Audiophilepure

https://www.stereophile.com/content/arcam-radia-a25-integrated-amplifier

The original 1953 Columbia mono disc produced an exceptionally dense, life-like sound that intensified the effect of the Budapest String Quartet in delivering this soul-stirring performance. That old black disc is gone, but the hi-rez remastering (24/192 FLAC, Columbia/Qobuz), played through the Denafrips Terminator Plus DAC into the A25’s analog input, made exceedingly smooth, instantly engaging sound laced with tone that was more saturated and tempo-keeping that was more toe-tapping than expected. Playing Op.133, the ARCAM exceled at sorting all the sound molecules and not mucking them up. It felt good to hear a $1499 integrated amp make a piece of difficult music this affecting. Its natural ease invited me to lean forward and close my eyes.

Right now, my system is silent, but as I type these words, I can still hear Op.133 playing inside my head. I keep trying to imagine what was going on inside of Beethoven’s head as he composed these dark, quivering forms. Driving the Heretic speakers, the A25 presented the Maestro’s Grosse Fuge as a daring artistic invention performed by a brilliant quartet operating in peak form.

Soulnote also implements a very unique (and likely expensive) relay-switched balanced attenuator. The resulting level settings are quite coarse but are accompanied by a satisfying and confidence-inspiring mechanical “click” of the relays switching as you change the volume.

The case and circuit layout are said to be symmetrical, and the case incorporates all of Soulnote’s unique resonance control schemes.

The whole deal only weighs about 22 pounds which is very lightweight for an 80 wpc Class A/B integrated amplifier. The toroidal transformer visually appears to be undersized for the amplifier’s claimed power delivery.

https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2024/3/4/neptune

The acoustics are surprisingly good, giving a full amplitude to the horns and brass and revealing an unfailing purity of sound and accuracy from the upper strings. The bass is perhaps slightly muddied in spots, but this, in no way, mars the overall impression of a stunning sound and performance. The Neptune’s macrodynamics are represented with a clear, yet golden glow that is so typical of SET amps but with a bonus from the Neptune’s 211 power tubes. With no negative feedback required, neither local nor global and low levels of distortion, the 211s create a substantially open and spacious soundstage, augmenting the perception of depth and instrument placement with this orchestra and this recording. T

Vincent Audio has built a reputation for making amplifiers that sound great, are reliable and that can serve as the anchor of a well-performing stereo system. When our editor-in-chief, Carlo Lo Raso, asked if I could make time to review an integrated amplifier from Vincent, the answer was a rousing YES! There is no audio dealer within 200 miles of our home that carries Vincent, and over the last two decades, I have been curious to find out just how good their amps are.

The Vincent SV-237MKII goes well beyond being a high-value audio component. It can serve as the centerpiece for a high-end audio system. It can hold its own with a variety of high-end speakers. Its performance on both the Diptyque 140 Mark II planars and the DALI Oberon 9’s demonstrated a versatility that is hard to find for such a modest price.

The included remote operates all inputs with complete silence. The build quality is excellent. I have worked hard to come up with something I don’t like about this amplifier, and cannot think of anything except that it only has two digital inputs. Everything about the Vincent 237MK II is first class. Think of it as a five-star performer with a three-star price!

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/audio-research-reference-80s

Impressive though Audio Research’s Reference 80S undoubtedly is, there’s a sizeable elephant in the room that should perhaps be put to one side before we go any further. With a £15k price tag, this absolutely isn’t typical HFC fare, which almost immediately puts it out reach of most wallets. Which is a real shame as this is a quite stunning power amplifier that does the easy bit of delivering the power, while handling the more challenging side of subtlety and fine detail with absolute aplomb. In the highly unlikely event that you inadvertently stumble across that lost winning lottery ticket or a rich relative that you never knew about leaves you stacks of cash only on the understanding that you spend them on hi-fi exotica, this is an absolute must-have. For the rest of us it’ll have to remain a dream to aim towards. Regardless, there’s no disputing that the way the Reference 80S delivers the sort of precision that’s more commonly the realm of solid-state rivals from glass tubes is nothing short of miraculous. 

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/aurender-ap20-integrated-review-r1256

he design of the AP20 is really something to behold. It’s the right horse for not just a single course, but many courses. Its flexibility enables it to be used as an all-in-one or as a single component of a larger system, or as something that falls in between those two. I used it in two different systems, and mainly as the only component connected to my Wilson Audio Alexia V loudspeakers. I still have a smile on my face when thinking about playing Mahler’s Third through this system, with little volume attenuation. Enough transients to scare any listener and plenty of delicacy to please even the most discerning audiophile. The team at Aurender has seriously outdone itself.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/emm-labs-mtrs-power-amplifier

The EMM Labs MTRS is the finest, most musically complete stereo amp I’ve reviewed to date. As much as the word “neutrality” come to mind, it falls short as a descriptor of sound as honest, true, thrilling, heart-warming, and emotionally rewarding as the MTRS’s.

The MTRS is a must-audition for any music lover with the space and budget to give it a home. Hey, even if you don’t have the bucks to buy one, give it a listen. If you don’t, you’ll miss out on experiencing the significance of Ed Meitner’s accomplishment and the greatness of his team’s achievement.