Mars Tube Audio

19/06/2026

Mars Tube Audio website is up and live! Visit www.marsamps.co.za and let us know what you think.

Handcrafted tube amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, guitar amplifiers, DIY kits, and vintage audio restoration services built in Paarl, South Africa.

13/05/2026

Ohms Law! How many times a day do you use this formula?

Directly connecting an LED to a battery without using a resistor is the reason LEDs do burn out. The answer to this question is Ohm's Law.

The law describes how the voltage, current and resistance interact with each other in every electrical circuit; V = IR is one of the most fundamental formulas associated with electronics. With an increase in the voltage of an electrical circuit, there will be a corresponding increase in the current flowing through it based upon its resistance. Therefore, resistors are put in place to help protect LEDs and other electrical components from the overcurrent that will be present if they are connected directly to a battery without a resistor.

Ohm's Law is used in everything from mobile devices to audio amplifiers. If you have knowledge of Ohm's Law, it will greatly assist you when troubleshooting electrical circuits.

12/05/2026

Message from client: is a genius.
Single-ended valve amp with hand rolled transformers: sounds absolutely beautiful!

01/05/2026

This is the Mars Vintage 70, showing off the 5U4G rectifier tube. 35watts per channel. Currently in production.

29/04/2026

Mars SET playing through custom speakers designed for the amplifier. The SET is for sale and ready to ship. Contact us to make it yours.

20/04/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap3tc2U50oY&list=RDmvyGO7nCK6M&index=14

3.9K likes, 523 comments. "Julia Othmer - All Along the Watchtower Cover - Bob Dylan - Jimi Hendrix - Live in LA"

20/04/2026

Mars Companion

Description:

The Mars Companion is a push-pull integrated amplifier. Designed for large floor-standing speakers or a large room.

The Companion can accept up to three stereo line level (0dB) sources, selectable from the front panel. Typical sources are Phono pre-amps, media streamers, Digital-Analogue-Convertors or CD player.

Each pair of KT88 output tubes are capable of an excess of 50 watts output power. This amplifier also performs well with the tougher 6550 tube.

The amplifier is completely manufactured by hand in South Africa with South African Copper and steel. (more than 80% of the value are South African content)

Prices
Complete unit: ZAR 54,900

Specifications

Power Output: 100 watts into 4 or 8 ohms from 20 Hz to 40 KHz
Power Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 44 KHz
Input Sensitivity: 1.5 volts
Input Impedance: 100 Kohms
Tube Complement 2-EF86 input, 2-6SN7GT driver, 4-KT88 outputs
Finish: Charcoal Black/Brushed Stainless Steel/Polished Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 210mmH, 350mmD, 420mmW
Weight: 25 kg shipping weight
SA Warranty: 3 years parts and labour, tubes 90 days

The design is inspired by the Mullard 5-20 and EICO HF-60 amplifiers.

20/04/2026

KT88 push-pull. This one with 6J7 pentode input tube.