Envizio 270 and 360 amplifiers

By Michael Wong

October 2006

Envizio 270 preamplifier, $5495. Envizio 360 power amplifier, $5995.

Envizio 270 preamp (click for larger image)

Envizzio 360 power amp (click for larger image)

Inside the Envizio 270 (click for larger image)

Inside the Envizio 360 (click for larger image)

Envizio is a new name on the New Zealand audio scene. According to the profile on their website, the company was formed back in 2000. They say that because of the small New Zealand high end market, promotional efforts have been concentrated on the European and US markets, leaving an extremely low-key New Zealand presence. So low-key that AudioEnz only became aware of the company’s existence thanks to a brief mention in a recent issue of the UK’s Hi-Fi News magazine.

Halcyon days

Looking at the 270 preamplifier and 360 power amplifier invokes a nostalgic trip back to the halcyon days of New Zealand audio, when classic names like Craft Audio, Mega, HFA and McLaren occupied retailers shelves and today’s big locals like Perreaux and Plinius were much smaller companies.

The Envizios are finished in black powder coated aluminium casework; standard flat panels on the preamp, cast into external heat sinks on the power amp. The units are tastefully adorned with polished Rimu faceplates featuring the Envizio logo and model number carved into it’s face. Both are dual mono designs featuring 100% PFTE circuit boards and point to point hardwiring with custom high purity silver wire.

The 270 preamplifier is a simply equipped unit with four single-ended inputs and just three basic controls; a stepped ladder resistor attenuator, a small push button allowing sequential source selection with blue LED telltales and a power switch. Construction is solid with good finish. Around the back there is an IEC power socket, two sets of RCA outputs and the four pairs of RCA inputs arranged in vertical pairs. This mirrors the input monitoring on the fascia but the proximity of each pair makes it awkward to use large barrelled connectors. And while nicely gold plated, their size varied with some jacks being a noticeably tighter fit than others.

Unusually, the 100wpc 360’s power supply transformers are mounted to the top plate rather than the bottom. RCA single ended inputs, two sets of gold plated speaker binding posts and an IEC power socket fill the rear. Notable circuit topology includes limited output into low impedance loads and a thermal overload cut-off.

You hum it son and I’ll play it

Setting up revealed the Envizio duo to be very sensitive to earthing. With all my test sources connected there was a continual stream of buzzing and hum. Some of the hum was traced to the power amplifier’s transformers, perhaps mounting the transformers to the underside of the top plate is not such a good idea?

The buzzing was tracked down to earth loops when secondary sources like FM tuner and tape deck were connected. Problem solved by disconnecting everything but the turntable and CDP. Earthing problems also prevented the use of the 360 poweramp with another preamp. Ground lift switches on each unit (a la Plinius) would be a good solution.

In use the moulded volume knob on the 270 doesn’t feel very nice. It’s stepped action is vague and the steps too coarse. Unlike Goldilocks, there is no “just right” position, it’s either too loud or too quiet.

Billy Bold

Once warmed up, the sound is big and bold. Soundstage width, height and depth are good. Images are locked in place with good focus and projection. There is good reproduction of detail and transparency. However ambient cues and the sense of air around performers and their instruments, are diminished.

The tonal palette favours the extremes with clean, slightly accentuated high frequencies and big, warm bass that goes down low but misses out on definition and snap. This has the effect of making the clean midrange sound bare and undernourished.

Dynamically, the amps perform adequately but never really come alive. Music sounds somewhat deprived of it’s drive and vitality. There simply isn’t the authoritative sound that separates the good from the exceptional. These amps tend to favour simply recorded music, played back at modest volumes. With complex music and higher levels, the sound becomes unconvincing and even gets a little fatiguing.

Despite the many philosophical objections, retro-chic shows no signs of abating. It is well insinuated into every cultural aesthetic – cars, clothes, food, music. Intentional or otherwise, the Envizio duo is retro-audio. A return to the simple, often charming, style of audio equipment that formed the bedrock of New Zealand audio. Unfortunately, we also get all the old mechanical, operational and performance foibles of that era.

The Envizios are an admirable and welcome first effort. They have a definite aesthetic charm. Listening is pleasant enough but does not become a special experience. Perhaps this is merely a promise of better to come but in the here and now, the performance on offer is not commensurate with the asking price.

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