Transcript

ThisreviewfirstappearedintheJune2011issueofhi-endhifimagazineHighFidelityofPoland.YoucanalsoreadthisreviewoftheVituspre/powercomboinitsoriginalPolishversion.WepublishitsEnglishtranslationinamutualsyndicationarrangementwithpublisherWojciechPacula.Asiscustomaryforourownreviews,thewriter'ssignatureatreview'sendshowsane-mailaddressshouldyouhavequestionsorwishtosendfeedback.AllimagescontainedinthisreviewarethepropertyofHighFidelityorVitus.Reviewer:WojciechPacułaCDplayer:AncientAudioLektorAirPhonopreamplifier:RCMAudioSensorPreludeICCartridges:AirTightSupreme,MiyajimaLaboratoryWazaPreamplifier:AyonAudioPolarisIIIwithRegeneratorpowersupplyversionIIPoweramplifier:TenorAudio175S,Soulution710Integratedamplifier/headphoneamplifier:LebenCS300XSCustomversionLoudspeakers:HarpiaAcousticsDobermannHeadphones:SennheiserHD800,AKGK701,UltrasonePROLine2500,BeyerdynamicDT-990ProInterconnects:CD-preampAcrolinkMexcel7N-DA6300,preamp-powerampWireworldPlatinumEclipseSpeakercable:TaraLabsOmegaOnyxPowercables:AcrolinkMexcel7N-PC9300Powerconditioning:GigawattPF-2Audiostand:BaseResonancecontrol:FiniteElementeCeraballundertheCDplayer,ProAudioBonoplatformunderCDplayerReviewcomponentretailinPoland:102.000+111.800złrespectively

Dusthadn'tyetsettledafterourreviewoftheextremely(thoughnotthemost)expensiveVitusSP-102phonostageandhereIwasalreadybeingpresentedwithanopportunitytowriteuptwootherproductsfromtheline:theSL-101stereolinestageandSS-102poweramplifier.Thelatterisnota‘pure’powerampasthereisanattenuatorforpossiblesource-directconnectionviaRCAandXLRinputs.It'sfarfromthefirstdeviceofthistypeofcourse.ForjustoneexampleLeben’sCS-660Ppowerampembracesthesamescheme.

Inmyopinion,thepopulardistinctionbetweenpowerampwithvolumecontrolandintegratedampismoreofaregionalcustomwhichdependsonwhatfunctionalityisviewedasprimary.Ofcourse,somemightclaimthatintegratedampshavehigherinputsensitivitiestomakethemeasiertodrivefromlowoutputsourcesandthattheirinputimpedancecanbelowerduetoaninputbuffer.Butifwecheckfactstherearemanyintegratedamplifierswithlowinputsensitivityandmanypowerampswithhighones.Whattocallanintegratedwithapassivepotthen?EitherintegratedamplifierorpoweramplifierwithvolumecontroljustasVitusdoeshere.Ifyoustartlookingatnumberofinputs,thedistinctiongetseasier.Morethanoneinputmostlikelymakesitanintegratedamp.Butagain,thesearemereconventions.I'mgoingwiththeintegratedamplifierconventionsincethat'swhattheSS-101isforme.

Thereofcoursealsoare‘undisputed’integratedamplifiersintheVitusAudiorangestartingat32.400złfortheRI-100.AlsointhecataloguearetwoCDplayers,theintegratedone-boxSCD-010at68.000złandthetwo-boxMP-T201transport+MP-D201DACat64.800and98.400złrespectively.AsthedistributorstressedtheSCDprefixherehasnothingtodowithSACD,it'ssimplytheSignaturelinenomenclature.TheVitusrangedividesintothreelines:Reference,SignatureandMasterpiece.MosttheseDanishamplifiersoperateinclassAbutaddaswitchedoptionofclassA/Bbias.Introducedin2007,theSS-101isnoexception.At8Ωitoffers50wattsinclassA(whichintheoryseemstobemoderatepowerbutinpracticeprovedotherwise)andtwicethatinclassA/B.MyformerM-800ALuxmanoffered60wattsinclassAandenteredclassA/Babovethat.TheVitusSS-101weighsinat85kg,exactlythesameasmynewreferencepoweramplifier,theSoulution710.ThematchingSL-102preamplifierismuchsmallerbutitsbuildqualityisequallyperfect.SinceIhadn’tmentionedityet,theVitusbuildqualityisexceptional.Ifyou’vereadmyphonostagereview,youalreadyknewthatmuch.TheSL-102linestageappearstousethesamechassisandtomyeyeslooksidenticalexceptforthebackpanelofcourse.TheSL-102isnewerforVitusandjoinedtherangein2010.Itisafullybalancedcircuitwiththreeinputsandtwooutputs.TherearetwoXLRinputsaccompaniedbyRCA.Dittofortheoutputs.Allsingle-endedsignalsconverttobalancedbeforeanyfurtherprocessinginbothpreampandpoweramp.Thelinestageweighsasolid24kg.

Sound.Arecordselectionusedinthereview:StereoSoundReferenceRecord.Jazz&Vocal,StereoSound,SSRR4,SACD/CD;StereoSoundReferenceRecord.PopularSelection,StereoSound,SSRR5,SACD/CD;Abraxas99,MetalMindProductions,MMCD0102,CD;BrianEno,CraftOnAMilkSea,WarpRecords,FLAC24/44,1;CarolSloane,Hush-A-Bye,SinatraSocietyofJapan/Muzak,XQAM-1031,CD;ChetBaker,ChetBakerSingsandPlays,PacificJazz/EMIMusicJapan,TOCJ-90028,HQCD;CliffordBrownandMaxRoach,StudyInBrown,EmArcy/UniversalMusicJapan,UCJU-9072,180gLP(mono);DeepPurple,PerfectStranger,PolygramRecords/PolydorK.K.Japan,25MM0401,LP;EllaFitzgerald,TheColePorterSongBook,Verve,537257-2,VerveMasterEditionCD;FrankSinatra,TheVoice,Columbia/SpeakersCorner,CL743,QuiexSV-P,180gLP(mono);FrédéricChopin,TheCompleteNocturnes,piano:GergelyBogányi,Stockfisch,SFR357.4051.2,2xSACD/CD;J.S.Bach,Sonatas&PartitasforSoloViolin,PavloBeznosiuk,LinnRecords,CKD366,SACD/HDCD;JimHallTrio,BluesOnTheRocks,GambitRecords,69207,CD;JimHall,Concierto,CTI/MobileFidelity,UDSACD2012,SACD/CD;KingCrimson,InTheWakeofPoseidon,21stCenturyCompleteEdition,UniversalMusicJapan,UICE-9052,HDCD;LaurieAnderson,Homeland,Nonesuch,524055-2,CD+DVD;RoxyMusic,Flesh+Blood,Virgin,847439,HDCD;StanGetz&JoaoGilberto,Getz/Gilberto,Verve/LastingImpressionMusic,LIMK2HD036,K2HD;SuzanneVega,Close-Up.Vol1,LoveSongs,AmanuensisProductions/CookingVinyl,COOKCD521,CD.ThesoundoftheVitusamppairedwithmyAyonpreamplifierremindedmeofsomeverygoodanalogueturntablesystems.Irefertoadensedeepandverycommunicativepresentation.Thisparticularcommunicativenessconsistsofhighlightingthesonicaspectswhichdelivertheemotionalchargeencodedinatune.Sothisbecomesanemotionalproposition.ThetimbralcenterofgravityisthelowermidrangeandassuchlowerthantheClassALuxmanM-800AandAccuphaseA-65andloweralsothantheSoulution710,ReimyoKAT-777orAncientAudioSilverGrandMono.Quitealist.I'dpegtheDanishamp’stimbremostsimilartocomponentsI’veheardfromKondo,JadisortheMastersoundCompact845IrecentlyreviewedforAudio.Thisisn’trelativetoageneralperformanceplateaubutsimplyapointeronthetypeoftonalbalanceyoumightexpect.Thisistheaspectwhichinfluencesourperceptionthemost.

Theplateauofperformanceisattheverytop,onthesamelevelasSoulution,ReimyoandAncientAudio.Alltheothersfallwaybehind.YoumightfindsuchastatementprematureattheverybeginningofareviewbutduringwhatfollowsIwantyoutobemindfulthatthisdiscussionisaboutastate-of-the-artcomponent.Whateverprosandconsmightgetmentionedareinthecontextofabest-of-the-bestcontemporaryamplifierregardlessofcircuitoroutputdevicechoices.Again,thesoundisverydense.ThiswasnicelypresentedwhileplayingToshiakiMatsumoto’sPianoiaIwithpianointhelead[StereoSoundReferenceRecord.Nobu’sPopularSelection].Thehammerstrikewasslightlyroundandthickandthefocusonthesustain.Thatfocusweknowmostlyfromtubeamplifiers.Somethingalmosttangiblematerializesinfrontofusbutthepresentationisn'tpushedtowardsthelistener.Onecouldeasilyachievesimilartangibilitybyemphasizingthemidrangebutthat'snothowVitusachievestheeffect.Itsdense‘meaningful’presentationshowsproperperspectiveandbalance.Vitussimplymakessurethateverykeystrikehasproperweightanddeliberation.Ihaven'tmentionedityetbutitshouldbeobviousthatthistypeofpresentationresultsinaquitehugesound.There’snodoubtthataverypowerfulampisactive.I'llcomebacktothatlaterbutevenwhenlisteningtosmall-scalenumberswithjustafewinstrumentsit’sveryapparenthowthere’sstillbigpowerheadroomwhichshouldbesufficientforeventhemostcurrent-hungryloads.Thisobviousheadroomresultsinaverysmoothsoundwithgreatblackbackgrounds.ThiselementIusuallynoticeonlyafterIhavethoroughlyanalyzedthesoundtobeconfidentaboutwhatcontributestosuchsmoothness.

WhenIbeganlisteningtotheVitusrightaftertheveryfastSoulution710,Ithoughtforamomentthatitsloweddownthesoundsignificantly.EventhoughtheVitusisbitslowerthantheSoulution,it’snotreallyaboutspeedbutadifferentstrategyofpresentationalinterpretation.TheDanishampneverseemstohurrythingsup-notbecauseitisslowbutbecausethere’splentyoftimetoalwaysmanagetodeliverinthepocket.Itdoesn'treallymatterwhatkindofmusic.Formethebestindicatorwasthe1955openerofChetBaker'sChetBakerSingsandPlaysplayedbyaquartet.WiththeVitusthemusiciansplayedwithease,verysmoothlyandIhadtheimpressionthattheyenjoyedthemselves.WiththeSoulutionIcouldhearthatthemusicianswerestillyoungandalthoughalreadyveryaccomplished,theirperformancewasnotthatsmoothyettosuggestthattheirbestyearswerestillaheadofthem.Whichpresentationwastruer?Ihavenoidea.Iwasn'tthere55yearsago.Icouldusemyexperiencewiththisrecordingfromdifferentlisteningsessionsbutthatwouldstillonlydigaroundmyversions,notanyobjectivetruth.Ithinkit'sfairtosaythatVitusofferswell-controlledrelaxedsound.Itsmoothesthesoundgentlyandpresentsbigvocalswithoutmovingthemclosertothelistener.Itneverrushesthingsbutdoesn’tslowthemdowneitherthoughsuchanimpressionmightoccasionallyarise.Andthere’splentyofpowerheadroom.

ReadingthisfarmighthavegeneratedtheimpressionthattheamplifierdesignedbyHans-OleVitusdeliversawarmsound.That’sactuallynotso.Yesitcouldbesuggestedbyhowthismachinepresentsthelowermidrangeasverystrong,denseandenergetic.ThatinfactremindedmeofaHarbethloudspeakerliketheMonitor30.IfyouhadachancetolistentoaHarbethyou’llknowwhatImean.Ifyoulistentoalowerpitchedvoicecapturedbyaveryclosemicrophonetherewillbealotofenergy,evenheat.ThishappenedwhenIlistenedtoSuzanneVega.TheVitusmanagesthisevenwithverylineartransparentleanerspeakerslikeAvalon’sTranscendent.Itdoesn'tclosedownorslowdownthesoundbutnonethelessthelowermidrangeismoreenergeticthantherestoftherange.Thereisanotherreasonwhythesoundisnotwarmperse.Thetrebleisnotrolled-off,truncatedorsoftened.ComparedtotheReimyoKAT-777andSoulution710IcouldtellthattherewasabitlesstrebleenergytotheVitusasthoughthefocuswasjustbelowtheverytopend.Thisisquiteasubtledifferencebutobviousifyoulistentotheseampslongenough.Everythingbelowtheverytopshowsupsimilarlystrongandvibrant.ComparedtotheSoulutionthereisaslightemphasison‘s’and‘f’soundsbuttheReimyoemphasizedtheuppermidrangemorewhichtheVitusdoesn't.

This upper midrange/treble quality brings to mind the Accuphase P-7100. No doubt Vitus offers superior resolution and and—yes!—is the more powerful more dynamic amplifier. But that particular section of the audible range is similar and at first might seem slightly soft and perhaps even sweet. But thanks to excellent resolution, all detail is delivered without homogenization but rather some polishing of edges. I now wondered how this amplifier would fare on bass. Its huge size could have suggested Krell-type grip whilst the paper specs’ 50 watts would bow to a Music Hall A15.2’s 75wpc. But there’s 50 watts at 85kg and then there's 75 watts at 8.5kg. In my obviously subjective opinion the Vitus delivers the same bass quality as the Soulution. This is to say, as much as needed and never separated from the rest but always integral to it.

Itscharacterisbitdifferentthough.Iwouldsaythatitisacontinuationofthelowermidrange’sdenserichness.DecaysonLaurieAnderson’sHomelandwerereallybeautifulandprobablysustainedabitlongerthanwiththeSoulution.Thiscreatedanimpressionofabiggerevent.OntheotherhandtheSwissamplifierwasabletodifferentiatebetterandshowsubtletiesmoreclearly.FormethecontrolofbothamplifiersoverthispartofrangewasperfectasIcouldn'tpointoutanyweaknesses.What'smore,Ineverheardanyamplifiercontrollingthebassrangebetterthanthesetwo.Thebassqualitydoesn'tmerelyreflectcompleteextensionbutperhapsmostimportantlygreatcoherenceandrichness.Thisishowwellreproducedbassshouldsoundlike–fullofharmonicsandwithoutanyphaseshifts.It’swhyChetBakersoundedsogoodandlaterEllaFitzgeraldontheColePorterSongBook.Imustsaythatallrecordingswithvocals—andIlistenedtoalotofthem—cameoffverygood.Itwaslikelybecauseofthisverycombinationofdensemidrangeandextendedwellcontrolledbass.

AsIdeclaredearlieritwasimportantformetoconfrontVitusandSoulutionamplifiers.Theycarryasimilarpriceandpotentialcustomersmightchoosebetweenthesetwofabulousoptions.TodosoIhadtoreplacetheSoulution710withtheSS-101andrunthelatterwithmyusualAyonAudioPolarisIIIpreamplifier.IdidthesamethingduringtheearlierReimyoKAT-777review.Evensoanobligatorysecondphaseofsuchareviewmustalsousethesamemanufacturer’smatchingpreamplifierasonlythiswillrevealthecompletesonicsynergythatexhibitsthedesigner’sfullintention.Inagoodsystemindividualdevicescomplementeachothertooffermorethananyofthemiscapableofindividually.It'snotaboutfixingweaknessesofothermachinesortakingover.Withinexpensivemachinesthismightstillhappen.Individualcomponents‘fix’shortcomingsofancillarymachines.Whenitcomestothehi-endhowever,thisbecomesunacceptable.Anyrealweaknessexcludesaparticulardevicefromthisloftycircle.Certainly,evenhereyoumightwanttoadjustthesoundaccordingtopersonalpreferences.That’sokaybutdifferent.Vitusasasetdoesjustthat.TheSL-102preamplifiertoodeliversabig,densesoundwhichcomplementstheSS-101verywell.TheDanishpreamplifierremindedmemoreoftheReimyoCAT-777MkIIthanmyownPolarisIIIeventhoughthelattertwoarebasedontubesandtheVitusinanexemplarysolid-stateambassador.IthinktherewasevenmoreresemblancebetweentheSL-102andConvergentAudioTechnologySL1Legend.QuitesimilarlyVitusdeliversaslightlywarmersoundthanCATandonethat’sfarwarmerthanmyAyon.Suchapresentationmakeshumanvoicesverynaturalintimbreandvolume.TheVitusampwithPolarispreampalreadydidquitewellbutonlynowdidIfinallygetvocalshowusuallyplanarspeakerslikeMagnepanorcertainhornslikeAvantgardeAcousticdeliver.SurelytheAvalonTranscendentIusedatthisjuncturewasnotawarmspeaker.

Thisisasystemforthosewhoexpectvocaliststomaterialize,tohaveWesMontgomery’sorJimHall'sguitarsappearintheirhomes.That'swhattheSL-102andSS-101offer.AsalreadymentionedtheSS-101remindedmeofaverygoodanaloguesystem.TheSL-102simplytooktheperformanceclosertosuchperfectionandassuchwasveryveryclosetogoodvinylindeed.Togetherthispairingdelivershugesoundwithgreattonalbalance,amazingdynamicsandveryblackbackgrounds.It’sincredibleabilitytodriveevendifficultloadsmakesyouthinkthat100-watt+powerdeclarationselsewheremustsimplybeinerror.ThepreamplifieremphasizedsomeotherelementstheSS-101alreadytoucheduponbutleftunfinished(atleastinmyopinionwherecertainelementscouldstillbedonebetterbasedonmyexperienceandideaofperfectsound).Thisseemsobviousbutstillhastobesaid.Therealwaysissomethingthatcouldstillbeimproved.EvenVitusadmitsitbyofferingmonoblocks.Inmyopinion,hereitismostlyaboutsoundstagedepth.Thelatterisgreat,recordedambianceisproperlyretrieved,thepresentationisdenseandpalpablebutmysystemiscapableofdeliveringmoredepthtothestage(andsoistheamplifierwithoutitsownpreamp).Thelatterslightlyroundsoffthebasstoo.IhadnodoubtsthattheSS-101connecteddirectlytomyAncientAudioCDplayerbettercontrolledanddifferentiatedthelowendbyshowingmoreshadingdowntotheverybottom.TheVituspreamplifierstrengthenedthevocalswithstrongermoremassivebasscomparedtothePolarisbutitsresolutionwasslightlyinferior—andhereitgotreallyinteresting—notthroughoutthewholerange.Itdidn'tpenetrateabovethemidrange.Especiallythelowermidrangewasdenserandmorebeautifulasthesetwothingsalwayscometogether.ThePolarisseemedtodeliveramoreetherealsoundwithbetterdifferentiationbutsmallervirtualimagescenteredonthemidband.ResolutiondeliveredbyReimyoisnotasgoodaswithVitusbutthetimbreisverysimilar.Ontheotherhand,CAThasaroundermidrangeandtreblewithoutexaggeratedbass.

Atthislevelofperformanceallthisisaquestionofpersonalchoiceandpreferences.TheVitussystembelongstotheabsolutelybestsolid-state(orother)systemsIhavelistenedto.Butitalsohassomedistinctcharactertraitsthatderivemainlyfromthepreamplifier.Buildqualityissuperlativetotelegraphthatwehavesomethingspecialinourpossessionandnotmerelyanotherappliance.Theindustrialdesignisverylikeablebecauseofitssimplicityandbeingfullyincorporatedthroughoutthecatalogue.Itisaninterestingandcommendableexperiencetolistentotheamplifierfirstsoloandthenwithitsmatchingpreamplifiertolearnwhichpresentationsuitsourexpectationsbetter.Thesetwoarequitedifferentbothwithrespectiveprosandcons.Owningtheamplifierwouldgiveyouanearperfectfoundationforanysystem.TheSS-101in‘bypass’modedrivenfrommyLektorAirplayerwith6H30-baseddual-differentialoutputstageandanalogvolumecontroldeliveredverytransparentopensoundwithgreatresolutionbutnotrebleharshness.Everythingsoundedexactlyasitshouldhave.Lateronecouldmodifythissoundwithapreamplifierofone'spreferencetogetstillbiggerricherbettersaturatedvoicesforexample.Butdifferentiationwillsufferandthesoundstageshouldloseabitofdepthforatradeoff.AndforgetaboutclassA/B.Thisismeantonlyforthemostdemandingloads.OtherwisetheSS-101willeasilydrivethemajorityofloudspeakersinmostrooms.ThesoundinclassAissimplybetter–deeper,moreliquid,withmoreinvolvement.ClassA/B,thoughstillverygood,seemstobemoreeconomicalonemotionaldelivery.

Description:TheSL-102succeedstheSL-101andwasintroducedinthemiddleof2010.Itisanextremelywellbuiltone-boxdevice.Imentionthatbecausethereisalsothetoptwo-boxMP-L201fromwhichmanysolutionstrickleddown.Thechassisisassembledfromthickslabsofclear-orblack-anodizedaluminum(othercolorsavailableforasurcharge).Thefrontpanelisallmetalexceptforasmallinsetofblackacrylicorequivalentrightinthemiddletocoverthedisplay.Therearenoknobs,justroundpushbuttonsthreeeachoneithersideofthedisplay.Ontherightisvolumeup/downandmute,ontheleftsourceselection,menuandstandby.Thebackpanelisarealbeautywithtworowsofsockets,XLRatthebottom,RCAontop.Thereare2RCAand3XLRinputs,twoRCAandtwoXLRoutputsandonefixedRCAoutputforrecordingoraheadphoneampperhaps.ExactlyinthemiddleistheIECpowerinletwithmainsfuseandmechanicalon/offswitch.AsIlearnedfromthemanualoneofthelineinputsmightbetransformedtoMM/MCphonodutybasedontheRP-010standalonedevice.Itisalsopossibletochangetounitygain,bypassingvolumecontrolandgainstageforhometheaterapplications.Themaincircuitmodulesarepowersupply,buffermodules,symmetrizinganddesymmetrizingmodulesandgainstages,fiveperchannelofthelatter.Firsttheinputsignalencountersaselectorbasedonair-tightrelays.Volumecontroliscarriedoutviaaladderofhigh-qualityresistorsalsoswitchedwithrelays(21perchannel).AsOleVitussays,thissolutionisbitdifferentfromothers,withaconstantresistanceinthesignalspathatallvolumelevelsviaaparallelswitchedresistorvalue.Eachstepprogressesby1dBandtherangeisfrom-99to+18dB.Theoptionalphonoinputworkswithinterchangeablemodulesadaptedtoaparticularcartridge.MyloanerwasdeliveredwithModule2whichallowsfor100Ωor1kΩloading.Therearefourdifferentmodulesavailable,eachwith16differentsettings.Inthecircuitlayout,thefrontisoccupiedbythepowersupplymodulebasedontwoindependenttransformers,oneperchannel.Thereisalargevoltageregulatorforeachsection.ThemachinecomeswiththeRC-010remotecontrol.It'squitehandyandmadeofaluminumwithanicedisplaytoworkwithallVitusdevices.Technicaldata(accordingtomanufacturer):Type:TruebalancedlinestageInputs:2xRCA,|3xXLROutputs:3xRCA,|2xXLRNoise:<110dBTHD+N:<0.01%Powerconsumption:standby<30W,operation<40WDimensions(HxWxD):135x435x402mmWeight:24kg

SS-101The85kgSS-101isahugebeast.Itsfrontisverysimilartothepreamplifier,withasimilarblackacryliccoverforthecentraldisplay.Eventhepushbuttonsareexactlythesametoprovehowthisinfactisanintegratedamplifier.Youcanbypassthevolumecontrolviathemenubutforsafetyreasonsifyouunplugthedeviceitrevertsbacktovariablegain.Ontheback,thereareXLRandRCAinputsaswesawonthepreamplifier.Abovethemaresizeableplastic-shroudedspeakersbindingpostswithoutthehandywingsSolutionandReimyousewhichmakesthemeasiertooperateTheamplifieristrulycolossalandsportsmassiveheatsinksoneithercheekforwhatareamererated50wpcinclassA.Ontheotherhand,andifmemoryserves,Luxman’sM-800Ahadsmallerheatsinks.PossiblyfewergainstagesorhotterbiascontributetohigheroperationaltemperaturesintheVitustorequiresuchlargedissipation?They’reopentothesidesbutenclosedtopandbottomtocosmeticallyrendertheenclosuremoremonolithic.Perhapstheentirechassisworksasonegiantradiatortoexplainwhyitdoesn’tgetashotasforexampletheAccuphaseA-65orLuxman.Clearlythesizablefinsdotheircoolingjobwell.InsidetherearetwooversizeddoubleCcorepowertransformerssimilartothoseusedbyFrenchYBAstackedoneatoptheother.Inthemonoblockstheyuseasingletransformersizedlikethesetwotogether.Theyclearlytakemostthecreditfortheenormousmassoftheamp.InfrontofthetransformersarefourlargecapacitorsandnearthebackisaverticalPCBwiththevolumecontrolmatrix.Justlikeinthepreamplifierthisisbasedonarelay-switchedresistorladder.Thecircuititselfisfullybalanced.OleHansenstatesinthemanualthateachstagecouplestothenext"inaspecialway"butfailstogetspecifichow.LikethepreamptheampisdispatchedwiththeAndromedapowercordwhichusesthesamewiringastheinternalhookupconductors.Iappliedbothpowercordsforthereview.

Technicaldata(accordingtomanufacturer):Type:stereobalancedintegratedpoweramplifierInputs:1xRCA,|1xXLR)Outputs:1xXLRInternalcabling:AndromedaRemotecontrol:AvailableseparatelyOutputpower(switchable):50wpcclassA|100wpcclassABFrequencyresponse:DC-800kHzNoise:<110dBTHD+N:<0.01%Inputsensitivity:1.3VRMSInputimpedance:XLR=600Ω,RCA=10kΩPowerconsumption:standby=2W,ABclass=50W,Aclass=500WDimensions:(HxWxD):310x435x610mmWeight:85kg


Top Related