this review first appeared in the june 2011 issue of hi ... - 6moons... · anderson, homeland,...

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This review first appeared in the June 2011 issue of hi-end hifi magazine High Fidelity of Poland. You can also read this review of the Vitus pre/power combo in its original Polish version. We publish its English translation in a mutual syndication arrangement with publisher Wojciech Pacula. As is customary for our own reviews, the writer's signature at review's end shows an e-mail address should you have questions or wish to send feedback. All images contained in this review are the property of High Fidelity or Vitus. Reviewer: Wojciech Pacuła CD player: Ancient Audio Lektor Air Phono preamplifier: RCM Audio Sensor Prelude IC Cartridges: Air Tight Supreme, Miyajima Laboratory Waza Preamplifier: Ayon Audio Polaris III with Regenerator power supply version II Power amplifier: Tenor Audio 175S, Soulution 710 Integrated amplifier/headphone amplifier: Leben CS300 XS Custom version Loudspeakers: Harpia Acoustics Dobermann Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, AKG K701, Ultrasone PROLine 2500, Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro Interconnects: CD-preamp Acrolink Mexcel 7N-DA6300, preamp-power amp Wireworld Platinum Eclipse Speaker cable: Tara Labs Omega Onyx Power cables: Acrolink Mexcel 7N-PC9300 Power conditioning: Gigawatt PF-2 Audio stand: Base Resonance control: Finite Elemente Ceraball under the CD player, Pro Audio Bono platform under CD player Review component retail in Poland: 102.000 + 111.800zł respectively

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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