Audiophilepure

A few insights from the world premiere of the TIDAL Audio AP1 amplified speakers at Lotus HiFi. This is the very first pair delivered from the Tidal factory in Köln, Germany, and it was personally inaugurated by Tidal Audio’s managing director Jörn Janczak.

https://pt.audio/2025/02/07/ampsandsound-stereo-17-power-amplifier-review/

Even the latest digital release of Abbey Road felt pretty natural through the system. This high resolution recording super deluxe edition isn’t exactly an information monster with this redone, reupped release. But listening to “Golden Slumbers” felt soulful with Paul’s prominent bass and intense vocals. The cricket sounds in the intro of “Sun King” appear with startling realism and an almost distant, but accurate placement in the sonic field. I hesitate to use the word “big” when describing a hip-height two-way, but the addition of the ampsandsound Stereo 17 definitely made the experience feel bigger and more emotionally impactful with the Beatles recordings. 

The other arena that often needs to be addressed with tube amplifiers is the bass. While some tube amplifiers can struggle with bass reproduction, the Stereo 17 handled it with aplomb. The bass was tight, controlled, and impactful, providing a solid foundation for the rest of the music. It never overpowered the other frequencies, instead offering a balanced and cohesive sound that was both engaging and satisfying. Some tube amps have a tendency to fiddle with the frequency response for whatever effect the design had intended. The balanced from the Stereo 17 showed real class and professionalism, providing a heavily accurate reproduction for a tube amp from the lows all the way through the upper mids. The power was more than enough for the rig building exercise with the DeVore O/96.