CES 2013

The Margules electronics and loudspeakers brand, long established in Mexico, is poised to make a big splash in the US. Picked up by Tempo High Fidelity, the same folks who distribute dCS, Verity, and Musical Fidelity, Margules will open ears once people hear their U280SC tube amplifier ($3900). Shown with the company's principal/designer, Julian Margules, the U280SC is a 23-year old design that now uses new transformers and semiconductors. A full class-A design that is claimed to be nearly as efficient as class-A/B—you can touch the tubes—the amp puts out 80Wpc in ultralinear mode (or 160W if two are strapped for mono) and 40Wpc in triode mode. The amp is so versatile that you can even have one channel output ultralinear, and the other triode. No bias adjustment is necessary.

Margules also has a new version of their SF220 stereo preamplifier ($3000) with a separated power supply in the same chassis. Complete with remote control, it uses no feedback, and is claimed to have an extremely wide frequency response up to 400kHz.

The sound? Beautiful and warm. I've heard these electronics at two shows, and each time, I've left the room feeling good.