Lab 12 integre4 Audiophile Integrated Amplifier
Lab12 is a company new to me. The company was founded in Athens, Greece in 2012 by Stratos Vichos, an electrical engineer with 20 years experience in high end audio design. The company is on its third generation of products and the team has grown into what looks like six very involved and happy employees. The $4990 integre4 Audiophile Integrated Amplifier here under review is one of nine products Lab 12 manufactures, including integrated, pre, power, source (all tube designs), two power conditioners, and the knack mk2 AC Main Power Cable ($490), which was in the box accompanying the integre4.
I’d like to thank Fidelis Distribution, specifically Nancy Weiner, for bringing Lab 12 to my attention and for shipping the unit to the island.
My Use
I played the unit for a week casually as the integre4 was factory fresh. Out of the box, you’ll be enjoying a fine tube design and recognizing typical, lovely tube signposts in its playback. A week of heavy use yields significant improvements, so, please be patient. Quality out of the box, yes, but the extra time benefits bass definition and overall refinement. The unit is shipped with a standard IEC power cord but the company’s cutely-named ‘knack’ mk2 Power Cable which accompanied the review unit looked beefy and classy. A nice match aesthetically to the integre4. I used it for the majority of the listening period, and yes, it was bump in performance over the standard IEC.
The integre4 is a fine looking, substantial piece featuring x4 6N1P dual triodes and x4 KT150 power pentodes. The KT150s were Tungsol and shipped as matched pairs. Seems the tubes are interchangeable for rollers. Biasing is simple, helped in no small way by indications on the smart OLED screen. A biasing screwdriver is included. The tubes maintained their published parameters during the review period. The manual is detailed and quite specific about protocols regarding biasing and tube swapping.
The integre4’s look is ‘industrial slick’ and will fit the part in a cool system with smart audiophiles looking for long term quality in concert with visual appeal and excellent, dynamic sound. $4990 is not an insignificant sum, but in today’s ‘post’ pandemic pricing, you’re getting a Big Bang for your audiophile drachmas.
The small, plastic remote control functions as advertised.
The integre4 in ‘Frozen Silver. My review unit was ‘Matt Black’. Both feature a glass-blasted, anodized finish.
I tested the Lab 12 with cabling by Ansuz Acoustics (and Lab 12’s knack mk2), digital by MBL and analog by Bergmann Audio and Phasemation. An uncomplicated setup, but one retailing for over $40,000. The integre4 was going to get a proper, classy workout.
As for comparisons, nothing at home in the Lab 12’s price range. My reference MBL N51 is $17,600 and solid state, not a fair fight. If the integre4 ($4990) played in anywhere near a parallel universe to my MBL, it would be a big achievement.
Features and Specifications
The Integre4 produces 2 x 65 Watts using two KT150 tubes per channel. Importantly, its regulated, high-voltage power supply has a noise-free signal and its 11 low ESR and high capacity capacitors can produce instantaneous power. The ultra linear transformers (heavy; be careful moving the unit) are said to ‘ensure the utmost dynamic, open and natural sound, that extends across the complete frequency range.’
I can attest to the absolute silent running of the integre4 during the audition process, no tube rush, no hum, no crackles or other tube idiosyncrasies.
The unit is a zero feedback design.
Lab 12 explains an extra feature: ‘Integre4’s dedicated headphone circuit fully exploits the amplifier’s power output stage. Yes, Integre4 can act as a true high-performance headphone amplifier, too.’ This circuit went unused during my review period.
After unboxing, setup is as simple as installing numbered tubes in associated slots, cable connection, power up on front left rocker switch, then wait while the tubes warm up (soft start). There’s a warmup countdown on the OLED screen (the font chosen for the screen information is a nice blue colour but I would have preferred a ‘sexier’ font). Finally, check volume and select input (I used No. 1 labeled ‘CD’).
A nice surprise: The OLED screen functionality includes a ‘valve’ hour counter. What a treat. All manufacturers, please copy.
The Integre4 measures 16.9”W x 7.5”H x 11.4”D, weighs 44.1 pounds and has an input impedance of 50K ohms.
As you can see from the image below, rear connections (five inputs) are well laid out and use quality hardware. You’ll be rocking your new bit of kit in minutes, not hours.
Sound
Lab 12’s PR says ‘Put simply, Integre4 with its stock KT150 tubes brings enormous and controlled power to your system straight out of the box. Our team has provided everything needed for an instant emotional engagement with your music.’
In this, the happy Lab 12 team has succeeded.
Once I had a few hours on the unit and the bass developed into a firm foundation with plenty of punch and power and overall playback in terms of timbre, soundstage and imaging refined, the integre4 was a first class tube integrated offering a lot of the benefits of quality, smooth solid state power but with tubes’ generosity of spirit. This was a potent combination on many genres of music.
Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the mystique and musical brilliance of the pianist Yundi, winner of the XIV Chopin Competition (2000). Perceived aloofness and eccentricities do not translate to the studio. His Chopin Preludes set has become a favourite of mine both as musician and audiophile. Musically, his technique and temperament are superb, and DG gives him crackerjack recordings, which, under the right connective, amplified circumstances, can be an overwhelming experience. It was so on the integre4. In fact, I’d say the Lab 12’s playback of well recorded piano music is the highlight of the integrated. The sound is powerful with the varied timbres a great artist such as Yundi produces left intact. No electronic muddling or topology weaknesses.
The punchy bass I described was evident in my two ‘bass killer’ tracks—definitely not ‘bass for the hell of it’, both featuring musical bass lines, the former acoustic, the latter, electronic. So, Holly Cole singing Tom Waits’ ‘Train Song ‘ was well controlled (and the integre4 also demonstrated her individual vocal timbre), and, later, Thomas Newman’s ‘Dead Already’ from the American Beauty soundtrack was very impressive with enviable detail in the electronic glissandos (made up of many sampled tracks) and ringing, real Latin Percussion (LP) instruments. Marimba timbre was spot on, too. Both these tracks are very demanding and I’ve heard come a cropper on any component that doesn’t have its stuff together.
The Lab 12 gear looks perfect in a sexy apartment setup on great cabinetry as seen here in one of Lab 12’s promo photos.
Low level information retrieval was excellent and the integre4 could do the big picture stuff as well, like Zeppelin and Mahler. How low level? On the standard res Qobuz file of the Melos Ensemble playing Ravel on a remarkable, early ‘60s Decca with a who’s who of Londoners, specifically Introduction and Allegro for Flute, Clarinet, Harp and Strings (2 violins, viola, cello), I was able to hear the very quiet reverb and hand stopping on Osian Ellis’s harp (legendary LSO Principal Harp) in the beautiful acoustic, and, even more impressive, the difference in tonguing techniques between flute and the unison clarinet.
Heard next to the MBL at more than three times the price and with its different topology, even though the Lab 12 was very admirable in its playback, it could not match the N51’s sound. I would suggest, however, auditioning this integrated against others in its category and price range would mean a lot of you in the market walking out with an integre4 under your arm.
Conclusion
As you can see from the promotional images above, the integre4 is a good looking integrated amplifier. It has excellent sound and is very easy to use. It will grace any listening space. It’s not especially ‘tubey’, but does present as typically pentode. However, lovers of tube designs will enjoy the emotion the integre4 bestows on the music. And if swapping tubes is how you roll, the integre4 is your guy.
Lab 12 is now 10 years old, and, as they transition into their next generation, you can be sure you are getting quality production and fine design from a Greek audiophile with his listening ears on. Highly recommended.
Further Information: Lab 12
