way it creates
its own grain-free clean power with glow tubes. By using the glow tubes
in series with the power supplies we get similar or better performance
to using a $6000 power re-generator.
The end result is a serious
listening room amplifier that has been miniaturized to fit on the
desktop. A pretty impressive accomplishment considering it is a
dual-mono single-ended design without compromises.
- 6V6 single-ended design giving around 5 watts
- Point-to-Point wiring with no circuit boards
- Tube rectification for each channel using 6CA4/EZ90
- Output-stage regulation using OA3's
- Input-stage regulation using OC2's
- Dual volume controls
- 8.5 inches x 11 inches x 5 inches
- Requires NO preamp
- Input for 2 sources
- Variable Line Level Output jacks
- Treble adjustment with bypass
- Adjustable feedback to control presence
- Our Proprietary UFO wide-band output transformers
- Easy to move around
- High-mass, powder-coated steel chassis
- Solid hardwood base with wood options
- Enhanced tube life
- Self-biasing - nothing to set or adjust
- LO and HI impedance speaker switch
- Cryo-treated Beeswax caps
- Highest-grade internals
- Output tube compatibility facilitates custom voicing
The
audio circuit is a very minimalist dual-mono single-ended design
featuring a volume control and input selector for two sources.
The amplifier's overall gain is high enough that during those times when
you don't have a real DAC hooked up it can still sound good driven by
something as weak as a laptop's headphone jack.
There is also an adjustable treble-cut with a bypass switch so that if
you find yourself streaming compressed MP3 music while you're working, you can make it
more tolerable by reducing the very top end where the results of jitter and compression are most
apparent.
The dual-mono design gives the amplifier a separate power supply and even a separate
power switch for each channel. Basically it's two monoblocks stuffed
into a single chassis. Dual- mono enhances performance and makes troubleshooting tube problems fast and painless.
The
Mini Torii is basically the most exotic tube amp you can squeeze into a
package this small. Its sound and build quality consistently exceed
everyone's expectations... which are already quite high.
Mini-Torii Glow tubes used to clean the incoming power.
Rear view in our standard walnut base.
There are a few options available for this amplifier that can be selected from within the shopping cart.
Select Voltage: Choose the voltage for your country. The appropriate power cord will be selected for your location and included with the amp.
Base style:
The standard base is dark walnut. Custom woods can be selected for an
up-charge. Exotic woods would be anything not listed, like for
example; Zebrawood. Just write the kind of wood you want in the
comments section when you place your order.
Volume Control:
You have a choice of smooth-action volume controls which allow for
better adjustability or 20-position stepped attenuators which allow for
better transparency.
Headphone Jack Type: A headphone jack
can be added to this amplifier. It's located in the front and is
available in 1/4 inch only. The headphone jack option works well with
both planar and dynamic headphones.
Knobs: There are three controls on a Mini Torii... a left and right volume
and a treble-shunt. Below are the knob choices for these
controls.
Signal Capacitors - Select from four types of coupling-caps shown below:
Coupling-capacitors aka Signal-caps shown left to right 1 ~ 4
1) Film Capacitor
Industry-standard audiophile-grade signal capacitors
2) Jupiter Cryo Beeswax - type I
Boutique high-resolution signal capacitors
3) Jupiter Cryo Beeswax type II
Boutique higher-resolution signal capacitors
4) VCap Copper Foil
Boutique higher-resolution, higher-gain signal capacitors
NOTE: Choices 3 & 4 make the unit non-refundable.
Everyone needs a good
reference, so the stock tube complement that ships with this
amplifier is carefully tested and voiced for the amplifier. Our
factory tube complement is of the highest quality and ideal for those
who wish to not worry about tubes and just enjoy the music.
TUBE ROLLING
(SKIP THIS SECTION IF YOU'RE NOT INTO VOICING YOUR AMP)
If you
decide to change the way this amp sounds despite the fact that we ship
it with hand-picked top-quality tubes that we like, that's OK.
You have the rather empowering opportunity to experience the unique
and delicate signatures of a large variety of tubes. In fact it
almost becomes an experience of listening to the tubes themselves... not the amplifier.
To that effect...
All of these tubes shown below will work in a Mini Torii - each pair sounds a little different.
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1944 RCA Gray Glass 6Y6G
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1949 Raytheon 6V6GT
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1951 National Union 6V6GT
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1950 Sylvania Gray Glass 6Y6G
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1950 National Union 6V6GT
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1955 Sylvania JAN-CHS-6V6GTY
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1959 Tung-Sol 6L6WGB
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1960 Canada G.E. 6L6-GB
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1961 Raytheon 6V6GT
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1962 Ken-Rad 6V6GT
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1964 Sylvania 6V6GT
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1970 Sylvania 6L6G
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1972 RCA / Amperex 5881
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1979 Philips JAN-6L6-WGB
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1961 CBS-Hytron 6L6WGB
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CEI 6L6GB
5881
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International
6V6GTA
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Ken-Rad Black Top 6Y6G
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Sylvania Gray Glass 6Y6G
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Westinghouse
6V6GTA
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Tung-Sol Type41 6K6
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RCA
6K6GT
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G.E.
6K6GT
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1940 RCA
Type 41 6K6
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Sylvania
6F6GT
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1961 G. E.
6F6 Metal
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USSR
6F6M-1
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Ken-Rad
6F6 Metal
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6L6 Black Plates
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Shuguang
6L6
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RCA
Metal 6L6
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RCA-Tung-Sol
6L6
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Amperex EL37-6L6
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Ken-Rad
6L6 Metal
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USSR
6L6
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1957 G.E. Black Plate 6L6-HP
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G.E. Double "00" Getter 6L6GC
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Tung-Sol
6L6
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G.E.
5881
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Sylvania JAN-CHS 5932 Black Plate
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There are large sonic differences between the 6V6, 6Y6, 6K6, 6F6 and 6L6 output
tubes in the Mini Torii amplifier. The differences are not unlike
owning a completely different amplifier with every change.
Mini Torii ships with an OA3 Voltage Regulator tube
for each channel. This is the best performance of the four available
alternates. The remaining three (OB3,OC3,OD3) can be used to take
the tube-rolling
experience to a deeper level. All four of these voltage
regulator tubes create a different voltage for the output tubes which
changes the sound.
This
amplifier is hand-built in the USA by
DECWARE / High Fidelity Engineering Co. It comes with a lifetime
warranty to the original owner. If you purchase one second-hand and
ever have questions or technical problems we WILL be happy to check it
out for you and service it if needed for a very reasonable rate.
We also
have a support forum
with
many people who own this amplifier whose experiences you may benefit
from.
Owner's manual
You may
read
reviews
on
our
amps here.
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MINITORII - 2009 to Oct 2012
Easily distinguished by the gloss white chassis
plate. Original models used a 7-pin 6X4 rectifier tube that was
later changed to a 9- pin current-production EZ90 rectifier tube.
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MINITORII-II - New in Oct 2012
Also easy to recognize because the finish has been
upgraded to black wrinkle. Features user-adjustable variable
feedback. Cryo-treated beeswax signal caps are now used
throughout. New high-mass steel chassis for improved
micro-phonics... adds 150% more mass!
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MINITORII-III - New in Oct 2015
Installed UFO output transformers for better resolution and an
impedance switch that lets you hear your speakers with both a HI and LO
impedance setting. An ultra-serious upgrade to an already incredible
amp.
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This amplifier requires no adjustments
or maintenance other than changing tubes every couple years. It's a
self-biasing design and dual mono which means matched tubes are not
required.
| Weight
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17 lbs. ea.
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| Dimensions
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6.50" H x
12.125"
W x 9.125" D
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| Circuit type
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Single-ended
Class A Pentode
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| Power output
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3.9 watts RMS
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| Input voltage
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1.0 volts for
full output w/ 12AU7
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| Noise / Hum
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Too low to hear
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| Response
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20 Hz ~ 80 kHz
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| Regulation
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OA3 and OC2 /
tube voltage regulation
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| Rectification
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6CA4 tube
rectification
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| Output tubes
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6V6
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| Signal tube
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12AU7
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| Transformers
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Decware
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| Biasing
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Self-Biasing
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| AC cord
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Removable power
cord
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| Consumption
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75 watts at
full power
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| Input jacks
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RCA type 24K
Gold / Teflon
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| Output
jacks
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5-way
binding-posts
accept
12
gauge
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| Speaker
dB/1w
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90 dB
minimum
/
94
dB
is
ideal
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| Warranty
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Lifetime
to
original
owner
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Rear connections
STEVE'S
DESIGN
NOTES on
the original 2009 amplifier.
Shown left with an IPod to give you a sense of scale.
The Mini Torii is small enough to fit on your desk.
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