Exposure I (1978–1980)
The Exposure I is the integrated amplifier that launched Exposure Electronics. John Farlowe designed it, and he had previously worked at J.E. Sugden. It was produced from 1978 to 1980. The design was deliberately minimalist: no tone controls, a simple and direct signal path, and a stiff power supply built around a 160VA toroidal transformer. It is rated at 22 watts per channel into 8 ohms, with frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz (+0dB, -0.5dB) and THD of 0.1% at 1kHz and 10 watts. Raw power was never the point.
The original price was £140 in 1978. That put it in direct competition with other first-generation British high-end integrateds like the Naim Nait and the Sugden A21. It was developed as a reaction against the colored sound of budget amplifiers of the era, and reviewers responded. Hi-Fi Choice magazine voted it "The Best Amplifier of the Year", and it earned a reputation as a giant killer at its price point. Studio Sound (June 1977, p.24) also mentioned Exposure Electronics in its pages.
The first run had only three line inputs. Later versions gained a fourth tape input. The preamp section runs in Class A and can be separated from the main amplifier by removing a link, and some owners have used this to drive the power section from an external preamp. Two speaker outputs are fitted. A second version, sometimes called the Exposure I/II, appeared later, though its production years aren't well documented.
Known specifications:
- Output: 22W/ch into 8 ohms
- Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, +0dB, –0.5dB
- THD: 0.1% at 1kHz, 10W
- Inputs: 3 line (early) / 4 inputs — 3 line + 1 tape (later)
- No tone controls
- Dimensions: 285mm × 83mm × 330mm
- Weight: 6.2kg
- Power consumption: 75W maximum
Collecting and servicing
A used Exposure I sold for £250 in 2016, and another went for $200 on an online marketplace. Common age-related issues include capacitor degradation, faulty switches, and oxidized preamp/power amp links that cause intermittent sound. The amplifier isn't difficult to service, but parts can be hard to find, and original packaging is rare. It can struggle with low-impedance loads, so a benign 8-ohm speaker is the wise pairing.
The phono stage is generally regarded as good but not outstanding, and some listeners find the overall presentation clinical. But for those who want to hear what the early British high-end movement was about, the Exposure I remains a compelling and honest place to start.
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