Mastersound
AmplifiersPreamplifiers & phono stages
| Country | Italy |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Cesare Sanavio |
Mastersound is an Italian maker of valve amplifiers based in the province of Vicenza, founded in 1994 by Cesare Sanavio and his sons Luciano and Lorenzo. Cesare had decades of experience with output transformers, going back to radio and television work in the 1950s, and transformer quality has remained at the heart of the company's designs. All Mastersound amplifiers are class-A designs without negative feedback, built by hand, and the company winds its own transformers. Its range includes preamplifiers, monoblock power amplifiers using valves such as the 300B and 845, and integrated amplifiers such as the 845 Compact and the Box. After Cesare's death the business was carried on by his sons, and it was re-formed in 2015 with new investment, with Luciano as lead designer. Mastersound's amplifiers are known for their wooden side panels, chrome-plated chassis and rich, lively valve sound. Its amplifiers are widely exported, with a particularly strong following in Europe and Asia.
Notable Mastersound products
- 845 Compact integrated
- Box Mk II
- Due Venti
- Icona
- Gemini
Sources: stereophile.com, soundstagehifi.com