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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…

A more limited spectrum of tests was run on the Sumo than is usually the case because its floating ground requirement was incompatible with some of our test equipment. As can be seen from fig.1, the Andromeda II has only a very slight rolloff at the frequency extremes. There was a slight mismatch in gain between the two channels: an insignificant (in practice) 0.3dB. The 1kHz input impedance measured 42k ohms. The output impedance was below 0.06 ohms up to 1kHz, rising gradually to a maximum of 0.09 at 20kHz.

Fig.1 Sumo Andromeda II,…

Volume VII of Stereophile. That's a long way back. The Orwellian year of 1984, to be specific, and it was in Vol.7 No.6 that we reviewed the original Sumo Andromeda. Back when a home computer meant an Apple II (remember Apple?). Back when Home Theater meant Uncle Bill doing Karaoke without the oke (it hadn't been invented yet).

There's nothing like staying power. Apple is now an endangered fruit, and Uncle Bill still can't remember the words to "Lolly Pop," but the Sumo Andromeda lives on. Now in its…

The system I used in evaluating the Andromeda III consisted of the Denon DP-S1 CD transport, Mark Levinson No.36 D/A converter (the two linked by a Kimber AGDL coaxial digital cable), and a Jeff Rowland Design Group Consummate preamp. All auditioning took place in my (approximately) 26' by 18' by 11' listening room. The loudspeakers used were the Energy Veritas v2.8s. Preamp–power-amp interconnects were Cardas Hexlink (unbalanced and balanced). The loudspeakers were bi-wired using a single-jacket, bi-wire–configured pair of Monster M1.5 cables.—Thomas J.…

A full set of measurements of the Sumo Andromeda III was made using its unbalanced inputs. Most readings were repeated with the balanced inputs and these are noted below where appropriate.

Following the 1/3-power, one-hour preconditioning test, the Andromeda III's heatsinks were quite hot, as was the top of the case itself. The input impedance measured 49.6k ohms (95.8k ohms, balanced). The output impedance was 0.033 ohms or below at 1kHz and 20Hz, increasing to a maximum of 0.39 ohms at 20kHz. The frequency response of the Sumo should be virtually…

Sumo Andromeda: Solid-state, class-AB stereo power amplifier. Rated power: 200Wpc into 8 ohms (23dBW) at less than 0.05% THD, 375Wpc into 4 ohms (22.8dBW) at less than 0.1% THD.
Dimensions: 19" Wby7" D by 83,4 " H. Weight: 35 lbs.
Price: $899.
Manufacturer: AllAmerican Audio, Inc., Westlake Village, CA, 91362.

Sumo Andromeda II: Solid-state stereo power amplifier. Rated power output: 240Wpc into 8 ohms (23.8dBW) with less than 0.05% THD, 400Wpc into 4 ohms (23dBW) with less than 0.1% THD, from 20Hz–20kHz. Intermodulation distortion (IMD): 0.…

Description: two-way, reflex-loaded, floor-standing loudspeaker. Drive-units: 19mm (0.75") hyperbolic soft-dome tweeter, two 165mm (6.5") trilaminate-filled polypropylene-cone woofers. Crossover frequency: 2kHz. Frequency response: 30Hz–23kHz ±2dB. Sensitivity: 87dB/W/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Amplifier requirements: 50–150W (300W peak).
Dimensions: 41 1/8" H by 9 7/8" W by 15½" D. Weight: 66 lbs each.
Price: $1000/pair (1988); no longer available (2010). Approximate number of dealers: 60 (1988).
Manufacturer: Image Loudspeakers, Markham, Ontario…

The test procedure followed that established for my previous loudspeaker reviews: each pair was used both with a Krell KRS2/KSA-50 combination and the Linn LK1/LK2 remote-control amplification system. Source components consisted of a Marantz CD94 CD player used via its optical digital output to feed a Marantz CDA94 outboard DAC unit, and a Linn Sondek/Ittok/Troika combination sitting on a Sound Organization table. Interconnect for the Krell system was Monster M1000, with Monster M1 speaker cable. The Linn system was used with Linn interconnect and speaker cable.…