One of our most successful kits has been the Ella amplifier. Still we have found a way to improve the design. The Ergo chassis is new and with the use of the state-of-the-art power supply FCUPS (all Film Capacitor Universal Power Supply) and ABS (active bias supply) this Ella is the most dynamic and quiet amplifier we've ever had.

Ergo-Ella power amplifier

The Ergo-Ella retains the solid acoustics of the original Ella, but adds state-of-the-art power supply FCUPS, ABS and premium parts.


FCUPS is an all film caps power supply in a package comparable in size to normal electrolytics. Electronic choke on board with equivalent 500h allows use as virtual battery supply.
ABS module locks the bias of each tube so anode current is in perfect balance so no DC goes across the OPT core.
FCUPS/ABS Protection Link. Any fault with a tube - runaway, whatever, Protect Link shuts done the B+

On the right of the chassis all the AC stuff : IEC connector, power switch power transformer matrix: 1 large transformer for B+ and 2 small transformers for filament supply - terminal strips allow easy switching and adding/subtracting voltages for many circuits (KT88/2A3/300B PP or SE)
On the left of the chassis all the DC stuff : FCUPS (film cap universal power supply), ABS (active bias supply), input filter caps.
Down the middle: All the signal stuff - includes adapter plates so completely configurable from 6 to 8 tube, SE or PP, octal, UX4, noval or blank out one section with included cover plate.

Hardware: premium connectors, binding posts, and passive parts are used throughout, silver wire, teflon composite sockets Kiwame, Obbligato etc etc, yup she's loaded.

Output transformers having 30% larger cores, made from imported Japanese grain oriented silicon steel. This gives at least another 10hz power bandwidth but retains the high frequencies as the windings are wound with a 'perfect lay' technique, allowing tighter windings and less capacitance that scatter sound.

4/8/16ohm speaker taps: Why? It is needed. Really. Nominal impedance ratings are often misleading. An 8 ohm rated speaker may be 6 or 12 ohms and often sounds better on 4 or 16 ohm taps. Always try different taps to determine which gives best sound. When the right tap is selected, soundstage will be bigger and sounds more energetic. Also 16 ohm taps allow using vintage high efficiency speakers. Connecting them to 8 ohms is a compromise.

Power transformer is also improved with EI H14 cores. This massive beating heart provides a very low power supply impedance virtually eliminating voltage sag on transients.

The chassis is solid, heavy and non-magnetic for best sound. Bamboo wood cheeks and fascia.

The Ella tube amp is highly reviewed Internationally and our best selling amp kit. Includes picture-based buildup instructions

Reduced resolution version of the Ergo-Ella instruction manual

Specifications: (may change without notice)

• Power output: 60Wx2 RMS @ 1KHZ Class AB
• Frequency response: 6-60kHz (-3dB@10W)
• THD: <1% (53W@1KHz), 0.1% (1w@1KHz)
• Signal to noise: 90dB
• Inputs: 1 set RCA and space for 1 set of XLR
• Input sensitivity/impedance: 100mV, 50K
• Output impedance: 4, 8, or 16 ohm
• Power: 110/120/220/230/240V AC +- 10% 90W
• Weight: 25 Kg
• Tubes: 4xEL34 (or 6550/KT88), 2x6922, 2x6SN7
  (Tubes are not included in the kit)

Questions from customers are good because they remind of features not yet discussed: Why doesn't the Ergo-Ella have dual-mono power supplies like the previous Ella?

1. Actually the power transformer does have dual secondaries, both being connected in parallel to the FCUPS. This gives a very low output source impedance from the power transformer and power on demand
2. The FCUPS is set to run in virtual battery mode. It has the energy storage equivalency of about a 2 FARAD capacitor but the delivery and recovery speed of a 500h choke!
3. The point of a dual mono power supply is to avoid intermodulation effects between channels due to voltage sag. As per above you can see this is never likely to happen with paralleled HT feeds and the FCUPS.

This one single supply delivers like a fire hydrant compared to the two garden hoses of a dual mono supply.

If you already own an Ella, consider installing the FCUPS and ABS.

Customer Comments:

"Right from the start, I was knocked out by the sound of the Ella. I felt like I was hearing my favourite cds for the first time. It was as if the musicians were in the room with me: such transparency and detail. I also played some of my own recordings (I’m a musician) and it was like being in the control room listening to myself on the studio reproduction system (excellent of course). Vocals are extraordinarily clear and present, and acoustic instruments like double bass and alto sax sound so alive.

The first evening, I took the Ella round to a friend’s house where we compared it with what he had previously thought of as hi-fi sound from his solid state system. He too was astounded by the sound quality. Since then, I have listened to many of my favourite cds as well as a few that I had neglected. I listen mostly to acoustic jazz, but I also gave Prince (Sign of the Times), Lou Reed (New York), Tom Waits (Mule Variations) and the Beatles (Revolver) a chance. This amp rocks!
I have a Ron Carter (acoustic bass player) cd that I never listened to, as it was just one low rumble on my old amp - now I can hear every note clearly. The lightest brush strokes from jazz drummers are perfectly clear and the spectacular pyrotechnics from Sylvain Luc and Birelli Lagrène (French guitar players) on their Duet album are astonishing.

I now have many jealous friends, lots of them musicians. Some of them can’t believe I built the amp myself (even I have trouble sometimes!). Everyone agrees that the aesthetics are good too. All together, a remarkable piece of kit, well worth the time and effort that went into building it."