Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
13 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino V12
Integrated amplifier
Relative price
well above typical
Among the 59 integrated amplifiers in the catalogue, this one is well above typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
What it is
EAR V12 — Tim de Paravicini's flagship valve integrated, named for inspiration from the Jaguar V12 engine. Twelve EL84 power tubes (6 per channel arranged 3 parallel × 2 push-pull) in pentode mode with TdP's balanced bridge mode output transformer (primary winding split between anode and cathode of output tubes for capacitive cross-coupling). 10× ECC83 (12AX7) drive valves total. Hand-built Cambridgeshire UK.
HiFiReport comparison vs EAR 834 and 869: V12 "low frequencies are more lively and transparent, while the 834 has better thickness. The V12's quick-response low frequencies further highlight the luxurious mid-high frequencies." Best of three EAR integrateds with W/P Sasha 2.
CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FIT: 50W/8Ω + DF 10 + 47kΩ input + 400mV sensitivity. Speaker matching: ≥88dB sensitivity preferred (Quad ESL, Klipsch, Tannoy, Living Voice, single-driver, horns). Avoid <85dB low-impedance modern speakers (B&W 800-series, KEF Reference, PMC active). Multi-tap output (4/8/16Ω) — match to nominal speaker impedance.
Tube-rolling: 12× EL84 sockets accept Mullard NOS (golden reference), Tesla, Telefunken, Sovtek, JJ. ECC83 sockets accept full 12AX7 family. Self-biasing accepts new tubes without rebias. Accessible maintenance.
Competition record
Assessed against 14 rivals across the sixty systems: 4 head-to-heads won, 41 lost.
Where it gives ground
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
- bass control ×1
Who it comes up against
Sugden ANV 50
4 lost · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Sugden ANV 50 keeps the slot decisively.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino V12 is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
Leema Hydra II
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.
Audiolab 9000P
4 lost · Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Silent Path
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan)
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
Audio Note P1 SE
3 lost · Intimate, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot decisively.
Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
3 lost · Artisan, PRaT, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino 890
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
Chord ULTIMA 6
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot decisively.
Longdog Audio P6100M (pair)
1 lost · Anchored
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
Exposure 3510
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Exposure 3510 keeps the slot clearly.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino V12 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Quad Artera Stereo
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot decisively.
Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150)
0 lost· 3 won · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the EAR Yoshino V12 takes the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino V12 is the stronger integrated amplifier for that brief.
Sugden A21 Signature
0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the EAR Yoshino V12 takes the slot by a whisker.
With the Harbeth P3ESR XD2, the pairing gains most on timing and drive.
On its own merits the EAR Yoshino V12 is the stronger integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Systems it is part of
- Tier H · BBC Sound as Amplification
- Tier Hi · Vocals-First as Amplification
- Tier Hi · BBC Sound as Amplification
What the reviewers said
12-tube valve integrated, Tim de Paravicini design EAR Yoshino V12 + Stereophile heritage· Harmonic texture
super low distortion and extreme quiet Positive Feedback, Levi, 2015· Electrical noise floor
spatial clarity that will knock your socks off Positive Feedback, Levi, 2015· Spatial resolution
a focus to vocals, with a secure wholeness Positive Feedback, Levi, 2015· Presence & articulation
rounded tonality, spot-on timbres, a subtle sweetness Positive Feedback, Levi, 2015· Harmonic texture
the most revealing integrated tube amplifier I have heard Positive Feedback, Levi, 2015· Micro-dynamic resolution
airy bloom and impactful, highly detailed bass Positive Feedback, Levi, 2015· Bass extension
How it scores
Clarity
- Electrical noise floor 82 from listening evidence
- Spatial resolution 82 from listening evidence
Voice
- Presence & articulation 76 from listening evidence
- Harmonic texture 77 from listening evidence
Bass
- Bass control 60 from specification
- Physical impact 61 from specification
- Bass extension 76 from listening evidence
LowerVolume
- Low-level noise floor 82 from specification
- Micro-dynamic resolution 82 from listening evidence
- Tonal consistency 76 from specification
Specifications
| power 8ohm w | 50.0 |
|---|---|
| power 4ohm w | 50.0 |
| power class | A |
| damping factor | 10.0 |
| line inputs | 5 |
| line input sensitivity mv | 400.0 |
| line input impedance kohm | 47.0 |
| has phono | False |
| phono mm | False |
| phono mc | False |
| pre out | False |
| pre power separable | none |
| internal bass management | none |
| headphone out | False |
| frequency response hz | 12/60000 |
| snr db | 93.0 |
| thd pct | 0.03 |
| dimensions mm | 440/135/420 |
| weight kg | 22.0 |
| integrated dac | False |
| digital inputs | 0 |
| notes |