Carol-Ann HS-2

This was my first time working on a Carol-Ann amp. It is a really solid build! The designer, Alan Phillips, clearly put a lot of thought into the circuit and layout. The PCBs are nice quality, and I was very happy not to find ribbon cables between them. The drive channel is a bit raspy for my taste, but many people like that sound, and I have certainly heard much worse.

I was disappointed to learn that the Carol-Ann amps are no longer being built. There are so many sub-par “boutique” amps on the market, it is a shame when someone who evidently has knowledge and diligence stops building.