Welcome to Mapletree Audio Design

Vacuum Tube Sound for the 21^st Century

Mapletree Audio Design offers a unique range of products designed and hand crafted by Dr. Lloyd Peppard, a retired electronics engineering professor. The goal is to increase your enjoyment of recorded music through the use of vacuum tube amplification and signal processing.

The use of 6BQ5/EL84 output tubes in the Ear+ HD250 was popular with customers who appreciated the wide availability of the type. Like the HD250, the new HD Super II utilizes the EL84 with triode connection in cathode follower mode (as is the 12B4A in the Ear+ HD). The 12AX7/5751 drivers are configured in SRPP topology. The power supply is constructed on a separate chassis to obtain the lowest possible noise floor and to minimize heat buildup in the main amplifier chassis, thus increasing component life expectancy. Both units are a compact 5" wide. Appearance is distinctive with brushed aluminum and chrome trim. Wood side panels are not available as both chassis have ventilation holes along the sides. The two chassis can be stacked, positioned side by side or even located on different shelves. A 1 ft power interconnect cable is supplied; longer cables can be requested. Available with 240 VAC wiring at no extra cost..

Vacuum Tube Sound for the 21^st Century Mapletree Audio Design offers a unique range of products designed and hand crafted by Dr. Lloyd Peppard, a retired electronics engineering professor. The goal is to increase your enjoyment of recorded music through the use of vacuum tube amplification and signal processing.
Click on tubes for more information!
Quick Find: Headphone Amplifiers \| Preamplifiers \| Other Products (line routers, Dynaco driver boards, power amplifiers, crossovers)
NEW! L2X Line Preamplifier with PSX power supply. A new streamlined version of the Line 2A SE line preamp is now available with a special compact power supply. The preamp has the same amplifier circuitry and components as the Line 2A SE but without the heater voltage switch and the individual channel level controls. The PSX power supply uses all solid-state rectification with ultra high-speed diodes. The heater supply is 12 VDC without the regulated feature of the PS 2. The PSX supply is custom matched to the L2X (it will work with the Line 2A SE but not the Ultra 4A SE). Power interconnect cable, NOS 12SN7GT tubes, and IEC power cord are included. Introductory price is $700 plus shipping. Price changes coming June 1, 2012. There will be a 10% increase in prices for Mapletree components starting June 1. This is to offset the increased cost of components such as transformers and capacitors. Robert Hovland SuperCaps are now standard in Mapletree preamps. Until the new Auricap XO capacitors are available from suppliers and can be evaluated, the Line 2A SE, Ultra 4A SE and new L2X preamps will be supplied with Hovland SuperCaps that feature high performance polypropylene film and foil construction. Listening tests have not identified any negative change in the sonic character of the preamps. Special offer to Mapletree customers only – 12SX7GT tubes for your preamp! I have on hand a small lot of RCA JAN 12SX7GT tubes that are among the best overall choices for the Line 2A SE/L2X and Ultra 4A SE preamps. The availability of this specially constructed version of the 12SN7GT is rather limited and prices on ebay run as high as $100 each! I am offering a pair (one pair per past or current customer) for $75 plus shipping (if purchased separately from a preamp). Quantity is limited to the supply on hand.

Mapletree Audio Design Product Overview
Go to: Preamps • Headphone Amps • Other products (Power amps, Dynaco ST70 driver module, Magic Eye monitors, Line Routers) NOTE: All MAD components, with the exception of the Super Stealth and Stealth Max power amplifiers, are available for 230-240 VAC 50 Hz at no extra cost. Super Stealth and Stealth Max monoblocs for 230-240 VAC are available at a slightly higher price. Chassis colors include RCA red, textured black, Sylvania yellow, eggshell white, cobalt blue, and sage green. Side panels are available in stained oak or ebonized maple (see Ear+ HD photos below for examples).
Preamplifiers
*Line 2A SE Line Preamplifier* Review of Line 2A SE by John Hoffman in Affordable Audio July/07 issue Review of Line 2 by Chris Thompson on Head-Fi • Line 2A SE Preamp wins "Affordable$$Audio 2007 Big Bang, Little Bucks Award". See the January Issue of Affordable$$Audio (www.affordableaudio.org). • Premium passive components include Hovland SuperCap polypropylene film and foil coupling capacitors and Alps volume control. • Optimized circuitry for lowest distortion and noise. • 3 inputs, 2 outputs, volume and individual channel level controls. • 2 x 12SN7GT with switch for 6SN7GT tubes. • Separate PS 2 power supply (with 6X5GT tube/fast diode hybrid rectification) included. More Information • Customer Comments
*Ultra 4A SE Phono/Line Preamplifier* "MAD [Ultra 4] is my vote for best bang for the buck, heck maybe even best product contention at any reasonable price". NEW! *Customer Review of Ultra 4A and Ear+ Purist* *Reviewof Ultra 4A by Pat McDemott on Audio Asylum* *Review of Ultra 4A SE by JR Cody on audioweb.com* *Reviewof Ultra 4A by Scott Faller* (*TNT-Audio) Reviewof the Ultra 4 by Tom Mitchell on AudioCircle* • Premium passive components include Hovland SuperCap polypropylene film and foil coupling capacitors and Alps volume control.. • 48 dB phono gain, two 18 dB line inputs, two line outputs. • Individual channel level controls plus volume control for optimum gain adjustment. • 2 x 12SN7GT (switchable for 6SN7GT) and 2 x 12SC7. • Separate PS 2 power supply included. (Shown in sage green finish) More Information • Customer Comments

*PS 2 Power Supply (included with Line 2A SE and Ultra 4A SE)* • Provides 12 VDC@1A (regulated) and +200 VDC@15 mA. • Power cable and detachable IEC line cord included. • Employs high-speed diodes with 6X5GT rectifier tube in hybrid bridge. • Soft startup relieves stress on tubes and filter capacitors. More information
Headphone Amplifiers
"Now I have to listen to all my CDs all over again. I have a decent stereo system but with the Ear+ it sounds like a $20,000 setup". *Review of the Ear+ by Steve Albers on Audio Asylum* *Review of the Ear+ by Nicholas Schell on Head-Fi* *Comments on Audiogon* *Designing the Ear+ by Lloyd Peppard* *User Comments* NEW! Latest review of Ear+ HD on Head-Fi (with Grado PS-1000): Go To forum review Dowload review
Ear+ HD Super II Headphone Amplifier. The use of 6BQ5/EL84 output tubes in the Ear+ HD250 was popular with customers who appreciated the wide availability of the type. Like the HD250, the new HD Super II utilizes the EL84 with triode connection in cathode follower mode (as is the 12B4A in the Ear+ HD). The 12AX7/5751 drivers are configured in SRPP topology. The power supply is constructed on a separate chassis to obtain the lowest possible noise floor and to minimize heat buildup in the main amplifier chassis, thus increasing component life expectancy. Both units are a compact 5" wide. Appearance is distinctive with brushed aluminum and chrome trim. Wood side panels are not available as both chassis have ventilation holes along the sides. The two chassis can be stacked, positioned side by side or even located on different shelves. A 1 ft power interconnect cable is supplied; longer cables can be requested. Available with 240 VAC wiring at no extra cost.. User's Manual with full specifications Passive preamp option ($50) provides three inputs and a passive output.
Now Available: Remote volume control module for HD Super II. Bent Audio motorized Alps potentiometer or DACT stepped attenuator options. Provides 4 inputs, source output, and passive preamp output. Please inquire about price and package options.
*Ear+ HD High Definition Headphone Amplifier (kit and assembled)* NEW! Latest review of Ear+ HD on Head-Fi (with Grado PS-1000): Go To forum review Dowload review • Outstanding headphone performance for a wide range of headphone impedances and drive requirements. • 2 x 12B4A NOS and 1 x 5751/12AX7/ECC83 tubes. • High and low impedance headhone jacks. • Premium passive components include Audio Note Tantalum film plate resistors and Alps volume control. • Ultra high-speed rectifier diodes and Alps volume control are standard. • Passive line output for use as a passive preamp. • Dual inputs for easy patching into system. More Information • Customer Comments
Contact Information
Dr. P spins some 78s on his mini system. Photo by Christian Keresztes For more information or to place an order, please telephone or email Lloyd Peppard at (613) 387-3830 lloydpeppard@yahoo.ca Lloyd Peppard Mapletree Audio Design 158 Seabrooke Rd R.R. 1, Seeley's Bay, Ontario, Canada K0H 2N0 Credit card payments through PayPal are highly recommended. Registered PayPal email address is lloydpeppard@yahoo.ca

Vacuum Tube Sound for the 21st Century

Click on tubes for more information!

Preamplifiers

Headphone Amplifiers

Vacuum Tube Sound for the 21^st Century