The SAE Mark II has, nominally, the same performance specs as the Dynaco Stereo 120, yet it costs twice as much as a factory-wired Stereo 120, and about 2½ times as much as a Stereo 120 kit. Is the SAE really worth the difference? And how does it compare with some other $400 amplifiers? Well, it all depends.
To begin with, the SAE and…
Description: Solid-state stereo or mono amplifier. Power output: 60Wpc into 8 ohms, >40Wpv into 16 ohms, both channels driven, 20Hz–20kHz; in mono mode, >100W into 8 ohms, >120W into 14 ohms, 20Hz–20kHz. IM distortion: <0.2% at rated output; <0,1% at lower levels. THD: <0.2% at rated output, <0.05% at lower levels. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.1dB; 3Hz–100kHz +0, –2dB. Power bandwidth: 8Hz–50kHz. Hum & noise: >110dB below 40 watts. Damping factor: >150. Stability: Unconditional with any type of load, or no load. Sensitivity: 1.…
At the risk of breaking that rule, I must note that…
Well, okay, we've never received the last type of letter. But if we did, it would have to refer to Hafler's new Transnova 9500…
Nor did the 9500 shortchange other types of program material.…
The Transnova idea is conceptually elegant and not dissimilar to a push-pull tube output stage. In a conventional output stage (diagram A), the "positive" or "hot" load terminal is connected to the junction between the emitters or sources of the complementary output transistors and the ground load terminal to the junction between the ±V reservoir capacitors. In general, this point defines the ground potential or 0V and is used as the amplifier's fundamental or "star" grounding reference. The output devices therefore act as emitter or source…
The Hafler was auditioned with a variety of loudspeakers, but I spent most of my listening time with it in the company of the Vandersteen 2Ces. The preamp was the Rowland Consummate. Comparison amplifiers included the Aragon 4004 Mk.II, Sonic Frontiers SFS-80, and Krell KSA-250.
The CD transport was either the belt-drive C.E.C. imported by Parasound or the Pioneer Elite PD-65 used as a transport (the latter used primarily when the Wilson WATT/Puppies or the Apogee Stages were in the system), used to drive a PS Audio Ultralink via Kimber AGDL. The…
The Hafler 9500's input impedance measured just over 47k ohms. Gain into 8 ohms was 28dB. The output impedance was very low, ranging between 0.016 ohms and 0.022 ohms depending on frequency and load. This suggests a very consistent performance with a wide range of loudspeaker loads. DC offset measured 6.8mV in the left channel, 13.6mV in the right. S/N (unweighted at 1W into 8 ohms) measured 92.7dB. The 9500 was noninverting, a positive impulse at the input remaining positive at the output.
Fig.1 shows the frequency response of the 9500 at 2W into 4 ohms.…
Description: Solid-state, two-channel power amplifier. Power output: 250Wpc (8 ohms) (24dBW); 750W (8 ohms) (28.75dBW) in bridged dual-mono mode. Full power bandwidth: 0.15Hz–300kHz. THD: <0.03%, full power, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms. Sensitivity: 1.8V RMS for full power. Input impedance: 47k ohms. S/N ratio: >100dB, unweighted.
Dimensions: 19" W by 12.5" D by 5.25" H (excluding feet, rack-mount version). Weight: 50 lbs.
Serial number of unit tested: D16C121000120.
Price: $1900 (black), $2000 (silver), rack handles $70 (option with black, standard…