This one popped up when I was looking at Dom's Quad 33/303.

www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/vintage/listing-2519262512.htm?rsqid=rmlms-bc3245c6a64145a38f9cfe3e986f8cab-001

I've seen these years back, go for $1600 - un-restored.

Current bid $1200.

This one has been worked over, slightly modded, but generally it appears, performance & reliability improvements.

Condition looks VG-EX from here (better than mine) & a vol pot (ALPS) has been fitted - meaning that it can be used without preamp as an 'integrated' amp, as these Leak Stereo 20s are VERY sensitive, needing only 0.125V in for full output.

Not sure how it outputs 14Wpc, the TL12 Plus was specified at 12Wpc & the standard Stereo 20 at 11Wpc.

I'd go for a Leak 20 over a Quad II or Radford STA any day.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Sold for $1200.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Enjoyed running a pair of these in the 90's. Bought one at a car boot sale in Eccleshall for 5 pounds, and one a few months later in a private purchase for 20.
One started getting so hot it desoldered its own components! Got that fixed easily enough.

One of those things you never wish you'd sold....

I am a non-recovering audioholic, and Ivor is my higher power.

I've got my Stereo 50 on TMe. Sold my S20 years ago as I preferred the 50.

I had a Leak Stereo 50 for a wee while. (Or was it a 60?) EL34s.

The Stereo 20 has a PSU resistor that was cleverly designed to desolder itself like a fuse, if things got too hot (excessive current), switching off the amp, protecting the amp.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Mar 7, 2020 14:13:24 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

I had a Leak Stereo 50 for a wee while. (Or was it a 60?) EL34s.

The Stereo 20 has a PSU resistor that was cleverly designed to desolder itself like a fuse, if things got too hot (excessive current), switching off the amp, protecting the amp.

Ahh!   

I am a non-recovering audioholic, and Ivor is my higher power.

I was relieved when someone finally snapped up that lovely pair of TL12+ for $3k.

Any thoughts on this particular example of a Stereo 20?

www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/amplifiers-tuners/auction-3285664150.htm

I’ve never owned one, and have always been curious about an EL84 amp.
They seem to have a good following, but not sure what to expect in terms of noise floor, input sensitivity, reliability etc…

I had one for years in the 90s and sold it I think for about $400 which was the going price. They are a bit bland and rolled off at the frequency extremes for my taste in music. Inoffensive is probably the best description. I think the circuit is similar to a Mullard 5-10 or 10-10. Like all earlier valve amps they don't take much voltage to drive. The matching pre-amp is rubbish, a modern pre-amp will need to be turned waaay down so a TVC is probably the best match.

Thanks for that peter0c - interesting observations
I was thinking that a modern Quad QC24 might be a good match, given the lower output voltage (1v ?)…

… plus matchy-matchy with the gold finish. 🤓

Anyone have technical concerns about the quality of components etc used in the update / refurb of this ST20 example on TM?

Parts look ok, serviceable. The main caps have been replaced as have the smaller electrolytics. The good thing with these amps is that you can tweak them easily with your own choice of parts.

AMR-iFi R&D

Thanks colinf - that’s really helpful. Cheers