Value in design and construction:



It is ironic how many elements of High End Audio gear utilize design topology and similar materials over 60 years old. Today some the best sounding and costly amplifiers are literally designed around tubes such as the Western Electric 300A/B. Originally intended for use in Radio its sonic characteristics are well documented as found in the article The 300B Tube Lives Again!. While there has been improvement in design execution, specific parts and materials play a larger role in Audio then perhaps any other area of consumer electronics. Prior to the advent of PCB's point to point wiring was the standard. While any digital audio based product must have their share of PCB mounted microchips, GLOW has chosen to eschew semi conductive materials wherever feasible, as seen below.



To the PC Enthusiast this may not seem pertinent, however; to the Audio Enthusiast any device, especially wiring because it denotes length through which the signal path flow's, is critical. PCB's often implement minute copper traces which are more susceptible to EMI and often just a fraction of the width of a single copper strand of internal shielded cable. We begin with the only PCB found in the GLOW Amp One supporting the C-Media DAC. In the thumbnail below, note the input wiring (brown) is passed through the DAC PCB, connecting the USB disables RCA analog input.


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From the photos above to those below we can follow the input path as it's divided to the transformers/capacitors and through the Alps potentiometer. This topology is indicative of the Single Ended design in which the vacuum tube is the final amplification device. Clicking on the thumbnail below provides a much closer look at the SE design defined in the intro.


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Finally we take a close look at the internal wiring from the front of the amplifier, certainly a labor intensive project considering how many amplifiers must be sold for any company to remain financially viable.


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It seems GLOW has done everything in their power to create a great sounding amplifier. Of course this is where Audio and High End Audio in general cannot simply be judged by the parts, or the sum thereof to succeed. This is where listening is a pre-requisite.

Onto Listening Tests ->