Introduction He actually signs the amp. Yes, Bob Carver with golden ink, hence the name `Signature Amp.' This means he touched it, tested it, and each limited edition Sunfire Signature Amp ($3000 USD) meets Bob Carver's personal specifications for performance. And that's pretty cool. In an industry of pushing boxes, from "amp of the month," magazines it is refreshing to see a few companies still care to obsess over every detail. The Sunfire Signature Amp is a monstrous 600 watt stereo amp that has the ability to drive practically any load, from any speaker or speaker/subwoofer combo on the market. The Signature Amps' reported specs are impressive...way down at one ohm, Sunfire claims and almost unbelievable output of 4000 watts. This, I had to hear to believe, because in all of my years in high end audio I still can't hear graphs or stats. I can only hear music. I started my listening test with ...

Introduction The Rotel RB-976 is a 60W (x6) power amplifier that combines the strength of a workhorse with the flexibility and finesse of a thorough bred. This unit is modestly priced at $600. Out of the gate: Rotel has been manufacturing high performance electronics for more than 35 years. World renown for not only the company's passion for sound and music, Rotel has also received over 200 international awards. They've poured this love, knowledge and breeding into the RB-976. Heading into the first turn: The power supply comes from a custom made high capacity toroidal power transformer that is highly regulated and contains a substantial filter capacitor bank to ensure maximum power capability. The power delivered in the 6-channel mode is 60W per channel (20 Hz to 20 kHz @ 0.03 THD into 8 ohms). In the 5-channel mode the unit can deliver 70W per channel. And that's not all. The three amplifier input pairs can ...

Introduction Magnum, a small British audio component manufacturer, was started several years ago by the one of the founding fathers of the REGA Planar turntable. Today, Magnum is making their line of mosfet integrated, pre and power amplifiers, CD players and loudspeakers available to audiophiles and music lovers throughout the U.S. I was fortunate enough to procure the MP 160 ($750 USD) preamplifier and the MF 160 ($750 USD) power amplifier and have had the two pieces in and out of my audio system over the last few months. The MP 160 preamplifier is a slim-line unit featuring all single ended inputs and outputs and boasts an internal power supply. The front panel features an on/off switch, three buttons each (tape monitor, mute and mono functions), an input selector along side balance and volume controls. Also, to add even more value, the MP 160 comes not only with a phono section but a user selectable ...

Introduction The Sonic Frontiers Power II is a $5000 stereo power amplifier rated at 110 watts per channel at either two, four or eight ohm impedances. Its aesthetic design is somewhat post modern in that the aluminum case and Sonic logo give the Power II a futuristic feel. The 16 tubes suggest at first glance, a more traditional approach to high end amplification. Sonic Frontiers is far from a traditional electronics company. Over the past 10 years this Canadian firm founded by Chris Johnson and Chris Jensen have caused a stir in the well established tube electronics market. It isn't easy to get prime placement in A-list US retailers, yet Sonic has. It isn't because of sweet talking either. Their gear performs; the Power II is a good example. Living with the Power II From the moment you open the boxes for the Power II you are reminded that you have invested in something special. ...

Introduction Unlike many manufacturers' claims of improved performance from one generation to the next, the Krell Full Power Balanced 600 is not only a HUGE improvement over its predecessor the KSA 300S, it is a kick in the head and a punch in the gut to just about everything I have heard before, tube or solid state. In the areas of transparency, mid range and treble purity, and bass control and bass extension; the FPB 600 has that non fatiguing utter ease that sucks me into a recording much the way a live performance can, and reproduced music almost never does. "In this corner, weighing in at..." At 185 pounds, don't even try to lift this thing yourself. Much of the FPB 600s weight comes from its massive pair of toroidal transformers which are wired in parallel and act as the heart of this heaving beast. Rated at 600 watts into 8 ohms, the ...