Allnic Audio L-6500 Preamplifier
The Allnic Audio L-6500 Preamplifier is one more gem component from the pen of Allnic Audio design wizard, Kang Su Park. At $7500 the L-6500 is now the entry-level preamplifier in Park’s series of tube amplifiers of varying and always interesting sounding topologies. Trust me, if you have a specific aural taste and the scratch, Park’s got your grail preamplifier.
Because of the generosity and friendship of Allnic’s distributor, David Beetles of Hammertone Audio, I have received every Allnic Audio preamplifier to review. All have stayed for a considerable time in my system and I still get to use the fabulous L-8500 OTL/OCL Preamplifier as my most recent reference. After many years of supporting Allnic products and growing the brand, Beetles is taking a very well-earned retirement. Happily, we now get two for the price of one: in Canada, Corby’s Audio will represent and in the US, Kevalin Audio. Both Don Corby and John Ketcham are ace guys and will continue David Beetles’ outstanding work. Enjoy your retirement, David.
My Use
Allnic’s famous tube preamps include the top 3, all OTL/OCL designs (L-10000, L-9000, and the L-8500), followed by the fabulous DHT (L-8000) and my long-time reference L-7000, ending up at the new kid on the block, the L-6500.
All have beautifully balanced sounds, sweetened by the judicious use of tubes and topology. If I had a favourite Park topology, I have to nod to his OTL/OCL designs, and I think the sweet spot of the series is in my system now, the L-8500. Even though “cheaper” at $13,500 than my long-time, superb reference, the $16,500 L-7000, there’s something about the timbral beauty of Allnic OTL/OCL style preamps that is beguiling. The DHT ($22,900) was even more immersive but had a few idiosyncrasies that swayed me to the L-8500. If you get a chance to hear all three topologies from Allnic, it won’t be time wasted. You’ll be spoilt for choice.
Of course, they’re all expensive to very expensive; aspirational, end-of-journey audio. But audiophiles who save and want to begin their yellow brick road can now get a look in with the $7500 L-6500.
I paired the L-6500 with Allnic cables and power cords, my MBL N51 amplifier and BØRRESEN Acoustics 01 Silver Supreme Edition Loudspeakers. A musical and powerful system.
Beautiful in silver, too.
Features and Specs
Allnic’s new preamplifier features:
Single gain stage
Pure Class A operation
Ultra-low output impedance
Advanced tube technology voltage regulation
Precision attenuator remote control
Allnic uses transformer coupling. All transformers are made in-house:
The L‐6500 is “transformer coupled”. In tube amp circuitry, there are two coupling methods; one is capacitor coupling and the other is transformer coupling. Capacitor coupling is the traditional, low-cost method. It is stable but transfers only voltage, not wattage (i.e., not actual energy). With transformer coupling, about 90% of real wattage is transferred (there is still a transformer loss of about10% of wattage – voltage is not affected). Transformer coupling is superior to capacitor coupling. However, all the advantages of transformer coupling depend on the quality of the transformer and the choice of tubes. Allnic Audio manufactures its transformers and uses what it views as the best core material, Permalloy.
The L‐6500 has a 150 ohm (150Ω) constant output impedance at all frequencies. The result is ultra-low distortion. Importantly, advanced tube technology voltage regulation is used for quieter and more dynamic operation. One of the many attributes Park’s tube designs offer is very dynamic performance. His preamplifiers allow no shrinking violets.
Inputs2 x RCA, 3 x XLR
Outputs2 x RCA, 1 x XLR
Input Impedance 10k ohms (RCA), 20k ohms (XLR)
Frequency Range 20 Hz to 20 kHz flat, 16 Hz to 75 kHz (-3dB)
Voltage Gain +20dBTHD (1kHz, 1V RMS) 0.06% at 0.3V, 0.15% at 1.0VS/N ratio-90dB (CCIR, 1 kHz)
Maximum Output 15V RMS (non-clipping)
Output Impedance 150 ohms
Power Consumption 30W
Tubes 5842 × 2 (gain stage); 7233 × 1 (voltage regulator); 5654 × 1 (voltage error detector)
Dimensions 440mm (W) 320mm (D) 180mm (H)
Weight 12 kg unpacked
Sound
It’d been a while since an Allnic product had been in the system at length; lately, I’ve been using my MBL N51 as fully integrated. It’s a magnificent, $17,600 component. But the moment I threw the Allnic L-6500 into the mix, cold out of the box, my ears perked up. Immediately the Park sonic signature was there. Immersive, inviting, sweet and defined. Park’s tube preamp designs work their magic right out of the box.
The tube “health meters” on the front plate were always pegged in the middle of the safe zones. Daily, I gave the tubes 20 minutes to settle down after turning them on, then commenced listening. I played the unit for a month of casual workouts, then got down to business.
The design framework for the L-6500 is akin to the much more expensive L-7000, but without the 7000’s 300B tubes, used as voltage regulators. And while very long-term listening to the 7000 ultimately left me ever so slightly cold compared to the rich and varied tone of Park’s OTL/OCL preamps, the L-6500 was always inviting and detailed. At $7500, it cannot be considered a bargain, but its design legacy and fit and finish tell of very fine high-end audio. With this purchase, you are jumping on board to a higher echelon tube preamp design that could easily last a lifetime. The benefit of tube rolling will maintain your interest in the long term.
The stock tube complement of 5842 × 2 (gain stage); 7233 × 1 (voltage regulator); 5654 × 1 (voltage error detector) remained in place during the length of the review. Turn on was quiet and the tubes remained blissfully silent the entire review run. Tubes are NOS: the 5842s are Mullards and the 7233 and 5654 are GEs.
Like all Park designs, he uses his superb precision potentiometer (excellent, metal remote included). And on show are amazingly wide dynamics and tonal truth. And if you want to rock out, the Allnic’s soundstage will not implode like other tube designs I’ve heard. One of the great attributes of this wonderful preamp was the tonal centre of notes remaining consistent even though very large crescendos. No harshness, no inhibitions. In this regard, it imitates the volume reactions of the more expensive Allnics.
As such, large orchestral works, rock bands, and large-scale operas, all sounded effortless and as beautiful as the recording and artist’s allowed. But, I wanted to hear if the L-6500, like my reference L-8500 OTC/OCL, maintained timbral and musical interest from unremarkable solo and chamber music LPs. A much more difficult challenge for the preamplifier.
I used some inexpensive Nonesuch chamber LPs, sourced way back from small-town Germany. Trios, quartets and larger groups playing 2nd and 3rd tier composers. These records are clean and tidy but never impressed with sonics or top-flight performances, yet the L-6500 allowed what charm the players conveyed and the energy from the performances from these back-of-rack records. No matter what you bring to your deck, the L-6500 will wring the most out of innocuous LPs.
The warmth, a golden glow, for want of a better descriptor, that kept me coming back to the L-8500 OTL/OCL, is not there on the L-6500. For sure, you are getting an immersive experience much like the much more expensive L-7000, but the sound of the OTL/OCL designs is catnip for timbral nerds. Some of my flute playing sounded a little more realistic through the 6500 than the 8500, and that’s where the 6500 will win over many tube fans. The L-6500, like the much more expensive L-7000, does not “gild the lily”. Me? I like the way Kang Su Park ups the tonal ante on his more expensive and expressive OTL/OCL preamps. YMMV.
The best way, have a listen at a store or even better, in your own home. Contact Don or John and they’ll help you out.
Summary
I dare say all audiophiles, especially tube fans, could throw any of the six Allnic preamplifiers into a system and live a happy, musical life. You won’t hear a better family line-up of tube preamplifiers. They all dig down deep into the soundstage and reveal the finest details. Dynamic and instrumental and vocal timbres are always intact. And there are no warm and fuzzy tube wrap-arounds, only beautifully initiated tube sounds in the very best of each design style. As such, if you’re a tube fan, want the best for the most important component in your system, and can’t run to the more expensive Allnics, the wonderful L-6500 ($7500) is your man. Very highly recommended.
Further information: Allnic Audio
