Test Report on: Carlsbro Super Stingray Combo Amp
Date: 10th March 1975, £217-08

The Carlsbro Super Stingray Combo is one of a family of six units introduced in August 1974 built around one power amplifier stage. It has two channels each with a bright and a normal input socket and volume, bass, middle and treble controls. The main channel also has presence, reverb, tremelo speed and depth controls. Both tremelo and reverb can be switched on or off with the foot switch which is provided. There is also a master volume control which also controls a fuzz effect. This is brought into action by a second foot switch and adjusted by turning the master control down and the input volume up.

Outputs are provided for driving studio equipment, additional power slaves or special effects units. Once processed, the signal can be re-introduced into the power output stage.

Construction and Layout

The Combo takes the standard 'time honoured' form of two 12" (30.5 cms.) loudspeakers mounted side by side in an open-backed enclosure, 26½" long, 23" high and 10¼" deep.

The speakers are metal centre dome type and can each handle 60 watts rms.

The cabinet construction is of 20mm (¾") ply covered in good quality durable black PVC material. Corner caps have been fitted to all corners except at the top of the unit near the recessed control panel. The control knobs are smart and ergonomically situated although not completely recessed. However a thick fitted waterproof cover is provided with the amplifier.

The speaker grill doth is smart, has good acoustic properties and stands well off the speaker units.

The electronics are divided into two parts; the power amplifier and power supply on the back panel, connected via a plug and socket to the pre-amp on the front panel. Both can be very easily removed for servicing.

The pre-amplifier mainly uses integrated circuits which should result in high reliability and both pre-amp and main amp are constructed on high quality glass fibre printed circuit boards using components of well-known brands. A pre amplifier modification has resulted in a capacitor being supported on the ends of two resistors: a spot of 'Scotchcast' to hold this to the board would prevent vibration damage to the component. Apart from this, all components are well supported and the quality of wiring and soldered joints of a very high standard. There is evidence throughout the whole unit of the manufacturer instituting effective quality control.

The brief instruction sheet is readable and dear, and, in particular leaves no room for misunderstanding of permissable speaker combinations and power ratings.

No maintenance data or circuit diagrams are provided inside the equipment which could cause difficulty getting the equipment serviced unless a Carlsbro agent is handy.

Conclusion

The amplifier is well finished and the overall design attractive; the general engineering aspects suggest good quality control.

We considered that the tone controls were for practical purposes quite effective although we would have preferred a slightly wider range.

The power stage which is common to this family of amplifier is exceptional for low distortion and impressive high power delivery; this is probably the most powerful amplifier advertised as a 100 watt unit that we have encountered, and as such represents good value at £217 together with foot switches, leads and cover.