ATMA-SPHERE S-30 MK 3.3 OTL POWER AMPLIFIER $4300 REVIEW
April 27, 2016 Comments Off on ATMA-SPHERE S-30 MK 3.3 OTL POWER AMPLIFIER $4300 REVIEW
” It shouldn’t surprise you to learn that I own a Futterman H-3 amplifier, a fairly recent purchase that has been lovingly refurbished. There’s no doubt in my mind that the H-3 is still a contender today, a full 50 years after its introduction. But it’s a tweaky product that the average consumer would have a difficult time maintaining. Naturally, I was curious about a confrontation, Futterman vs. Circlotron, a mano-a-mano duel for OTL supremacy. Let me start by saying that both amps acquitted themselves very well, perhaps on balance I would award the S-30 a narrow decision, though there were noticeable sonic differences. The H-3 was the more tonally neutral of the two, which I think is due to its much lower source impedance and thus minimal load interaction. In particular, the presence region was reproduced more realistically. In this regard, the S-30 benefitted from being mated with a brighter front end. The S-30’s midrange textures were purer and sweeter sounding, and I came to realize that I wasn’t totally happy with H-3’s capacitor coupling of the output stage. Listening through a large and mostly electrolytic cap bank seemed to add a slight layer of grit and veiling to the sound.”
Alluxity The PRE ONE and Power ONE amplifier review
April 20, 2016 Comments Off on Alluxity The PRE ONE and Power ONE amplifier review
” Alluxity Pre One comes as fully functional, fully balanced, module based high-end audio preamplifier with a relay based volume control. Under the hood, two large toroidal transformers serves power for the left and right channel. The Pre One is a zero global feedback design, assembled with the logic of the building blocks, making future upgrades or replacements both affordable and easy to do. ”
CONSTELLATION AUDIO ALTAIR II LINESTAGE AND HERCULES II MONOBLOCK POWER AMPLIFIERS
April 19, 2016 Comments Off on CONSTELLATION AUDIO ALTAIR II LINESTAGE AND HERCULES II MONOBLOCK POWER AMPLIFIERS
” The second quality that sets the Constellation electronics apart is their reproduction of the treble. If the level of resolution I’ve just described is accompanied by the slightest bit of glare, etch, grain, hardness, emphasized transient zip, or forwardness, the sound quickly becomes annoying and fatiguing. Rather than fostering musical intimacy, such brightness precludes it. And here’s where the resolution of the Altair II and Hercules II becomes so magical; all that wonderful detail is presented in a supremely subtle, refined, suave, and sophisticated way that never calls attention to itself. There’s no need to soften the presentation of the Altair II and Hercules II to mitigate an electronic patina because there is no electronic patina. Moreover, the treble has a delicate filigreed quality that is unique in my experience. Although the top end has a full measure of energy and life, it’s also rendered with a sweetness and grace that are departures from the stereotype of a big solid-state amplifier. The combination of resolution with ease is, in my view, what distinguishes a really great hi-fi system from one that becomes transcendental. That quality is also what makes the Mk.II upgrade to the Magico Q7 such a triumph; it delivers more information and a more relaxed sound. One quality isn’t sacrificed to advance the other. In both the Q7 Mk.II and the Constellation electronics, resolution combines synergistically with ease to foster total musical involvement. The presentation is musically vivid without being sonically vivid.”
LUXMAN C-700U PREAMP AND M-700U STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
April 16, 2016 Comments Off on LUXMAN C-700U PREAMP AND M-700U STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
” The M-700u taken alone is a powerful and subtle beast. It’s not quite as emotionally engaging as the best examples of the breed, but considerably more revealing than the majority. I particularly loved the combination of control and fine detail. There is no sense of the amp gripping the speaker, but the layers it uncovers in the mix show that distortion is being kept well at bay. It’s not an iron fist, but its grip is smooth and firm.”
SAE 2HP-D Review
April 16, 2016 Comments Off on SAE 2HP-D Review
” Indeed, with an all-channels-driven output of 2 x 600 watts into 8 ohms from 20 Hz-20 kHz (2 x 746 watts at 1 kHz) and 2 x 1,200 into 2/4 ohms—all with less than 0.01 percent total harmonic distortion— satisfying the demands of whatever you throw at this beast won’t be a problem. And with a signal-to-noise ratio that kisses 130 decibels, you won’t have to worry about hiss intruding on even the most delicate of musical passages. The mission behind SAE’s new flagship was simple and ambitious: To build “the best two-channel amplifier in the world,” a project that took nearly a year to complete. No wonder the amp costs $19,995.
LUXMAN C-700U PREAMP AND M-700U STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
April 15, 2016 Comments Off on LUXMAN C-700U PREAMP AND M-700U STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
” The M-700u taken alone is a powerful and subtle beast. It’s not quite as emotionally engaging as the best examples of the breed, but considerably more revealing than the majority. I particularly loved the combination of control and fine detail. There is no sense of the amp gripping the speaker, but the layers it uncovers in the mix show that distortion is being kept well at bay. It’s not an iron fist, but its grip is smooth and firm.”
Wells Audio Majestic Amplifier Review $3499
April 14, 2016 Comments Off on Wells Audio Majestic Amplifier Review $3499
” Most modern audio amplifiers are competently designed, well engineered products. But once in a while an amplifier comes along that defies expectations in circuit design and sound quality. I haven’t explored the circuit design of this amplifier, but I have had quite a bit of listening experience with this amp. In fact, who was it that said that a competently designed amplifier, be it solid-state or tube, should sound indistinguishable? The Majestic displays tube qualities of natural timbres, dimension, and a grain-less and somewhat sweet top end. But it is a solid-state amp. It has very impressive dynamics and a solid grip on the music, and yet is not euphonic or sterile. So did Wells Audio reach their objective “to build the very best sounding audio equipment in the world despite the cost or design limitations”? I think they came very close with this design.”
Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated amplifier review
April 14, 2016 Comments Off on Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated amplifier review
” There is a troubling tendency in newer high end products, where perhaps 80% of the money are spend on cosmetics and the rest on performance. Today, great finish and design is not as rare as it used to be, so you see really exotic speakers that from a acoustic point are not making any sense and the drivers are off the shelf and the choice are somewhat based on fashion of the month and there fashionable drivers are beaten to omission to play together against their will.”
BALANCED AUDIO TECHNOLOGY VK-3000SE INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER REVIEW
April 13, 2016 Comments Off on BALANCED AUDIO TECHNOLOGY VK-3000SE INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER REVIEW
” The soundstage of the BAT VK3000SE is also another remarkable aspect as it throws out the staging with great depth, height and a decent width. It gives the music an engaging presentation where the sound simply engulfs you like a bubble, producing a holographic imaging of the performance. Instruments of classical pieces are well defined and spanned the entire sound field between my Sonus Faber speakers, with good separation.”
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