Capital AudioFest 2024

Gramophone Dreams’ columnist Herb Reichert has written glowing amplifier reviews of Elekit of Fukuoka, Japan, and Sun Valley, of Nagoya, Japan, both distributed by Victor Kung’s VK Music.

At CAF2024 Victor showcased many amplifiers at his CAF booth, most boasting fat tubes and open circuit boards, the kind of which activates my reviewer’s twitch.

VK Music’s wares included the Elekit TU-8888 monoblocks ($1375 per block), featuring two KT170s, one EF86x, and 12AU7X1 tubes. Next, the Elekit TU-8900 with Lundahl Amorphous Core transformers ($1945), also available as the Elekit TU-8900 300B/2A3 kit with Lundahl Amorphous Core transformers ($1945).

Sun Valley’s SV-P1616D/SV-P1616 power amp with Hashimoto output transformer kit ($1975) was another highlight; it is assembled in Japan with 4 VCAP ODAM capacitors ($2750). Optional tubes included four KT170, two 12AT7, and two 112AU7s. Victor also showed the Sun Valley SV-1645D SET amp, which comes assembled with Hashimoto output transformers ($2650). Optional tube set for the amp includes two 45s, one 12AT7/12AX7, one 12AU7, and two WE274B rectifier tubes.

Further Sun Valley amplification showed a gorgeous Sun Valley SV-128ii power amp with Hashimoto transformers ($5500). It is also available with upgraded Hashimoto output transformers, choke, power transformers, and coupling capacitors (two VCAP ODAMs and two copper Audio Note capacitors) for the same price. The optional tube set for the amp includes two KT170s, four EF37s, and a GZ34 rectifier.

An Elekit TU-8400 lit with Lundahl LL2777B transformer ($1200) was also on display. Its tube set included two EL34s, two KT170s, and one 12AX7.

I hope to review Victor’s forthcoming Elekit TU-8888 monoblocks in 2025.