New British hi-fi company Kleio Audio launches K1 amplifiers

Kleio Audio has spent the last three years developing its first range of hi-fi electronics, the K1 series, which initially consists of the K105 preamp (above) and K135 integrated amp (below).

Both will be officially launched at the National Audio Show, Whittlebury Hall on 19-20th September. They'll be available in dealers the same month for "between £2000 and £4000".

Kleio has received funding from the Government's Start-Up Loans Scheme and Kent County Council's Small Business Boost scheme, which contributed towards the initial electronic prototyping and casework development costs.

The company is part of the 'Made in Britain' campaign, with all products assembled at its Folkestone workshop. Components are sourced from the UK or mainland Europe wherever possible, with the enclosures coming from Kent and the PCBs (printed circuit boards) from Sussex.

The K135 integrated incorporates Class D amplification delivering a claimed 2 x 65W into 8ohms. It has three sets of outputs plus multiple inputs, including two pairs of balanced inputs, five RCA analogue ones and a 3.5mm connection.

The amp can be switched on and off by pressing the volume control, and there's a white LED display for volume level and the selected input.

Key technical specs for the K105 preamp include five line level inputs, two balanced XLR inputs and a 3.5mm connection. Outputs are two line level, one pair of balanced XLRs and one fixed level RCA. Both models come in silver, grey or black finishes.

Managing director Gary Wise says: "Our product roadmap for the K1 series is finalised and over the coming months we will introduce a DAC, headphone amp, phono stage and network media player. What all these products have in common, apart from the engineering, is a focus on music."

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.