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Review 1 of 2
Price Paid:
$1680.00
from Underwood HiFi Summary:
An outstanding product and an outstanding value. Truly demonstrates that the state of the art in Amp design has finally taken a leap forward. I have had this Amb for 3 months and it is finally broken in (although out of the box it sounded very good). This amp has a liquidity and 3-dimensionality that shocked me - just had a bias that those were the realms of tube designs only. It also has tremendous speed and drive. Did I say speed? Think BEL or Threshold - this amp controls bass extraordinarily well and yet it keeps it natural and doesn't overdo it. I found the soundstage nearly perfect with just the slightest amount of truncation front to back. Side to side it's unbelievable. Timbre is something this amp does well. Never again will there be confusion between an oboe in low register and an english horn. In fact, the differences between singers, violinists, etc. is all evident - even the same person playing different instruments presents no problem for this amp's discernment. I can tell when bassist Edgar Meyer leans into his bass and when he backs off - this is where the amp really excels. BUT it does it all naturally. No HiFi hyperdetail. A word about gain cells. I think that many amps (or preamps) tend to scale back the soundstage with the volume. Maybe it's the gain cell technology, but this doesn't happen with this amp - things just get quieter. Sources, speakers, and cables are easily compared using this amp. I have had a few very good amps and listened to a great many - this is a giant killer. I should note that I got the Cullen modified version - so I don't know what the stock version sounds like. I have no plan to change out this amp for many years. It can drive most anything, is "fast" and extended, and yet has that magical, musical sound (midrange) that used to be mostly the province of tubes. Now if they would just get a new remote (which looks like it was made by Bose and doesn't even function that well). They should have Jolida make their remotes (now that's a remote). Strengths:
Supremely neutral and quite powerful amp. Exceptional image focus and wonderful level of detail. Excellent at low and high volume (soundstage doesn't scale down at low volumes - things just get quieter). Near perfect resolution of pitch and timbre - you know what your listening to and if the performer is in tune. Wonderful side to side placement on stage. Modified version competes with the best of the best. Wide compatability with various speakers. Weaknesses:
Soundstage depth is just slightly (slightly) less than some of the best tube amps. Break-in needed (though it's never offensive - even out of the box). Remote looks like it came out of a cereal box and is often unresponsive. Similar Products Used:
Various tube and solid state designs from Jadis, Herron, Quicksilver, Bel, YBA - but this is a new breed which competes with the best (yes, even the Jadis though the midrange is not as "romantic"). Reminds one of the YBA - just as liquid and extended but more focused and detailed.
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