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This Month's Featured Equipment Reviews |
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Power Amplifier Forum Topics: |
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Classic Power Amplifier Reviews |
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Past Power Amplifier News |
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Home Theater Power Amplifiers
Categories in section: Home Theater Power Amplifiers
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Tuesday, 01 July 2003
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Written by
Brian Kahn
Introduction
Over
the past couple of years, Anthem has risen from the shadows of Sonic
Frontiers, its former big brother, to become a formidable brand for
value conscious AV consumers. The PVA 2 is the latest in Anthem’s quest
to provide high-performing, high-value electronics at a price point
that the average person can afford. The PVA 2 is a 125-watts per
channel, no-frills stereo amplifier that sells for $649. The PVA 2
measures 17.25 inches wide, is five-and-one-quarter inches tall, 11
inches deep and weighs 26 pounds.
The PVA 2, like the rest of Anthem’s current line, features clean,
unpretentious styling. The attractive yet simple front panel is
manufactured from three-eighths of an inch thick, brushed aluminum,
available in either silver or black. The face of the PVA 2 is
decisively sparse, with nothing more than a logo, a power light and a
button to power the amp. The remaining surfaces of the amplifier
feature a ...
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Sunday, 01 June 2003
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Written by
Brian Kahn
Introduction
The
Jolida JD-202A Level 1 Modification amplifier will most certainly
capture the attention of those enthusiasts looking for performance tube
gear that doesn’t require a armored truck delivery of funds to make it
affordable. The modified JD-202A integrated amplifier is the latest
product incarnation from high-end audio veteran Walter Liederman
(co-founder of Hi-Fi Buys). Under his new company moniker “Underwood
HiFi,” (formerly the Grahm Company) Liederman buys the stock JD-202A
and has it modified at the Parts Connexion. This product takes its
place beside other Liederman modified gems from Jolida and Shanling in
the Underwood HiFi line.
The amplifier in question starts life as a standard $750 Jolida
JD-202A, then is shipped to The Parts Connexion, where it is
extensively modified with tubes and components designed to
substantially increase the performance of the product, all without
dramatically increasing the price. The Jolida JD-202A with Level 1 mods
is a 40-watt-per-channel stereo integrated amplifier that measures 12.5
inches ...
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Tuesday, 01 April 2003
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Written by
Augie Bettencourt
Introduction
Movie
buffs may remember the name Krell from the movie "Forbidden Planet,"
where the Krell were the most powerful race of an alien civilization.
Krell Industries, manufacturer of some the world’s most exotic AV
equipment, named its company after this superior species. Like Morbius,
another “Forbidden Planet” character who sat in front of the Krell’s
computer terminal trying to understand their science, I sit in front of
Krell’s amplifier, learning about its science.
The amplifier I’m talking about is the Krell FPB (Full Power Balanced)
400cx, Krell’s latest “mid-priced” offering in the FPB stereo amplifier
line-up, priced at $10,500. The 400cx is rated at 400 watts per channel
into eight ohms, 800 watts in four ohms and 1600 watts into two ohms.
Upon unboxing the Krell FPB 400cx, I was immediately struck by its
build quality. Weighing in at 110 pounds and measuring 19 inches wide,
10.3 inches tall and 19.7 inches deep, this ...
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Wednesday, 01 January 2003
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Written by
Bryan Southard
Introduction
When
purchasing automobiles, you are presented with a selection that varies
from simple low-cost transportation merely designed to supply the most
basic features and a means from point A to point B, to vehicles that
are the very essence of performance and artistic expression. When
purchasing audio/video products, you have an equally enchanting array
of choices, designed to fit every budget and performance desire. The
Mark Levinson No436 is a product designed for the audio/video
enthusiast who demands nothing short of the highest performance that
money can buy.
Madrigal is no stranger to this level of performance with lines that
include Revel and Proceed and are no stranger to me, as I own and use
Revel Salon loudspeakers and the Mark Levinson No32 line-stage
preamplifier in my reference system. The No436 is a rack-mountable
350-watt Class AB monaural power amplifier that measures 15.5 inches in
width, 20.5 inches in depth and nearly a 4 RU ...
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Sunday, 01 December 2002
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Written by
Ed Masterson
Introduction
The
name Aragon has long been synonymous with performance and value. Eons
ago, Aragon was put on the high-end audio map with the introduction of
the critically acclaimed Aragon 4004MKII amplifier. Today, the Aragon
brand name is owned by Klipsch, who have recently introduced an
entirely new line of Aragon products with the same lofty goals in mind:
to supply products that compete with the very best, at a price that
doesn’t require a second mortgage. The Aragon 2007 fits that
description as a seven-channel amplifier that measures
nine-and-one-quarter inches tall, 15 inches deep, and
17-and-one-quarter inches wide. The 2007 weighs 49 pounds and sells for
$3,000, a competitive price as compared with other high-performance
multi-channel power amps.
Each
of the 2007’s amplifier channels is capable of supplying 200 watts of
power into eight ohms, and 300 watts into four ohms. This is a whopping
total of 1400 watts at eight ohms and 2100 watts into ...
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