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VOX AC4 - AC4TVH

 

VOX AC4 - Head and Combo

This is a Small, All Valve Offering from VOX. It is a Modern Classic Reissue of the Popular 'AC4' back from 1961. It's a Nice Looking Little Amp although the Cabinet Build Quality is not the Best, it's made from MDF. It Retails at about £200 which seems a Bit Steep for an Amp rated at only '4 Watts' but the Sound Quality is Great. There is Very Little Clean Headroom Available (Like Most Class 'A', Single Ended Amps). The Designers have configured the Amp for Early Breakup and Maximum 'VOX' Creamy Distortion. The 'Tone' Control works well with Loads of  'Cutting' Treble Available. There is an 'OP LEVEL' Control which allows the Output of the Amp to be set at 4, 1 or 1/4 Watts. It's a Nice touch but it 'SUCKS' Tone out of the Amp when used on the 1 or 1/4 Watt Setting. The Original 1960s Amp used an 'EF86' Preamp Valve and a 'EZ80' Valve Rectifier. This Reissue Amp uses a '12AX7' Preamp Valve and a 'Silicon Rectifier' but the Designers have used some Simple, Effective methods to compensate for the Changes and it all works Beautifully. The Amp Chassis is Solid with Quality Components and the one thing that 'STANDS OUT' and makes this Amp Sound so Sweet is a SUPERB Quality Output Transformer - Well Done VOX. There is only One 16 Ohm Speaker Output. The Background 'Noise' Level is Acceptable, No 'Buzz' but a little bit of 'Hum', Nothing to worry  about. Overall, Both the AC4TV Head and Combo Amps are Great Performers and if you Like the Classic VOX Sound - Get One.

Because the Amp is a Modern Classic Reissue, I hesitate to do any 'Tone' Changing or 'Visual' Modifications, after all, if you Buy this Amp, you will want the Classic 'VOX' Looks and Sound. The One Area that can be Dramatically Improved - without changing the 'Tone' of the Amp, is the 'OP LEVEL' Control. I Remove the 3 Position Rotary Switch and replace the Control with 'OPR'. The Amp looks EXACTLY the Same as Stock but the Addition of 'OPR' turns an already Good Amp into a Superb Amp.

Also, I replace the Stock On/Off Mains Power Switch with a Carling 3 Position Switch - 'Off-Standby-On'. The Amp still looks Stock but the new Switch adds the 'Standby' Function.

The 'AC4TV' Combo is Available with Several Different Speaker Sizes - Go for the 10" Version.

Please 'Contact' Me for Pricing and Turnaround.

For once I Agree with the Advertising Blurb - - -

Simple and Sexy, The Sophisticated Sound is Unmistakably 'VOX', Delivering that Distinctively British Top-End Tone.

 

About - 'OPR'