Amplification Component of 1995
Pass Labs Aleph 0 monoblock power amplifier ($7000/pair; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.18 No.3, March 1995)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Cary Audio Design CAD-300SEI integrated amplifier ($3395; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995 Review)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eight monoblock power amplifier ($15,990/pair; reviewed by Jack English, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven A power amplifier ($3495; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.8, August 1995; and John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995 Review)
Mark Levinson No.38S line preamplifier ($6495; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995 Review)
McCormack Power Drive DNA-1 Deluxe Edition power amplifier ($2355; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.3, March 1995 Review)
Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 line preamplifier ($3795; reviewed by Russ Novak and Robert Harley, Vol.17 No.11, November 1994; and John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995) The nominations for Amplifier of 1995 were many and varied, ranging from a single-ended tube design, through big, traditional push-pull tube amps, to two very different line-level preamplifiers. The single-ended Aleph 0 monoblock was another runaway winner, however, this time by a three-to-one margin. This 90W, MOSFET-output, pure class-A Nelson Pass design runs hot, but not as hot as our reviewing staff in limning its virtues. "A breakthrough product," opined DO. "Gimme that thing!" said SS, checkbook in hand. WP concurs, having practically filched the review pair from the test bench—they may never emerge from his system. Neutral, staggeringly fast in response, transparent as all get-out, and capable of rare, fine dynamic response, these amps make the strongest possible argument for simplicity of design wedded to persnickety attention to build quality. The low input impedance demands careful system matching, but when everything goes the Aleph's way, the music emerges unfettered by the technology.
Cary Audio Design CAD-300SEI integrated amplifier ($3395; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995 Review)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eight monoblock power amplifier ($15,990/pair; reviewed by Jack English, Vol.17 No.12, December 1994)
Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven A power amplifier ($3495; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.18 No.8, August 1995; and John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.9, September 1995 Review)
Mark Levinson No.38S line preamplifier ($6495; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995 Review)
McCormack Power Drive DNA-1 Deluxe Edition power amplifier ($2355; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.18 No.3, March 1995 Review)
Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 line preamplifier ($3795; reviewed by Russ Novak and Robert Harley, Vol.17 No.11, November 1994; and John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.7, July 1995) The nominations for Amplifier of 1995 were many and varied, ranging from a single-ended tube design, through big, traditional push-pull tube amps, to two very different line-level preamplifiers. The single-ended Aleph 0 monoblock was another runaway winner, however, this time by a three-to-one margin. This 90W, MOSFET-output, pure class-A Nelson Pass design runs hot, but not as hot as our reviewing staff in limning its virtues. "A breakthrough product," opined DO. "Gimme that thing!" said SS, checkbook in hand. WP concurs, having practically filched the review pair from the test bench—they may never emerge from his system. Neutral, staggeringly fast in response, transparent as all get-out, and capable of rare, fine dynamic response, these amps make the strongest possible argument for simplicity of design wedded to persnickety attention to build quality. The low input impedance demands careful system matching, but when everything goes the Aleph's way, the music emerges unfettered by the technology.
