Audio Analogue Puccini Integrated Amplifiers

Audio Analogue Puccini Integrated Amplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

  • Power Output: 2 x 40 W @ 8 W / 1kHz / 115 VAC -230 VAC
  • Input: MM / MC Phono, Tuner, CD, Video, Aux, Tape
  • Output: Tape (Impedenza/Impedance: 600W) Speakers/Diffusori ( 4 - 16 W)

  • USER REVIEWS

    Showing 11-18 of 18  
    [Feb 02, 2001]
    Joe McMahon
    Audiophile

    Strength:

    Smooth,unfatiguing presentation that never dissapoints. This integrated is a music lovers dream. It creates a very believable soundstage with an incredible midrange prescence that is usually not found in solid state products, especially at this price. The remote is beautifully sculpted and matches the understated elegance of the amp itself. At this price point, no one should have a SINGLE complaint. This is the cheapest amplifier by at least a factor of 2 1/2 that I have owned in years. I grew tired of the hyper detailed presentation of so called "audiophile" products that make you hate your disc and lp collections. This piece really sweetens things up. Remember people the main reason we search out better equipment is so we can have more enjoyment of our music. If anyone notices a great deal of what is constantly for sale in the marketplace is the "super accurate audiophile gear " that proves how bad your collection is. Fortunately for me I found this little gem. Mine has preouts which I dig. The bass is full and natural. None of the overdamped bass hear. Anyone who still attends live shows knows what I am talking about. Let your ears and the music rule your decisions. I can very enthusiastically reccommend this product. PS John Rocke at Audio Oddyssey is great to deal with. Joe

    Weakness:

    Too inexpensive to be taken seriously

    This product is an absolute steal. If you truly love music and want an elegant, well made integrated, this amp is for you. The phono stage is excellent. It has a tube like quality to the presentation that makes it very easy to lose track of time while listening. Anyone who complains about this product at this price point should haave there head examined. Unless your speakers are terribly inefficient, you will not need the SE version. This is a very upscale product at an entry level price. 5 stars all the way. One could easily live with this product for years. Joe

    Similar Products Used:

    Cary,Plinius,Audio Research,Krell,Conrad Johnson, Aragon

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Jun 21, 1999]
    QOQUAQ
    an Audiophile

    with the loudspeaker Triangle Zephir Mk2 and cable/interconnect Vandenhul cs122/Dm103Mk2;cd marantz 57.It is smooth,detailed and really good for the total price;real good value.The superb build Puccini is beautiful with 40w/8ohm he drive the Zephyr with facility

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    [Aug 11, 1999]
    Pierre Dionne
    an Audio Enthusiast

    After listening to a SimAudio 5080, the Puccini isa good contender. Responce is good and rich. Highs are clear
    and uniform. Overall a good product. Can handle big speakers.
    Use with warm mid sized to larg ones.

    A good value!

    OVERALL
    RATING
    4
    VALUE
    RATING
    [Sep 06, 1999]
    Blair Zasitko
    an Audiophile

    The audio analogue puccini is a wonderful amp for people who want their music to Really come to life. This amp has a character much like a vacuum tube based amp. It is warm, and the sound is very wet (as opposed to dry), and the sound tends to sound more forward . This is the kind of amp that makes you close your eyes, and just let the sound wash over you. For the price, more accurate and punchier amps are available, but I am yet to hear of anything that produces the same kind of musicality. This will probably be my next amp, replacing my NAD 312. Very highly recommended.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    [Jul 24, 2001]
    Rob
    Audio Enthusiast

    Strength:

    Gorgeous sound, effortless delicate pure transparent. Ideal for voice and small acoustic groups.

    Weakness:

    Struggles a little with big orchestral sound.

    I spent a long time trying to find a worthwhile upgrade to my old HK amp. I found amp after amp that cost under $7,000 US, which was my limit, that was impressive in one way or another but in the end left me disappointed. Either they were lacking in delicate detail, were harsh, tiring to listen to, sometimes even painful or simply were not convincing, i.e. ultimately not realistic.

    I almost settled on, or more accurately become resigned to, the MF A300. It was impressive and could handle a wide range of music well. I then heard the Puccini. The difference was remarkable. Suddenly voices were natural, rather than impressive. Strings had all the detail without undue harshness. Good recordings were a real pleasure and poor ones were tolerable. Brass was crystalline, exciting but again not harsh.

    I was sceptical at first, thinking that I was being tricked by some seductive editing of the sound. But after lengthy listening of a variety of music I am satisfied that this is an extraordinary amplifer and value for the right person.

    Concerned by some difficulty with complex loud passages I then listened the the Puccine SE. It had all the good qualities of the Puccini but seemed distinctly better in the more difficult passages, though it had the same weakness to a lesser extent.

    I believe the weaknesses are apparent when listening to music such as loud full orchestral passages. There is no obvious flaw but the sound starts to lose the effortless quality. I suspect it may also be unsuited to inefficient speakers. I have used it with old Monitor Audios and modern B&W, Mission and Snell speakers. It is also obviously not particularly well suited to heavy metal etc.

    But if you are looking for a moderately priced amplifier for classical, jazz, folk music, and you want to enjoy the music, I believe this is an extraordinary amplifier and value.

    Similar Products Used:

    Musical Fidelity, NAD, HK, Rega, Naim, Linn

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Jul 24, 2001]
    adil
    Audio Enthusiast

    Strength:

    Beautiful mid-range and treble

    Weakness:

    Bass is not punchy

    I just bought the amp about a week back and was immediately impressed with the openness of sound compared to the NAD. I primarily listed to soft instrumental and jazz with a dash of pop thrown in. Instruments and vocals sound more involving and natural with no fatigue at high volumes. Piano sounded more realistic while vocals were sweet and engrossing with a lot of subtelty being captured. Low level details were more forthcoming also.Imaging was more accurate.

    Bass was however weak compared to the NAD. Though it had extension, forcefulness was missing. But I am willing to live with it given the sublime mid-range and treble. It is a bargain for the price.

    Similar Products Used:

    NAD 317. Driving Monitor Audio Bronze 2 speakers

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Feb 26, 2001]
    Claude Chabot
    Audiophile

    I spent months searching for a transitorized integrated amplifier that would fill my high expectations. And just when I was ready to quit and settle for a high end tube integrated I read a few lines about the Puccini in a French magazine. The 3 or 4 words used in the description made me think that perhaps I had found what I was looking for, finally. I checked on this site to see what Puccini owners had to say. Joe (one of the reviewer) completed the description that I had seen in the mag...everything that I wanted was there...on paper. I listened to the Puccini a few days later in a shop I didn't even know existed in Montreal and I got a demo unit to try at home. The French mag and Joe were absolutely right: the Puccini sounds like a tube amp ! It's sound is: rich, sweet and warm.It has none of the usual transistor sound: harsh, edgy, over bright, fatiguing. It has a lot of emotional presence.The sound is solid with lot's of air and body. The harmonics are superb !!! It particularly excells where the best tube amps normally excell: on small ensembles, vocals, etc.

    Is it THE perfect amp ? I didn't say that. I have a vintage trio that includes a pair of Quad ll tube amps and one of the earlier Conrad-Johnson tube preamp. These go even further in perfection territory. With the Puccini I get about 85 % of that, which is a lot !!! But the Puccini cost me a little more than what I had to pay recently to retube my 3 tube units... You also have to consider that buying modern high end audio gear that will match such a vintage trio is way beyond most people budget, including mine...

    The Puccini is a superb sounding-no trouble-integrated. At that price it' a steal. I'm very happy I found it. Thanks to this site and to Joe for leading to it's discovery.

    Claude

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Jan 18, 2001]
    Gregg
    Audio Enthusiast

    Strength:

    Detailed, Lively Midbass, Captivating Vocals

    I have the Puccini Remote Version, which has more power, steel remote that weights a lot, pre outs great for my subwoofer and other upgrades to justify the $200 extra over the standard Puccini. What hifi gave the remote version 5 stars. Noted it's refinement and detail. Detailed without the overly bright midrange of the Cyrus. Goes well with fast Sonus Standmount and Crystal Clear Rotel 971 CDP.
    45 Watts plenty for my not too sensitive Sonus 86db.




    Similar Products Used:

    Top of the line AV Receiver, Cyrus Integrated

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    Showing 11-18 of 18  

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