Exposure II (1979–1981)

The Exposure II was the second model from John Farlowe's Exposure Electronics, a Hove, Sussex company founded in 1974 on the belief that amplifiers should put musical engagement ahead of spec-sheet bragging. It sat below the more powerful Exposure IV in the lineup and was positioned as an entry-level audiophile integrated amplifier. It competed directly with the NAD 3020.

The design was deliberately minimalist. The front panel carried a volume knob and an input selector - no tone controls, no balance, no loudness contour. Inside, the II used a discrete transistor circuit on a single PCB, with a separate phono stage board, a toroidal transformer, and point-to-point wiring in places. It had four line inputs plus a built-in MM phono stage with 1.75mV sensitivity. It was rated at 28W per channel (25W into 8 ohms per stereophile.com's 2006 retrospective), with 0.05% THD and a 70dB signal-to-noise ratio. It was never about brute force. The chassis was semi-professional, with a thin case and plastic knobs, and the whole thing weighed 13 lbs. Sonex imported it to the US from around 1979, selling for $375 - $400.

The II is remembered for its sound. Stereophile's retrospective (2006) called it "a revelation" in the late 1970s. It praised the rhythmic drive and dynamic cleanliness, and said the phono stage remained among the best heard in an integrated amplifier at any price. The same review admitted its limits: bass extension and control weren't the last word, and the treble could sound forward with some speakers. Owners say much the same. The II makes music engaging, but it needs speakers of at least 88dB/W/m sensitivity to shine. The comparison to the NAD 3020 is contested. Some owners say the Exposure "absolutely destroyed" the NAD musically. Others counter that the NAD's flexibility and forgiveness made it the more practical choice.

Surviving units will almost certainly need attention. The most common failures are dead channels, typically failed output or driver transistors, and low-level hum from aging electrolytic capacitors. A full recap is considered mandatory by now, and it's a DIY-able job if you're comfortable with a soldering iron. The original volume pot is a cheap plastic unit that wears out, and an Alps RK27 is a drop-in replacement. TO-3 output transistors are still available from NOS suppliers in the UK, and the toroidal transformer rarely fails. A service manual is available at hifiengine.com. A period survey in Studio Sound (August 1980, p.36) documented the Exposure lineup's growth into more powerful, bridgable designs.

Current market prices follow condition. A working unit sold for $450, and a cosmetically rough one with a dead channel went for $120. Asking prices range from $380 for an unserviced original to $550 for a fully recapped example.

**Known specs:**

- 28W per channel (25W into 8 ohms)

- THD: 0.05%

- S/N: 70dB

- Phono input sensitivity: 1.75mV (MM)

- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz (±0.25 or ±0.5dB, depending on source)

- Dimensions: 17.5" W × 3.25" H × 10.25" D; 13 lbs

- Power consumption: 75W