Integrated Amplifiers

The original Pathos ‘Twin Towers’ tube/FET hybrid integrated was launched way back in the mid ’90s [HFN Aug ’99]. Then, as now, the basic model – with non-remote 24-step volume control – hadn’t been picked up by Pathos’ UK distributor, so the review by Ken Kessler [see below] was of the upgraded remote-controllable unit (soon to be renamed the TT Remote Reference). His verdict? ‘Vintage tubey-ness’ with ‘a silky, sweet, shimmering treble’.

That original amp looked nigh-on identical to the present day TT, apart from its gold-coloured controls and feet. And yet, illustrating Pathos’ continuous development of its hot-running integrated is the Twin Towers’ rated power output of 2x30W coupled with its 32kg weight. These figures increase to 2x35W and 42kg for the TT Anniversary, the pursuit of a higher output from its InPoL circuit necessitating larger, heavier inductors/transformers. Additionally, the Twin Towers’ ECC83 triodes are replaced in the current generation by ECC803S tubes. Pathos tells HFN such changes ‘could have justified a formal “Mk2” designation, but we ultimately chose to preserve the continuity of the product’.