Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is still a GREAT amp.I did some research after the initial purchase of a Parasound 855a, which was a little dissapointing.Not a baaad amplifier, just not as good as the reciever it was meant to compliment (a Harman Kardon AVR 240 which is now pretty well obsolete). While it was a little cleaner than the reciever, I felt I lost sound stage and dynamics.I am still using the 240 as a pre/pro.I finally settled on a used 7.1 from an Audiogon listing, in good condition.I powered the front 3 speakers with the Citation, back 2 with Parsound.Lived with this set up for 6 months,bought another one off Ebay.My amps averaged out to $880.00 apiece, and for that I definitely don't feel cheated.I recently acquired a Parasound HCA 2200 MkII.A good, powerful amplifier.I still prefer the sound quality of the Citation.I did an A/B and while the Citation was running I actually forgot I was running in 2 channel.This didn't happen with the 2200.I LIKE the 2200....just not as much as the Citation,fatter bass, less resolution, flatter sound stage. Still worlds apart from 855a. I did not do any bridging or bi-amping.That is pretty much all I've had for real comparison other than walking through noisy big box stores.....and a couple of strange forays into a local Magnolia before the economic downturn closed it.Take my review.......all of them for that matter with a bag of salt.I will say that these amplifiers have presented me with the biggest sonic leap forward in my system since I bought my speakers (Ascend Acoustics CMT340se/CBM 170se's).By the standards of many on this forum, my stuff is pretty modest.These amps have performed admirably in less than ideal conditions with less than 'audiophile' equipment.If you you are reading this, you may be considering buying or bidding on one, I haven't been disappointed, and my degree of satisfaction with these things is as high as it ever gets for something I've bought.BTW I've seen this things billed as 'Madrigals' ,' Baby Levinsons' and the like.I've read that these amplifiers were designed by Stephen Mantz when HK absorbed Fosgate Audionics and renamed them Citation.Evidently they are descendants of of the FA 4125.Point is, in spite of all the creative marketing, this thing can stand on it's own 4 feet.Performance was equally as good in 2 channel, as in multi.Smooth, neutral, detailed.Excellent amp.

Price Paid:  $650.00 from ebay

Summary:
Wow, what can I say that hasnt already been said?? I have been using a carver m-500 for my mains which the carver is rated @250 ch. but man when I got the citation and bridged into 2 channels @ 450 my jaw dropped when mated to my B&W's. The bass tightened up quite a bit and the mids were liquid smooth, this amp is dead quite and the sound it produces doesnt seem colored whatsoever. I have friends who have krell and sunfire and I wouldnt trade them especially at the price I got this one at, now if I can just get 1 more for my rears/center and I will be complete. This amp gotten in excellent condition for under $1k is maybe the best bargain in hi-fi today. Where else can you get Levinson sound/quality for low end $$$$$?
This truly is the ferrari that you dreamed of having for the cost of a mustang.....if you can find one get it and dont even hesitate because you havent heard it, you wont be sorry, you will just be grinning from ear to ear.

Strengths:
tight slammin bass, liquid mids, non-fatiguing highs, built like a tank and handsome

Weaknesses:
none that i can find yet....
hard on your back whilst moving it!

Similar Products Used:
carver, phase linear, crown

Price Paid:  $900.00 from via internet

Summary:
I've used the 7.1 for about four years strictly for two channel CD stereo play. Originally, it was hooked up to some 80's-era, low-end three way speakers (Sound Research). Bridged mode was too much for them. Things sounded pushed and muddy. Then came my used Silverline Audio Sonatinas (original versions)rated 93db efficient. I stuck with the 150watt mode using only two of the four channels. 3 years later I was talking with an audio shop techie about soundstage collapse at higher volumes. He suggested I was "running out of amplifier." I lusted for late model high end solid state monsters..Krell..Bryston and the like. Lazy mess that I was, it never dawned on me to try the bridged mode after my dismal initial experience with the inferior speaks (450watts per channel) After a quick check with Allan Yun at Silverline Audio, I was on the floor fiddling with jumpers and interconnects...turned the thing on and my jaw dropped. The Sonatina's, I'd so come to love for their mids and highs, were singing a whole new tune. Notes appeared where no notes had been before...everything was cleaner and even more effortless and the bass was outstanding...the speakers were simply rocking beyond my wildest dreams. Volume was different..hard to put into words..it was louder but more in full range detail rather than blasting. VERY IMPRESSED.

After checking the reviews HERE..I felt the need to add an updated version as it's spring of 2003. I'm a believer now in high watts for efficient speakers. I still see the Citations offered at under a thousand dollars. GRAB ONE if you can. With confidence, now, I can forget about a new amp and concentrate on other weak points...namely playback. But still, my system is awesome right now. We're talking about 5-grand total...and nothing i've heard under 20K at audio shops can compete. They always sound better at home.

system:
Rotel RCD-991 (cd)

Morrison ELAD (pre-amp) can't recommend highly enough..blew away previous high end tube job. Price unbeatable..check out reviews.

Citation 7.1 (bridged mode)

Silverline Audio Sonatina's (speakers)

Taralabs by-wire cables

Wireworld interconnects

Strengths:
Incredible sound for two channel music.
not into home theater yet

Weaknesses:
can't think of anything..mine's never run hot

Similar Products Used:
Luxman
Classe
Rotel

Price Paid:  $850.00

Summary:
I intially purchased the Citation for the purposes of bi amplification. Using the citation to bi amplify a two tower with two 5-1/4" woofers and a tweeter I was initially disappointed. Vocals seemed to be muted and subdued and the Citation sounded a bit harsh compared to my reference bi-amplification system:

One Adcom GFA 5800 (250 Watts x2)
One Hafler 9500 (250 Watts x2)

Disappointed but unduanted I set the 7.1 up as a stereo plus subwoofer system. Powering two small satelites and a big car audio subwoofer the citation has proven to be a substantial improvement over my Parasound HCA 855 and 12" powered subwoofer. Highs especially seem to be clear and transparent and and vocal information seems to be more detailed. Of course it goes without saying that the bass has greatly improved ,this amplifer certainly has excellent dynamic power. If I had to ascribe a character to this amplifier I would call it clear and transparent and powerful. In addition being rated for frequencies up to 200 K by Harman makes the Citation 7.1 the perfect amplifier for DVD audio and SACD. However used to bi-amplify mids and a tweeter alone I think it still falls short of more powerful amplifiers. Note that if this amplifier is used to biamplify and three way system I think it would probably sound quite good because of its excellent qualities as a full range and subwoofer amplifier. Despite my initial misgivings I will probably keep the Citation and not trade in in for a more powerful stereo amplifier. The Citation has proven itself to be an excellent fullrange and subwoofer amplifier.

Strengths:
The Citation is a powerful subwoofer amplifier and performs extremely well as a full range amplifier producing clear and transparent music.

Weaknesses:
Compared to more powerful amplifiers the Citation 7.1 isn't the best amplifier for two way biamplification involving one tweeter and two midrange speakers. Vocals seemed subdued and the overall sonic presentation can be a bit harsh and compressed compared to more powerful amplifiers.

Similar Products Used:
Hafler 9500
Adcom GFA 5800
Rotel RMB 1095, Rotel RB 1090, Parasound HCA 855

View Comments (1)

Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Price Paid:  $995.00

Summary:
Was going back and forth debating whether to upgrade a current system with separates or a top of the line receiver (Elite 49tx, Denon 4802,etc). Have gone down both paths in the past. I came across a good deal on these 7.1s as final factory (Madrigal) clearances, so I bought two. As such, they were new, but would be classified as B stk. They are very musical and controlled. These are absolutely great amps. Get one if you can, and configure as needed for number of channels in your system. Show much less harshness/sibilance than my audition of the receivers I currently have or even my Yamaha M85 amp.

Strengths:
Very musical, controlled. Great soundstage with both KEF and Martin Logans.
Great looking as well
Built like tanks
Bridgeable
Would have to consider these real classics good enough for a lifetime of use

Weaknesses:
Odd that they are 4 channels (not 5). It seems Citation was advocating a multiamp setup (two 7.1s and one 5.1), with some bridging anticipated in a typical home theater setup. A little too complicated and expensive for most people to go that route. If they were 5 channels, they would have been worldbeaters even at their $2800 list price
No balanced inputs

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha, B&K, Denon, too many to list all