The Nu:Tekt HA-K1 “Tube” Headphone Amplifier by Korg NuTube

For the May 2019 "Glass Audio" special edition, audioXpress asked Erik Owen to share with us his experience with the new Nu:Tekt HA-K1 “Tube” headphone amplifier using the novel Korg Nutube 6P1 device. This interesting headphone amplifier is sold as a kit for $199, it's relatively easy to assemble, and - more interestingly - makes for a practical way to actually induce some of the magic of tubes in a relatively portable configuration.

This article provides an overview of the Korg Nutube 6P1, a new, miniature, low-power dual directly-heated triode device. It was developed by Korg (of musical instrument fame) and Noritake Itron, a manufacturer of vacuum fluorescent displays, in Japan. Although it is a true directly heated triode, it is manufactured differently than traditional vacuum tubes, which gives it some unique attributes. This article was originally published in audioXpress, May 2017.

With IFA fully occupying two exhibition areas, Europe's giant trade show for Consumer and Home Electronics was indeed a busy time for all technology companies and certainly for many of the key development platform vendors. Appropriately, this year's Home Appliances@IFA celebrated its 10th anniversary, reinforcing somehow what is already recognized as the largest world show for Electric Appliances.

Korg and Propellerhead Software have announced a new partnership to offer Reason Lite music production software for free with the purchase of select Korg hardware controllers. Users will receive Reason Lite and the new Drum Sequencer free with select products, offering a powerful and intuitive music creation experience, which can be upgraded to the full version of Reason 10 at a reduced price.

audioXpress May 2017 is a very strong edition for all tube and audio electronics aficionados in general. This month we bring an exclusive R&D Story on the revival of the Dynaco brand and the development project of the new Dynaco ST-70 Series 3 stereo tube amplifier. Next up, we jump straight into the future of tubes, with an overview of the Korg Nutube 6P1. For hands-on experience, we feature great projects about Circlotron amplifiers, the Kismet 5 amplifier - 20th anniversary edition, and four gadgets for tube enthusiasts. In addition to the tube focus, you can read about the new ETAL Anaview ALA0080 Class-D module and the quality of streaming music with Sonos and Deezer.

Held January 22-25, NAMM 2015 welcomed a record number of exhibitors to Anaheim. Major product debuts, a bumper crop of new-to-NAMM exhibitors paired with engaging thought-leaders created what many NAMM members called the freshest NAMM Show in years. A record 99,342 NAMM Show registrants and a record 1,621 exhibiting companies made it the largest NAMM Show in history.