Choosing an Amplifer - Proceed

Holm Acoustics, Amplifiers and Speakers

Some truly great loudspeakers, such as the Avantgarde Solo, don't require an amplifier at all. It's what's known as an "active" loudspeaker, in the field, and includes it's own amplification circuitry, requiring only a balanced XLR (or RCA, unbalanced) connection.

Others, such as the Uno, and Grosso, do, and here's where the quandary comes in: what amplifier to choose, if you're buying one particular, or justly, more than one speaker.

Here at Hi Fi Art, we've had our favourites over the years. The YBA 1 series, notably the signature. An evocative sound, truly reminiscent of great art. The Aragon 8000BB. An unpretentious contender, truly ballsy, perfectly able drive the famed B&W Matrix 801 monitor. The Devialet, quite recently, in fact. Unforgiving, and thoughtful, completely able to bring out the best of most speakers, it rings true today.

Two amplifiers, however, hold contention for reference status.

1) Acoustic System International Grand Mono (2400W/8 ohms) by Frank Tchang.
2) Analogue Domain "The Apollo" (4000W/8 ohms) by Angel Despotov, CEO.

We like the ASI for adhering to Hi Fi Art principles - great looks and the AD, for it's claim towards state-of-the-art. Both are amazing like the Carver Lightstar, each in their own way.

There are better designed amplifiers from a circuit-layout perspective, perhaps, such as the most-excellent Solution Audio 700 and 710, which can resemble miniature cities,when seen from a component-layout POV, and yet offer the detail of a Devialet sonically, while not relying on a Class D feeder. Impeccable.

There is also the Bruno Putzeys designed Mola Mola to consider. His Makua pre-amp & Kaluga mono blocks redefine state of the art from a sound quality and measurable performance perspective. A DAC is included or available separately covering DSDx4 inside. The aesthetic convenience is not yet there, here, or the streaming of the Devialet, namely, however if you are willing to take a pre-Mark Levinson traditional design, then this may be your best option for marked-down fidelity.

At the marked-up level, we like the designs of Holm Acoustics whose mix of fashion and acoustics is unprecedented. Beyond this, it is a matter of taste. There are a range of companies such as Classe and Bryston of Canada who make attractive offerings at reasonable, though marked, price points.

We do not particularly like "over-the-top" designs, however, so while amplifiers like the local Boulder 3030 monoblock may garner international press and owner interest, we would choose the 2050 units ourselves for purely domestic use.

Were one to be driving a loudspeaker such as the B&W 802 diamond in a studio environment,  we would recommend an amplifier like the Anthem M1 (1000W) mono-block, quite strongly.

Wow.

Anthem M1 Monoblock Amplifier, 1000W, 1 Unit

At 1-rack unit, and light as a feather, the Anthem M1 is our choice for non-state-of-the-art yet capable, amplification.

Beyond this, it is up.

2013/11/17 JP
www.hifiart.ca