The Engström Arne Mk2 is a fully balanced 300B tube amplifier that delivers 30 watts per channel, offering a rich, expansive sound with low distortion and fast transient response. Its dual-mono design enhances precision and clarity, making it ideal for audiophiles seeking top-tier performance. Encased in a sleek aluminum chassis, the Arne comes in a choice of matte black or white finishes, with either clear or smoked glass, combining both elegance and high-end audio engineering for an immersive listening experience. Valve options are listed under additional information.
At the core of the Arne Mk2 is its push-pull 300B configuration, driven by D3a triodes with DC coupling between the driver and power tubes. This unique circuitry allows for fast transient responses and low distortion, resulting in an impressive headroom. The amplifier’s ability to handle complex musical textures with precision and ease sets it apart from traditional 300B designs. The result is an open, clear sound that maintains its dynamic energy, even at higher volumes, making it perfect for intricate jazz or orchestral performances.
Stunning Design and Customization Options
The Arne Mk2 combines a classic tube amp aesthetic with Engström’s distinctive design language, characterized by sleek, curved lines and minimalist surfaces. Built with a thick aluminum chassis and adjustable feet featuring ceramic balls for isolation, the amplifier is grounded and stable, minimizing vibrations and enhancing its performance. Standard finishes include powder black and powder white, with more personalized options available through custom powder coating, ceramic coating, and high gloss paint finishes, allowing owners to tailor the appearance to their individual preferences.
Flexible Tube Selection for Tailored Sound
Engström offers a selection of premium 300B tubes to further customize the amplifier’s sound. The standard tubes include EML 300B and Elrog 300B, which provide exceptional musicality and performance. For audiophiles seeking more refinement, the Takasuki 300B tubes are available, offering superior tonal clarity and warmth. This range of tube options gives users the ability to fine-tune the amplifier’s sound to match their specific listening preferences, ensuring the optimal pairing with their chosen speakers.
Precision and Musicality
The Arne Mk2 is praised for its ability to create a detailed, layered soundstage, where each instrument and voice is placed with precision and clarity. The amplifier captures the subtle textures and dynamics of every musical performance, allowing listeners to experience the full range of emotions and nuances. Its ability to maintain tonal balance, even during complex passages, ensures that every note is presented with authenticity and control. Whether you’re enjoying the gentle intimacy of jazz or the grand scale of an orchestral piece, the Arne Mk2 offers a refined listening experience that is both emotionally engaging and technically impressive.
“We are honored to receive the most prestigious award from the UK’s top hi-fi publication, hi-fi+ Magazine, for our ARNE Mk2 Integrated Amplifier. Read the Review by Chris Thomas published earlier this year, calling ARNE “the ideal companion for those who like to go deep into the music and explore its inner secrets.” – Engström View award…
Conclusion: Pure Scandinavian Sound at Its Finest
The Engström Arne Mk2 is a true testament to the art of amplifier design, combining state-of-the-art tube technology with a beautifully crafted exterior. Its powerful, refined sound, coupled with customizable finishes and tube options, makes it a top choice for audiophiles who seek both elegance and top-tier performance. Whether placed at the heart of a high-end audio system or paired with sensitive, high-resolution speakers, the Arne Mk2 brings out the full potential of your music with unmatched precision, depth, and musicality.
Additional information
Weight
38 kg
Dimensions
48 × 45 × 32 cm
Power Output
@1% THD+N, 1kHz
30 W
Amplification
20dB
Harmonic Distortion
1% at 30W
Frequency Response
10Hz to 40kHz +/- 1dB
Gain
20dB
Sensitivity
1V for 30W out @ 5Ω load
Hum and Noise
90dB below full output voltage
THD (BW 70kHz) 100Hz - 10kHz
20W less than 0,5%
Inputs
2x balanced XLR
2x unbalanced RCA
Input Impedance
12kΩ
Output Impedance
5Ω
Mains Power
115V / 230V
50Hz – 60Hz
300VA
Volume Control
48-step control with remote
Mains
115V or 230V
Valve Options x4
Standard tubes included in cost.
EML 300B additional $3,100 NZD
Elrog 300B additional $6,000 NZD
Takasuki 300B additional $10,000 NZD
About Engström
Engström, a Swedish brand known for its uncompromising pursuit of high-end audio excellence, specializes in creating tube amplifiers that deliver what they call the “pure Scandinavian Sound.” Founded by Lars Engström, the company combines cutting-edge tube technology with elegant, minimalist design, all aimed at providing a highly musical and emotionally engaging experience.
One of their most renowned models is the Engström ARNE, an integrated tube amplifier that offers 30 watts per channel. The ARNE uses 300B tubes in a fully balanced design, which allows for exceptionally clean, dynamic, and natural sound. Its remarkable ability to convey both power and subtlety has made it a favorite among audiophiles. The ARNE’s design emphasizes reducing distortion and improving transient response, giving it the capability to drive a wide range of speakers while maintaining rich, tonal purity and precision across all types of music.
Another standout in Engström’s lineup is the ERIC Mono Power Amplifier, a reference-level tube amplifier that focuses on delivering uncolored and powerful sound. Designed to handle the most complex orchestral works and delicate jazz pieces with ease, the ERIC is known for its dynamic range and ability to render instruments and vocals with lifelike detail and spatial accuracy. The ERIC is often praised for its “zen-like translucency” and its ability to reproduce music in a way that feels truly immersive.
Engström’s amplifiers, particularly the ARNE and ERIC models, are handcrafted with attention to every technical and aesthetic detail. The company’s goal is to blend technical sophistication with musicality, making their products a top choice for audiophiles who seek both performance and artistry in their audio systems.
Reviews
Chris Thomas – Hi-Fi Plus Magazine (Februrary 2024)
“What an amplifier and what a system it helped create! It’s easy to just sit and listen to a high-end system for a review and to end up concentrating on its overall resolution and I mean in all its forms. The Engström Arne Mk 2 certainly goes the distance in this respect. Its command of space and time give it the ability to form sonic illusions in front of your ears and make it the ideal companion for those who like to go deep into the music and explore its inner secrets.”
“One area in which the ARNE really excels is vocal articulation and communication with the natural tonality and diction of familiar voices, whether singing or speaking being quite remarkable. So much so in fact that I decided to hook up the pairing to the TV, just to appreciate its impact on dramatic delivery. The results were seriously impressive: impressive enough just on news broadcasts, moving on to well recorded TV drama replayed from DVD or Blu-ray elevated the performance significantly, both in terms of clarifying the current trend towards mumbled speech and heightening the emotional and expressive range. If ever you want living proof of the “2.0 is the answer to AV” argument, this is it.”
Andrew Everard & Paul Miller – Hi-Fi News (October, 2022)
“Engström’s pursuit of the ‘pure Scandinavian Sound’ reaches its peak in the ARNE amplifier – a triode tube amplifier that takes aim at solid-state competition”
“The Engström ARNE is a luxurious analog tube integrated amplifier, designed and built according to Scandinavian minimalist philosophy. Its ease of use and functional precision are, to me, a work of art. Despite being a large amplifier, it seems to do everything it can to avoid drawing attention to itself, as if saying, I’m not the focus here.”
“Together with the MONICA preamplifier, ARNE created an exceptionally open and easy-flowing soundstage at the High End trade show. Even in mono, with a jazz recording from the 1950s on vinyl.”
Michael Lavorgna – Twittering Machines (April, 2022)
“Show buzz. No, I’m not talking about after hours at the hotel bar, but those rooms that have people saying, “Have you heard the ___ room?” Chicago-based dealer and distributor Musical Artisans put together one such room.”
