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I thought the POWERa monos sounded mighty fine powered by the Stromtank, sounding best when their power conditioning was turned off, but I was also aware that current limitations imposed by the S 2500 Quantum MKII might squash dynamics. Not that I expected to use anywhere near each monoblocks' 3600W into 4 ohms in my 16' × 20' × 9.25' listening room.

With wall power, the POWERa monoblocks sounded best with their internal power conditioning engaged. It's not that they didn't sound quite good without power conditioning—my wall power provides far smoother sound than it…

Description: Solid state, fully balanced, sliding bias class-A, mono power amplifier. Inputs: 1 single-ended (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR). Output: 1 pair binding posts. Power output: 2100W into 8 ohms (33.22dBW), 3600W into 4 ohms (32.55dBW), 6000W into 2 ohms (31.76dBW). Peak power output: 2400W into 8 ohms (33.8dBW). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, ±0dB (DC–300kHz, –3dB). Voltage gain: 36dB. Input sensitivity: 2.0V RMS (for max output). Input impedance: 30k ohms (balanced/unbalanced). Rise and Settling time: <450ns. Slew rate: 1500V/µs (amplification stages). THD…

Digital sources: dCS Vivaldi Apex DAC, Vivaldi Upsampler Plus, Vivaldi Master Clock; Innuos Statement NextGen Music Server; Uptone Audio EtherRegen, AfterDark Giesemann Emperor Double Crown Master Clock, and Nordost QNet Ethernet Switch, all powered by Nordost QSource linear power supplies (2); Synology 5-bay 1019+ NAS, Small Green Computer Sonore Deluxe opticalModule, Linksys mesh router and Arris modem, all powered by HDPlex 300 linear power supply; Apple 2017 iPad Pro and 2017 MacBook Pro laptop with 2.8GHz Intel i7, SSD, 16GB RAM.
Preamplifier: Dan…

I measured one of the Karan POWERa Mono amplifiers that JVS auditioned, serial number 005. Because the amplifier was too wide to fit through the door from my listening room to the corridor that leads to the test lab, I performed the measurements in my listening room. To ensure that this very powerful amplifier wasn't starved of wall current, I ran two long, heavy-duty extension cords to the Karan from the 20A circuit in the test lab. I measured the amplifier using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system, plugged into one of the extension cords. Following distributor Wynn…

"How much do you think everything here is worth?" asks my husband as he peers at a cart filled with boxes of Audio Research components. A short time later, as I pass those boxes scattered in a manner…

Featuring component debuts from Japan's Air-Tight, with senior Air-Tight representatives in attendance, AXISS Audio's lineup included the Reed Muse 1C turntable ($14,000 for standard finish, $15,500 for birch), Reed 5T Laser Tracking tonearm ($21,500), with Air-Tight Opus One MC cartridge ($17,500), into the Air-…

1. Dutch & Dutch model 8c speakers.

And here's a list of all the audio electronics in the Dutchies' 11th-floor room at AXPONA:

1. Dutch & Dutch model 8c speakers.

That's it. Other than the brutalist-looking Sound Anchor ADJ speaker stands, there was no associated gear. That's because the 8cs, reviewed in Stereophile by Kalman Rubinson here and by John Atkinson here, are DSP-equipped active speakers that are meant to be used with a networked source like a laptop or tablet.

As for the…

On static display, the 136-year old company introduced new products, including the YH-5000SE Open-back wired Orthodynamic® headphones ($4999), RN2000A Network Receiver ($3999), legacy A-S3200 and A-S2200 integrated amplifiers, new HA-L7A USB DAC headphone amplifier (price unavailable), and prototype NS-2000A floorstanding loudspeakers ($7998/pair).

When Jurewicz fired up the Empire Streamer (above) and Empire monoblocks (below), playing Roxy Music's…

The Ohio company recently launched a product that approaches streamable music from the other direction: What if you already have a good pair of speakers . . . and are in the market for a versatile,…