Introduction Jeff Rowland Design Group makes the sexiest audio products in the world. There is no other way to put it. Milled from a solid billet of aluminum and etched with the most stunning brushed aluminum wavy pattern directly onto the amplifier, the Jeff Rowland Model 112 makes as much of a statement about your sense of design as it does your lust for accurate reproduction of sound. The Model 112 is a completely new look from Jeff Rowland Design Group, demonstrating increased value and a smaller physical size, as well as a departure from the battery design of some of their older products. The Model 112 features a unique two-tier design that isolates the amplifier section from the power supply. This serves to keep the sensitive amplifier circuitry shielded from the electrically noisy power supply. Unlike other "audiophile" amplifiers, the Rowland Model 112 avoids the temptation of breaking the amplifier into two (or four, ...

Introduction I received a call from my wife a few months back while I was traveling on business. She said that there was a box on the porch that she couldn’t possibly budge. I soon realized that it was the awaited Pass X350 that I was to receive for review. Knowing that it was heavy, I asked her to get a neighbor to help her drag it into the house. She later called and said that it was a huge job, even with a strong male helping. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized how massive and dense this box really was. From unpacking to positioning it onto my amp stand, this was a project. It weighs about 150 lbs., but that doesn’t tell the whole story. At 19 inches wide, 22 inches deep and 10.5 inches tall, the X350 is not a small amp, but it is not the ...

Introduction While many amplifier manufacturers continue to only think about stereo, Cinepro knows the future is multi-channel sound. The six-channel 3K6se amplifier was designed expressly for the demands of 5.1 digital audio sources--such as DVD and Laserdiscs encoded with Dolby Digital and DTS. Digitally encoded movies require amplification that can maintain a wide dynamic range without distortion; and whereas dialogue normally requires an average of 5-10 watts, key action scenes (such as the White House explosion in "Independence Day") peaked close to 750 watts for brief bursts in Cinepro's extensive tests. To accommodate this range of levels, the 3K6se is capable of generating a peak output of 1 kilowatt per channel (4 ohms). The inputs and outputs are divided into three two-channel groups (front LR, center/sub, rear LR). Each group can also be converted from two to one channel (bridged mono). In the multi-channel mode, the 3K6se is rated at 375 watts per channel into 8 ohms ...

Introduction The Audio Research VT100 Mk II is a 100 watt all tube, balanced stereo power amplifier which retails for $4995. It uses two matched pairs of 6550 output tubes per channel, and four 6922 twin triode tubes per channel. It also incorporates a fully regulated, 540-joule power supply, distributed between two separate, isolated output circuit boards, thus creating short signal paths and true "dual mono" operation back to the main power transformer. The VT100 Mk II is a fully balanced amplifier, which offers both balanced and single ended connections. When using single ended inputs, shorting pins are inserted into the XLR connectors. There is a choice of 4 and 8 ohm speaker connections. I was first taken by the overall look of the amp. I confess that I have had a fetish for the look of Audio Research gear for years. I just think AR gear looks cool. It has always looked rugged yet glamorously simple. Setup ...

Introduction Sure bets are hard to find though you can always depend on Proceed (Madrigal) to produce a killer product. The HPA 2 (dual mono) and the HPA 3 (tri-mono) home theater amplifier combo is no exception. These 250 watts per channel (8-ohms) amps performed spectacularly on every source be it rock, jazz, new age or the most dynamic movie soundtracks. Cosmetically they match all other Proceed products such as the Proceed AVP digital processor and the PDMT DVD transport. A large silver Standby button is the only front panel adornment. The rear panel provides both single-ended and balanced inputs and a tiny toggle switch determines which type of input is active to prevent any unwanted pickup of stray noise from the unused connection. When switching from single-ended to balanced the signal level is adjusted for the 6dB variable between input types. High-quality, gold-plated binding posts allow the use of audiophile grade cables with spade ...