power amplifiers – 10 Audio

Atma-Sphere Class D Amplifiers – MINI-REVIEW

This is a mini-review with no formal rating because after about a week of listening to this product, its strengths and weaknesses were apparent. A longer listening interval, which would be normal for a full review, was not required to

Hegel H20 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Hegel H20 stereo power amplifier was of interest because of its use of “feed forward” error correction. Briefly, negative feedback – which many amplifiers employ - seeks to correct amplification errors after they have occurred. One problem with this

EVS modified VTV Purifi Stereo Power Amplifier

“Surprise” is an understatement of my reaction to Electronic Visionary System’s request that I review their modification to a Purifi-based Class D amplifier after the less-than laudatory review of the NAD C298 power amplifier here on 10 Audio. The C298 also

NAD C298 Stereo Power Amplifier

The NAD C298 stereo power amplifier features the new Class D ‘Eigentakt’ amplifier technology. Eigentakt is the latest thinking from Bruno Putzey who developed the popular and widely used NCore and UcD amplifier modules for Hypex. Mr. Putzey is joined

Mivera 1200AS2 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Mivera 1200AS2 stereo power amplifier is a limited production offering. The amplifier uses the IcePower 1200AS2 dual-channel module with the IceEdge chipset. The $1000 Mivera amplifier was chosen for this review because, as you can see in the image

Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier

The Benchmark AHB2 solid-state stereo power amplifier immediately grabbed the audio world’s attention about 7 years ago when it was introduced. Combining state of the art specifications, cutting-edge technology, and amazingly small size and light weight, the $2999 amplifier quickly

Adcom GFA-555se Stereo Power Amplifier

The Adcom GFA-555 stereo power amplifier has a long history. The original version was introduced in March, 1985. Designed by Nelson Pass, the amplifier weighed 30 pounds and cost about $680. The newer SE version is a redesigned amplifier that

Conrad-Johnson Classic Sixty-Two SE Stereo Power Amplifier

Dr. William Conrad and Dr. Lewis Johnson, both accountants and committed audiophiles, began selling their vacuum tube amplifiers and preamplifiers in 1977. Many of their current designs evolved from these early circuits. The Classic Sixty-Two SE can trace its lineage

Valvet E2 SE Stereo Power Amplifier

The new Valvet E2 SE single-ended Class A solid-state amplifier is a revelation. Coming to market about a year after my review of the Valvet E2, the SE version exceeds the E2's audible performance in every parameter. Please see the older

Wyred 4 Sound ST-750LE Stereo Power Amplifier

The new Wyred 4 Sound ST-750LE stereo power amplifier sounds far above it's price class. The technology includes Wyred 4 Sound's proprietary input circuit that is similar to the one implemented in their '10 LP'-rated STP-SE Stage 2 preamplifier. This

Ayre Acoustics VX-5 Twenty Stereo Power Amplifier

The Ayre VX-5 Twenty stereo power amplifier has been in production for about 5 years and followed the well-received V-5xe amplifier. The “Twenty” designation celebrates the Boulder, Colorado company’s 20 years in business. The excellent build quality and beautiful casework

PS Audio Stellar S300 Stereo Power Amplifier

The new PS Audio Stellar S300 stereo amplifier is a delightful surprise. At a list price of only $1,499, the sound of the Stellar S300 has characteristics of some of the best amplifiers available, at any price. PS Audio, located

QUAD Platinum Stereo Amplifier

The QUAD Platinum Stereo amplifier is the latest in a very long line of hi fi products from QUAD of England. QUAD, which is an acronym for Quality Unit Amplifier Domestic, has been making components since 1953 and has received

Inspire Fire-Bottle SE Stereo Power Amplifier

It was a sad day when we heard that Dennis Had, founder and guiding light of Cary Audio, was retiring. Under his leadership, business acumen and engineering genius, Cary Audio became one of the most successful producers of audio equipment.

Valvet E2 Stereo Power Amplifier

Valvet High-End Audio, of Bargteheide, which is near Hamburg in northern Germany, has been making high quality audio components since 1982. Owner and designer Knut Cornils has a goal for all of his components: “(T)he transmission of music free from

Bryston 2.5B Cubed Power Amplifier

The new Bryston 2.5B3 "Cubed" power amplifier continues the evolution of the well-received line of power amplifiers from Bryston, Ltd., of Ontario, Canada. The 2.5B3 is the lowest power model in the current Bryston power amplifier lineup. If more power is

Rogue Audio Stereo 100 Power Amplifier

ALERT: Rave review detected. Something very special has happened in the universe of audio components and you can benefit from this important milestone. We are all familiar with terms such as “good for the money” and “sets a new standard

Spread Spectrum Technologies Thoebe II Preamplifier & Son of Ampzilla II Amplifier

Spread Spectrum Technologies was founded by James Bongiorno, the legendary and colorful audio pioneer and engineer who was also directly involved with key designs at Marantz, SAE, SUMO Electric, and Great American Sounds (GAS). Several years ago, Mr. Bongiorno and

Bryston 3B SST Stereo Power Amplifier

This has been one of the easiest products to review. Installation was very simple due to the excellent labeling on the connectors and switches, there were no sharp edges to be careful of on the nicely finished heatsinks, and the

Spread Spectrum Technologies Ampzilla 2000 Second Edition Power Amplifiers

When I reviewed the original Ampzilla 2000 monoblock power amplifers in February, 2009, I reported on a very good sounding, well made component that had just enough of its own character that it was highly recommended but not without reservations. In hindsight

Classé CT-M300 Power Amplifier

The Classe CT-M300 monoblock solid state power amplifier is a nicely made component. They arrive double boxed and the inner box opens like a flower to reveal the very well protected contents. Included with each amplifier is a rack mount

Krell S-275 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Krell S-275 solid-state stereo power amplifier is one of the newest products from long-established Krell Industries. Krell gained recognition about 30 years ago for its pure Class A power amplifiers. At the time, the heavy weight and tremendous heat

Cary Audio SA-200.2 Stereo Power Amplifier

The new Cary SA-200.2 solid-state stereo power amplifier does not build on the technology of the model 500MB which was reviewed here on 10 Audio in 2005. It is a new design that features modular construction. As in the Levinson 532H and

Modwright KWA 150 Signature Edition Stereo Power Amplifier – mini-review

This year’s Rocky Mountain Audio Fest was another great show. Even with almost three full days, there is so much interesting gear, new and not-so-new, that I often hurried through the hundreds of components and rooms to be able to

Aesthetix Calypso Signature Preamplifier & Atlas Stereo Power Amplifier

This review took over a year to come to fruition. I had been in contact with Musical Surroundings, the distributor of the Aesthetix product line, for several years. Garth Leerer, the head of Musical Surroundings and a nice guy, offered

Bryston 3B SST2, 4B SST2 and 7B SST2 Power Amplifiers

The 10Audio review of the Bryston 3B SST, which appeared in July, 2003, concluded with the statement, “The 3B SST is a very listenable amplifier with no significant faults, tremendous drive and cohesion to the real message of the music, all in a

A Simple Amplifier Distortion Test

I was testing an amp a few years ago to find out the clipping point. I used a test CD with sine waves and an o-scope connected across the speaker cables. I turned up the volume and watched for the

Jones Audio PA-M300 Power Amplifiers

The new Jones Audio PA-M300 monophonic amplifiers finally and definitively make obsolete the idea that solid-state sound cannot be as pleasing and involving as tube sound. The aural distinctions between the two technologies have been fading over the years as

Emerald Physics EP100.2SE Stereo Power Amplifier

The Emerald Physics EP100.2SE digital stereo power amplifier, in its latest silver enclosure is a beautiful looking and powerful component. It weighs 16.5 pounds with its large toroidal power transformer and has a rated power output of 100 Watts per

Nuforce Reference 9 V2 SE Power Amplifiers

I love music. I love not just listening to music, but the whole music experience because there are so many levels and “components” involved in the whole subject. From music composition, to playing instruments, to recording and production, and finally

Spread Spectrum Technologies Ampzilla 2000 Power Amplifier

Passion. Our hobby/interest/vocation is all about passion. There is a lot of passion in the high-end audio universe and James Bongiorno, the head of Spread Spectrum Technologies, has a consuming passion for his creations. He has been building and refining

Marantz MA-9S2 Reference Series Power Amplifiers

It is the holiday season and I am going to give you a present. This is the culmination of a long and winding and interesting and frustrating and expensive journey from that first audio component to hearing one that had

Pass Labs X250.5 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Pass Labs X250.5 stereo power amplifier may very well be the world’s best 15 Watt per channel stereo amplifier. Even though the amplifier is rated as 250 Watts per channel, it runs in Class A mode up to 15

Wyred 4 Sound ST-1000 Stereo Power Amplifier

The high-end is dead! Long live the high-end! A paradigm shift is upon us now. In the Wyred 4 Sound ST-1000 stereo amplifier, we have a maturing technology that absolutely changes the performance-to-price expectation for solid-state amplifiers in the $2,000

Balanced Audio Technology VK-220 & VK-250SE Power Amplifiers

These two amplifiers are children from the same BAT family and have similar BAT sound qualities. The 125W per channel VK-220 ($3000) and the 150W VK-250SE ($7000) employ mosfets in their output stages. Both amplifiers are fully balanced designs and

Halcro MC20 Power Amplifier

It is summer and Denver often sees temperatures in the high 90s. It is summer and gasoline is $4 a gallon, which hopefully is a situation that we will look back on in amazement that it ever cost so much,

Electronic Visionary Systems 500M Power Amplifiers

These amplifiers may be all black on the outside, but on the inside, they are green, as in ecologically and environmentally friendly. They are small and lightweight – just 7 pounds each, which makes them friendly to your listening room and

Response Audio Bella EXtreme 100 Power Amplifiers

I’m speechless. Or wordless. I had quite a lot to say about the new Response Audio Bella EXtreme 100 mono tube amplifiers during the first 400 hours of use while the Teflon® capacitors and other parts were slowly breaking in.

Cary 500MB Power Amplifiers

This is a preliminary review (final thoughts below). The Cary 500MB power amplifier is such a superior music making audio product that I feel compelled to post an early report on my experiences with these wonderful amplifiers. The review could

Quicksilver V4 Power Amplifiers

This is not an easy review to write. For several months, the Quicksilver V4 amplifiers have been the primary amplifiers in my ever-changing audio system. I have connected them to four different preamplifiers and four different speakers, and numerous cables

Acoustic Imagery Atsah Power Amplifiers

The Acoustic Imagery Atsah power amplifiers are rated at 400 Watts per mono chassis and carry a list price of $8995 per pair. Besides a power rating that would be a good fit in a system of any size, the

PS Audio HCA-2 Power Amplifier

Sometimes, there is a very small difference between the winner and the second place finisher. If we observe their actual performance, we may be unable to see any substantial difference at all. There is only a couple percent difference in

Antique Sound Labs 1006-845(DT) Power Amplifiers

Dynamic…extended...powerful. These are the initial impressions when I first heard the Antique Sound Labs 1006-845(DT) mono power amplifiers. Since this was my first exposure to the 845 tube, I didn’t know quite what to expect. Any expectations I had going

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