Lentek Amplifier

[behind the rock]

I've wanted a Lentek amplifier for quite a long time.  The situation was exacerbated by one blatantly flaunted on this site  along with a lovely turntable that I wanted badly as the design was brilliantly executed and the owner showed no remorse in constantly rubbing my nose in it with lovely photographs to boot!  You know who you are!    Anyway, an opportunity presented itself on E-bay and I paid a fair price for one as the market stands just now. I won't get it immediately and there is no rush anyway but I'm not looking forward to lifting it as I done by back in a couple of weeks ago!  Had to get G-docs in during the night last Thursday for some strong painkillers as I could not move one iota and had cramp in one leg as well. Hey ho.  This addition may seem at odds with my push towards a passive pre-amp but its not really as this could be a great side step in another direction with an eye more to the future with regard to whats happening overall with my system. I like being flexible and not get blinkered by one idea.

Andy

[ian]

Sorry to hear about your back problems Andy.  As you say, better not shift the Lentek for a while, they are heavy brutes.
I had one many years ago and really enjoyed it.  Has an excellent and flexible mm/mc phono stage to boot.  As is my way I sold it   then missed it and bought another.  Unfortunately the second one had been well messed about inside by some amateur so that had to be sold as spares but if yours is a good one I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Get better soon, Ian

[itskeith]

Hi Andy,

Congratulations. Some itches you just have to scratch.
Think Piero also used to have one of these (which we enjoyed at a meet)?

[ropie]

Yes, I have a Lentek though don't currently use it. Get well soon, Andy

[behind the rock]

I'm supposed to looking after myself.    My wife has a lot of things going on and relies on me quite a bit.  I keep joking when she has something else happening that there should have been full disclosure of future problems when we first met 49 years ago!    She said the same about me!   

Andy

[behind the rock]

Lentek arrived this afternoon! The driver kindly took it into our lounge and put it on the table for me.  Good lad.  I did after a serious tussle made it part company from the box and I unwrapped miles of bubble wrap.  A few minor paintwork scratches and one foot is detached as the screw sheared at some time with the previous owner no big deal.  I will try to get it hooked up roughly tomorrow and give a quick initial listen.  I'm sure it will be great. If it works out in my system then I can give one of my Arcam Delta amps to my son Chris.  His Cambridge Audio amp is the worse off after my grandson Lennon kept switching it on and off a lot  a few years back.  He had a fascination for it.  Thankfully he just keeps Chris straight now about whats going on in the music world regarding what they like. 

Andy

[behind the rock]

Well after another tussle I've hooked up the Lentek in a temporary situation, sighting on a wooden chair!  No way could I manage to get this behemoth into my hi-fi stand.  I put on Ruby Baby from the Nightfly album just to check it works and all is well.  Didn't quite feel the boogie factor this track generates but I was tired after the work-out the Lentek gave me to have it up and running.  Going to start later with the self titled album U.K. side 1 beginning with "In the Dead of Night"  which will be a nice way to try it out.  Some Flora Purim and Art Pepper will follow.   

Andy

[behind the rock]

After a number of tracks I can say for sure that the Lentek has a good grip of the bass unit. I was mildly disappointed with the Flora Pruim track "Willow" as I perceived that the ambience around the vocals sounded subdued.  At levels that would have had my Arcam's tripping out because the bass amp would be getting too hot, the Lentek was but mildly warm to the touch.  If you had young kids going about there would be no concern about them touching the Lentek as I couldn't get the heatsinks to anything except lukewarm to the touch. I think the 60 watt rating is conservative.  I also tried the Copland CDA266 playing my favourite room shaker J.S. Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, played by Simon Preston at the organ of Kreuzbergkirche, Bonn.  This cd track really did show of the Lentek very well indeed again at levels that even a pair of 75watt/channel Arcam's would be nearly pegging out the Lentek took it all in its stride, it also showed up the fact the IMF's had more to give. Every aspect of this great track was laid out to listen to and concentrate on.  The bottom end was the best yet.  Againg the heatsinks just shrugged off my efforts to fry eggs on them!    On an Art Pepper track the way phrases were conveyed with regard to space between notes in phrases opened another window onto the music and how it was presented.  All in all I think this will be a keeper.  Lots more to listen to, but whole albums from now on and just relax into it.  Next thing is to hire a crane to get it into the hi-fi unit! 

Andy

[behind the rock]

The Flora Purim track is "Windows". I was probably thinking about Joan Armourplating. 

Andy

[ropie]

Andy, I do have a user manual for the Lentek but it's still in the UK with some of my other things! I will be there for Christmas so I'll try to remember to dig it out for you when I'm there

BTW - my amp was totally restored by a guy called Ben Duncan before I received it:

http://benduncanresearch.com/

[behind the rock]

Ben Duncan is an old friend of mine!  I bought his 4 way active x-over back in the 70's that was in HFRR.  What a guy! Very clever, maybe too clever sometimes! He's a real good laugh.  Haven't seem him in a very long time.  I hope he is in good shape, must get in touch through Ben Duncan Research.  Thanks Piero.

Andy

[martin_bell]

Was always interested in the Lentek's! They look really good, for a British amplifier of that period it really is surprising just how well made that thing looks.
I have what came out of Lentek, the original Audiolab 8000C and P pre and power combo

The power-amp is very nicely designed whilst I always thought they could of done better on the pre. Mine really needs re-doing or just buying a new one and then re-capping as all the switches other than the crumbling caps are gummed up as it came from a heavy smoker.

[behind the rock]

My only negtive comment about the Lentek is the question of ambience.  I think, although I'm not 100% certain that the modified Arcam Delta 290 was a bit better in that respect. 

Andy

[ropie]

My only negtive comment about the Lentek is the question of ambience.

It has an Ambience button, maybe you have it set to 'off'

[behind the rock]

Nice one Piero, my young neighbour came by last night and he was bowled over by the sound improvement. I think the fact that my back is still niggling away at me despite physio to help matters along is spoiling my enjoyment.  Definitely more grip to the sound though.  As well as giving him my Pioneer CD player I also gave him my Leak 2001 with an Audio Technica AT95E he will now get one of my Arcam Delta 290 amps but this time there will be with a very reasonable price tag on it!  It has the phono board so he can choose MM now or MC at some point maybe in the future.

Andy