Baron

About the Baron

The Mesa Engineering Baron, designed by Randall Smith of Mesa/Boogie fame, is a high-end vacuum tube power amplifier from the 1990s featuring true dual mono construction, fixed bias operation, and push-pull Class A/B design. It introduces innovative Tandem State Imaging circuitry, allowing user-adjustable combinations of triode and pentode operation across four pairs of output tubes per channel (incremental modes: full pentode, 2/3 pentode, 2/3 triode, full triode) and four levels of negative feedback (0, 2, 4, 8 dB). This provides 16 sonic tuning options switchable during playback. Stock configuration uses twelve 5881 tubes (ruggedized 6L6 equivalent) for output and four 12AX7s for input, with options for EL34 or 6L6 tubes. It includes output power meters (switchable 15W/150W FS), 4/8 ohm taps, and balanced/unbalanced inputs. Praised for transparency, resolution, powerful bass, and extended highs, it draws from Mesa's pro audio heritage for reliability. No longer manufactured, listed on Mesa's out-of-production page.