Feliks Audio Envy

The Feliks Audio Envy is a flagship Class A tube headphone amplifier with preamplifier functions and an output power of up to 8 W. However, the Envy is more than just a few nice wooden panels and a range of fancy tube options.

It has power—lots of it, even for hard-to-drive headphones, which should prove attractive to Susvara fans—and a decent amount of connectivity that fits into a proper home system as well.

The Envy is a Class A tube headphone amplifier with a transformer-coupled balanced output and solid-state rectification. At the heart of the top-mounted tube configuration are two quite powerful and not exactly inexpensive H300B power tubes.

Feliks Audio has released two H300B Envy options to ease the burden on your wallet. The base Envy unit includes two matched Electro Harmonix Gold 300B power tubes, and the Performance Edition includes a set of matched Fullmusic 300B gold grid triode power tubes.

Feliks Audio Envy Amplifier

Two key points: The first is the Envy's single-ended Class A topology, designed to avoid unwanted distortion as much as possible.

The second is the use of solid-state rectification to keep the output tight and punchy, avoiding the traditional tube rectifier “sag” or flabby low-ends. This is something the Envy does exceptionally well.

The Envy amplifier is built using “point-to-point” technology, meaning every component is wired directly to the next. All point-to-point connections are specially made from single-crystal copper (UPOCC) with Teflon insulation.

The input side begins with an Alps RK27 potentiometer, followed by a two-stage preamplifier using CV-181-T MKII power tubes and nitrogen-filled Jantzen Superior Z-Cap coupling capacitors.

Both the output transformers and the power transformer were custom-made by the Polish transformer specialist EDIS Ogonowski.

The amplifier features fully automatic biasing, and its electrical circuit is designed to be feedback-free. The output tubes are heated with DC, with a special circuit ensuring that the tube heater is isolated from the audio path power supply.

The power supply for the anode voltage is solid-state, based on MOSFET transistors and low-noise current sources.

For the balanced XLR outputs, Feliks Audio has used balanced, audio-grade Lundahl transformers, with source selection controlled by low-signal relays placed directly behind the input terminals to reduce the noise floor and potential interference.

Aesthetic Design

The Envy is a real head-turner. At 15.1 kg, it is also quite large and heavy, but not so large that it would cause problems in a standard hi-fi rack. The main issue with placing the Envy is the height, as the H300B driver tubes give it a fairly tall profile and require some space for ventilation.

If you intend to place the Envy on the top shelf, you should have as much vertical clearance as possible. It looks beautiful anyway, so a middle shelf placement would be a crime.

The aesthetic consists primarily of two highly grained, oiled wooden blocks wrapped around a black chassis that connects the blocks.

The choice of wood is beautiful and reminiscent of the aesthetic of Auris Audio amplifiers, but just a nuance sharper at the edges and corners.

The anodized metal housing is highlighted by a thin central strip on the sides. Towards the front, however, it widens, showcasing a 1940s-inspired retro aesthetic with a large, centrally positioned potentiometer.

On both sides of the potentiometer are the headphone outputs and smaller volume/impedance knobs in a matching black anodized design.

The toroidal transformer is housed in a similar black metal casing at the rear of the Envy. Directly behind it is the trapezoidal 2 x 2 tube configuration, which is loaded from the top.

The amplifier also comes with two matching, black anodized metal rails, which are securely attached with low-profile screws directly in front of the driver tubes. These guards are a matter of personal preference, but their use is entirely optional depending on how you like the look.

Power tubes:
300B

Driver tubes:
PsVane CV-181 mk2 (6SN7)
2x single-ended RCA inputs (IN1, IN2)
1x balanced XLR input (IN3)

Input sensitivity
1V RMS

Input impedance:
For IN1 I IN2 (RCA) 100kΩ, for IN3 (XLR) 10kΩ

1x pair of pre-amplifier outputs as RCA
1x pair of pre-amplifier outputs as XLR

The maximum voltage at the above-mentioned outputs is 5V (RMS) with an output impedance of 600Ω and THD<0.5%.

Impedance selector switch:
LO – up to 60Ω, MID – up to 300Ω, HI – up to 600Ω-mnh

Amplifier impedance:
LO at 32Ω load is 3.8Ω, MID at 100Ω load is 8.8Ω, HI at 600Ω is 20Ω

Output power measured at MID impedance setting at a load of 16Ω is 5W with THD ⩽1% (maximum 8W at THD >5%)

Frequency response:
8Hz÷100kHz ±3dB, 18Hz÷40kHz ±1dB

Headphone outputs:
6.3mm and XLR

AC voltage 50/60Hz:
230V version (±5%), 115V version (±5%)

Power consumption:
110VA

Weight:
15.1kg (without packaging)

Dimensions:
35x33x18.5cm (LxWxH) – without tubes, 35x33x24.5cm (LxWxH) – with tubes

Herstellerangaben:

Feliks Audio Ltd.
12 Klonowa St.
42-700 , Lubliniec
Poland
info@feliksaudio.com

Verantwortliche Person:

Audition 6 – Heiko Boss
6 Achalm St.
72461 , Albstadt
Germany
info@audition6.de