Melody Action Ultra

Well-established in Australia and Asia, Melody sells an extensive range to suit all pockets and now has its sights on Europe. The Action Ultra presents a high-value proposition for audiophiles who want to sample thermionic valves without breaking the bank.

Sleek design aside, there's nothing particularly unusual about it except the amount of power it offers for its size and price. No sacred Watt single-ended triode design this, the Ultra's four 5881 power tubes deliver a healthy 28W a side in a push-pull Class A/B configuration. These are joined by four RCA 6JT8 (6KT8) driver or gain tubes and all are displayed, in two ranks, under a sturdy removable metal tube guard.

On the rear are two line-level RCA inputs, an IEC mains socket and separate speaker taps for 4 and 8ohm loads. What controls there are reside on the flank panels, power on/off on the right and an identical switch to toggle between the two inputs on the left. Oh, and there's a weighty, all-metal remote control.

Sound quality