Amplification Reviews

The Kinergetics KBA-280 was auditioned in a system consisting of the Mark Levinson No.37 transport and No.36S D/A converter, Jeff Rowland Design Group Consummate preamplifier, and Energy Veritas v2.8 loudspeakers. The interconnects were TARA Labs RSC Reference from D/A to preamp, and Cardas Hexlink from preamp to power amp. The digital link between transport and D/A converter was Kimber AGDL. Loudspeaker cables were a bi-wire hookup of Monster M1.5s (top end) and Monster M2.2s (bass).

All listening was conducted in my listening room, approximately 18' W by 26' L by 11' H. Aside from the wall-to-wall carpeting, the room is acoustically treated with a mixture of RPG Diffusors, ASC Tube Traps and panels, and Wavelength Absorbing Linear Structures (W.A.L.S.) and Wavelength Absorbing Panels (W.A.P.) from System Analysis. The latter perform as effective acoustic absorption/bass-trap devices.—Thomas J. Norton