Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Bryston 7B NRB-THX, ST, & SST monoblock power amplifier

Thomas J. Norton Mar 05, 2005 First Published: Oct 05, 1993

The Canadian audio industry has been mounting a challenge to other high-end manufacturers over the past few years. Ask any audiophile about Canadian audio manufacturers and chances are that he or she will have no trouble rattling off a string of respected names—Classé, Museatex, Sonic Frontiers, Mirage, PSB, Paradigm, Energy. And Bryston.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Lamm Industries M1.2 Reference monoblock amplifier

Paul Bolin Feb 20, 2005 First Published: Feb 20, 2005

The "Reference" designation is thrown around a lot in the world of perfectionist audio. It's most often used to elevate the top of the line to a higher perceived status. Occasionally, as in the case of the VTL TL-7.5 line stage that I reviewed in October 2003, it genuinely denominates a component that is clearly superior to its competition in most aspects of performance.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Classé Omega Omicron monoblock power amplifier

Kalman Rubinson Nov 21, 2004 First Published: Nov 21, 2004

Non-audiophile friends and relatives raised their eyebrows when they saw the Classé Omega Omicron monoblocks. Not only is the Omicron more expensive than any other amp I've used; at 108 lbs, it's heavier than some of the speakers I've used. The Omicron is Class&#233's next-to-top-of-the-line amp in its Omega series, but is still definitely a "statement" product. Brian Damkroger reviewed the Omicron's big brother, the Omega Mono, in the July 2003 Stereophile. I refer you to that">http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/878">that review for a more detailed description of the Omicron's basic circuitry.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Halcro dm38 power amplifier

John Atkinson Oct 15, 2004 First Published: Oct 01, 2004

One of the highlights of recent Consumer Electronics and Home Entertainment shows has been the demonstrations of sound quality put on by Australian amplifier manufacturer Halcro with Wilson Audio loudspeakers. At my first exposure to one of these demos—described in my April 2002 "As">http://www.stereophile.com/asweseeit/557">As We See It"—enormous dynamic range was coupled with a grain-free presentation and almost holographic stereo imaging to produce a breathtaking sweep of sound. Paul Bolin reviewed Halcro's dm58">http://www.stereophile.com/amplificationreviews/683">dm58 monoblock in October 2002, and that amplifier was subsequently voted this magazine's "Amplification">http://www.stereophile.com/features/724/index2.html">Amplification Component of 2002" by our reviewers.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

YBA Passion 1000 monoblock power amplifier

Jonathan Scull Oct 10, 2004 First Published: Jan 01, 1999

Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.—Henri-Frédéric Amiel

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

McIntosh MC501 monoblock power amplifier

Paul Bolin Aug 15, 2004 First Published: Aug 01, 2004

It's true—you never forget your first love. And no, I'm not talking about little Jackie Lynn Neeck in my second-grade class when I was seven years old. I still remember her, almost as vividly as I remember my first encounter with a fantastic stereo system, and therein hangs a tale.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

McIntosh MC501 monoblock power amplifier

Paul Bolin Aug 15, 2004 First Published: Aug 01, 2004

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Edge NL-12 power amplifier

Paul Bolin Jul 18, 2004 First Published: Jul 01, 2004

Consider the plight of solid-state muscle amps. Often derided as brutes lacking sophistication or subtlety, particularly by the SET set (ie, fans of single-ended triodes), these powerhouses are taken for granted and often, like Rodney Dangerfield, they get no respect. And once upon a time, the stereotypes were true. Every veteran audiophile has at some time heard an immensely powerful transistor amp that had the soft sonic allure of a sheet of sandpaper, a lumbering oaf of a component with nothing whatsoever to recommend it save for a bulging set of mighty moose muscles.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Pass Labs X1000 monoblock power amplifier

Jonathan Scull Jun 06, 2004 First Published: Jun 01, 1999

Pass Laboratories' X amplifier series represents the efforts of designer Nelson Pass to prove that simple linear amplifier topologies can be scaled to provide high-quality audio performance at very high power levels. The handsome X1000 monoblock under scrutiny here, the largest and most powerful amp in the Pass stable, makes 1000W into 8 ohms and a mighty 2000W into 4 ohms. The amplifier has no global negative feedback, and only two gain stages: the front-end provides all the voltage gain and feeds a high-current follower stage.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

NAD 218 THX power amplifier

Robert J. Reina May 02, 2004 First Published: Aug 01, 1999

The story of New Acoustic Dimensions, aka NAD, begins in the late 1970s. The company was founded as a dealer distribution collective to design and market reasonably priced serious high-end gear to cost-constrained audiophiles. By eliminating needless features and focusing manufacturing in low-cost production facilities, NAD has successfully delivered audiophile-quality gear for 20 years at prices little more expensive than mass-market department-store schlock.