Introduction Having all the power you need is such a wonderful luxury. Imagine being able to sleep in whenever you wanted, never having to answer to your boss, or driving as fast as you'd like on the freeway. This is what it is like to own a Mark Levinson No. 333 dual monaural, 300 watt into 8 ohm stereo amplifier. I have had the No. 333 in my reference music system for exactly one year and I can say it has been the strongest single component in my signal path. I have driven a number of lofty, high end loudspeakers including the 90 dB efficient Martin Logan Re-Quests, my former reference loudspeakers the 93 dB efficient Cello Stradivari Legends, and the super efficient 94 dB efficient Wilson CUBs. The one constant in all these was that no matter how loudly I played Stravinsky, Prong, Stevie Ray Vaughn or even Pink Floyd, I never heard the ...

Introduction Designing a cost-is-no-object AV system really isn't that hard. Ripping out walls, floating the floor, professionally hanging all sorts of room treatments and installing all of the best electronics practically guarantees a successful result. The problem is, not all of us have the $500,000-plus it takes to achieve all-out audio/video nirvana. A true challenge lies in developing a very high performance system on a much more modest budget. This brings us to the introduction of the Krell KAV-300i integrated amplifier. Priced at $2500 USD and rated at 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms, this little monster gives an up-and-coming high-end music enthusiast the ability to luxuriate in the high-end goodness known as Krell without having to sell any of the children to Gypsies. The Krell KAV-300i is a sleek design operated either by beautifully machined front panel or by remote control. The KAV-300i is equipped with four inputs, one balanced and three unbalanced. Its ...

Introduction Never known as a manufacturer of high end components, Kenwood's release of the KC-Z1 Home Theater Controller and KM-Z1 Power Amplifier combo, may seem surprising. Part of their Stage 3 line of product, these two components represent Kenwood's attempt at providing high quality home theater solutions. The KC-Z1 Controller offers the latest circuitry for home theater surround sound including Dolby Digital (AC-3) and the upgraded THX designed specifically for 5.1 channel systems as well as Dolby Pro Logic. The companion six-channel 130 watts per channel KM-Z1, can be connected to the KC-Z1 via a convenient dB-25 Preout Audio Connection, which makes interfacing equipment a much simpler prospect, though Kenwood doesn't supply one with the two units. The real genius behind the KC-Z1 is its touch screen panel. The touch screen rests comfortably on the front panel of the unit when not in use, otherwise it is a complete 900 MHz universal remote controller. Programming ...

Introduction Occasionally a product comes along that defies precedent. The 5-channel Cinema Grand amplifier from Sunfire is just such a product, exhibiting performance commonly associated with ultra-expensive amplifiers. At first glance, perhaps what you`ll find most unusual about the Cinema Grand is the absence of heavy-duty heatsinks. Like all Sunfire amps, the Cinema Grand employs a Bob Carver innovation, the tracking downconverter power supply. This unique design doesn't use any heatsinks to dissipate large amounts of wasted power as most of the input signal goes directly to the speakers. The amp runs so efficiently, a 30 pound power supply delivers 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms. The chassis was always cool to the touch, even after several hours of playing time. Unlike, massive amps that require venting, the Cinema Grand can be installed anywhere, even inside a closed cabinet.