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Unconditional Satisfaction GuaranteeNo Shipping Fees Above 302 Months to Decide. Returns Simplified.It is one of the most neutral, down-the-center, frequency-pure amplifiers I’ve reviewed. While it delivered that sweet ‘n pure triode-treble audiophiles relish, and a room-filling soundstage, it exhibited a trait not commonly associated with tube amplifiers, let alone SET amps: the 91E’s low end was tight and accurate. Western Electric is back.
KEN MICALLEF, STEREOPHILE
Western Electric’s flagship integrated amplifier is the latest advancements after the WE 91A. The 91E doubles the power to 15 W, and achieves a new level of performance with intelligent circuits that steer the parallel feed constant current source, allowing this high power with extreme linearity and low distortion. The beautifully machined aluminum chassis is available in three finishes: Black, Nickel, and Champagne.
Founded in 1869, Western Electric’s history is intertwined with the history of transmitted and recorded sound. An American brand through and through, it was owned by AT&T until it was bought and revived in 1996 by entrepreneur Charles G. Whitener of Westrex Corporation. The goal was to manufacture vacuum tubes and high-fidelity audio equipment.
In 1997, a newly created run of Western Electric 300B tubes began shipping worldwide, to great excitement among the tube audio community. In 2017, a modern tube manufacturing operation was set up in Rossville, Georgia with the goal of modernizing 300B manufacturing, adding additional tube lines, and in-house research and design of new products under this proud revival of an original American brand.
Western Electrics patented steered current source technology uses a parallel feed topology that contributes half of AC current to the anode of the 300B by modulating quiescent current. As a result, half of the power dissipation occurs in the tube, allowing for a greater output power of 20 watts per channel.
The 91E also offers autobias, so there’s no need to worry about setting bias for your tubes.
High-quality resistors are used in a ladder configuration to produce a logarithmic attenuation of the output signal, in a manner that imitates the response of human hearing.
Instead of using multiple taps on the transformer, the 91E uses a single impedance transformer with optional output blocks. This offers higher fidelity due to the the lower winding capacitanceofsingle impedance transformers. The 4 Ohm block is sold separately.
A tube amp for the modern day! The easy-to-read (dimmable) LCD display shows which of the six inputs has been selected, volume level, and also has a VU meter. Theincluded infrared remote control allows for quick adjustment of amplifier settings such as input levels, balance, and display dimming. The 91E hastwo phono inputs and four stereo RCA line inputs. A Bluetooth audioinput is available for wireless convenience. It hasa line output and a preamplifier output.
Software and firmware updates are delivered via anEthernet connection and USB port.
Output Power Per Channel
At4 and 8 (THD 10%, 5%, 3%): 20 W, 16 W, 14 W
Tube Complement:2 xWestern Electric 300B, 2 x ECC81
Inputs:2 x stereo RCA phono, 4 x stereo RCA line, 1 x Bluetooth
Outputs:1 x stereo RCA line, 1 x stereo RCA pre, 1 x stereo speaker
Phono
MC Sensitivity (10W / 4): 70 V
MM Input Impedance: 47 kOhms
MM Capacitance: 100 pF
Power Consumption (Operation, Standby): 160 W, 0.3 W
Mains Fuse: 2 A slow-blow
Bluetooth:Standard v4.2, up to96 kHz / 16-bit
Dimensions: 18.9″ x 15″ x 11.1 (48 x 38 x 28 cm)
Weight: 49 lb (22.2 kg)
