Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Associated equipment used in auditioning both of these amplifiers consisted of the Oracle Delphi Mk.IV turntable with SME V tonearm and Dynavector XX-1L cartridge, Sony CDP-X77ES CD player, Wadia WT-3200 transport and DigiMaster X-64.4 D/A converter, and Rowland Consonance preamplifier. Loudspeakers were the Apogee Stages, B&W 801 Matrix Series 2s, and Snell C/IVs. The amplifier was also briefly auditioned through the Nestorovic Type 5AS Mk.IIIs and the PSB Stratus Golds.

Interconnects were AudioQuest Lapis and Cardas Hexlink (the latter from preamplifier to amplifier); loudspeaker cables were AudioQuest Clear with the Snells, 801s, and PSBs, early Symo with the Stages, and Cardas Hexlink with the Nestorovics. All loudspeakers were bi-wired except for the Nestorovics, which are not configured for bi-wiring.—Thomas J. Norton