SUGDEN Masterclass ANV-50

​The Masterclass ANV-50 is a new integrated amplifier released to celebrate Sugden Audio’s fiftieth anniversary.

It is a unique design with many innovative features and specially developed audio circuits.

In 1967 Sugden released the world’s first solid state pure class A amplifier, the A21.  The ANV-50 promises to revisit this golden age of British audio engineering, with a design focused on the demands and preferences of today’s audio enthusiast and music lover.

The ANV-50 has at its heart, a pure class A amplifier and this is coupled to an advanced ‘ideal’ final output stage.  This unique two stage amplification system guarantees our signature pure class A sound, with the ability to drive the vast majority of loudspeaker systems.

The sophisticated final output stage features a comparator and correction circuit so that errors which could occur in the power output section due to varying loads and distortion, are corrected to match the output of the high impedance input amplifier.  Whilst maintaining the signal authenticity, it also increases the load stability and forces the output impedance to zero.  This special output stage with Sugden Error Correction has extremely low open loop output impedance with a resultant high damping factor at quite high frequencies. It also benefits from overall Current-Feedback.

The power amplifier and pre-amplifier are fully DC coupled so there are no capacitors in the signal path to interfere with or deteriorate the sound quality. One of the key features of Sugden Class A amplifiers is the power supply.  Because they have a high standing current and power reserves, the output is always ready to act instantly to any signal.  This is unlike a conventional Class AB amplifier that waits to receive power through a transformer and a bridge rectifier.  The ANV-50 takes this one step further by using a 1 MHz switching power supply which acts instantly to deliver the power as the Pure Class A amplifier section is always on.

The power supplies are high current, fast and incredibly stable.  With a MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) of 100 years they are designed for longevity and reliability. 

As the ANV-50 is an integrated amplifier it has an internal pre-amplifier, developed specifically for this amplifier.  The circuit is a line drive design and uses the minimum number of components, all of which are high quality.  This provides a very open and natural sound and demonstrates that when carefully engineered, less can be more. 

When the ANV-50 does not receive an input signal it has a very low power consumption of only 20 Watts, making it extremely efficient.  As the heatsinks are mounted internally with minimum contact to the outer case it only runs slightly warm to the touch.

Loudspeaker matching with the ANV-50 should never be a problem.  With an output of 50 Watts into 8 Ohms that can double in to lower impedances, room size and loudspeaker sensitivity becomes less of an issue so a much larger range of loudspeakers can be enjoyed.

Features

• Inputs – Five line level operated with relays
• Outputs – One pre-out (variable), one tape out, One pair of stereo multi-way binding posts
• Remote Control – (RC5 handset included)

SPECIFICATIONS

• Line Input Sensitivity:  110 mV @ zero attenuation for full output
• Power Output:  50 Watts into 8 Ohms both channels working, 100 Watts into 4 Ohms both channels working
• Frequency Response +/-1dB 12Hz - 45kHz
• Bandwidth:  8Hz - 86kHz
• Signal to Noise:  >85dB
• Gross Weight (packed):  11kgs
• Dimensions:  143 x 430 x 370mm (HWD)