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Dealer recommendations: amplifiers

By Michael Jones

June 2008

This month AudioEnz asks New Zealand’s hi-fi dealers for their choices in amplifier. Whether integration amps or pre-power combinations, there are a number of choices here.

Audio Analogue Pucinni

“It stands at the very least equal to, and in our view better than most amplifiers, either integrated or pre/power to the NZ$5,000 mark,” says Totally Wired’s John Ransley. John loves the way the Pucinni looks and is built. “All this makes the Puccini rather seductive to live with, and the sound quality is almost a reflection of this simple, yet sophisticated design. If you value transparency and ease of musical reproduction, we think you’ll find what you are after. I should also point out there is no lack of power or bass extension either.” Neil Young from Newmarket’s Eastern Hi-Fi is very impressed with the Pucinni. “Very refined sound, and the consensus here is that this out performs its more expensive brothers.”

Cambridge Audio A840 $2499

Cambridge's top integrated amplifier is an immediate pick for Romesh Anandaraja of Hamilton’s The Listening Post. “For sheer value for money this is a hard act to beat. The sound is powerful, open, and surprisingly "real" for such a well priced product.”

AudioEnz review

Cyrus Integrated 6vs2

“A charmer,” says Jeff Clark from Hamilton’s The Audio Consultant. “Compact, simple to use, punches well above its weight. Great integrated that will fit into most peoples budget. No fuss, smooth and detailed. Great for the "modern style" home or apartment without compromising sound quality.”

Marantz PM6002 ($999) and PM7001 ($1299)

Romesh from Hamilton’s The Listening Post likes the smaller Marantz 6002,describing it as “a stellar performer for the money. It's relatively neutral, will drive most budget speakers with ease, and is surprising musical & enjoyable. It's a great starting point for some one wanting to put together an enjoyable system on a budget.” Living Sound recommend the 7001: “A smooth presentation with good dynamics and current delivery make this our choice for driving floorstanders in the $1000 - $2000 price bracket.”

NAD C315BEE

Easily the cheapest amplifier in this article, the little NAD “it easily able to resolve the delicacy of Bob Dylan's lyricism and guitar work, with the weight and dynamism of Black Sabbath's Electric Funeral,” says Christchurch’s The Listening Post. “Soundstaging was transparent and nicely timed, with plenty of space and sheen around instruments and voice alike. Bass was taut and lively, and balanced well with the intimacy of the top-end. All up this little entry level amp is a true king-spitter in it's price class. The 315BEE strikes the perfect balance between price and quality.”

Naim Nait 5 $2500

“Often described as one of audio's great bargains the latest incarnation is the best yet,” says The Real Music Company’s Allan McFarlane. “Timing, timing, timing, that is the ability to knit received signals together in an integrated (no pun intended) way and convey a sense of involvement at an emotional level. An awesome performer given its crazy current price of just $2500.”

Naim pre-power amplifiers (from $5350 to $90,500)

Three dealers recommended Naim pre-power combinations. Allan McFarlane from The Real Music Company loves the “controlled musicality, effortless phrasing, power in reserve - that is the audible belief that the power amplifier will easily deliver any signal the pre-amplifier passes through. As you go up the range the truly astonishing Naim pre-amplifiers "open the window" to a beguiling level of assurance that is unequivocally awe inspiring. As you progress up the power amplifier range you are immediately stuck by new levels of authoritative control.” Living Sound raved about the 552 pre and 500 power amps, each with their respective separate power supplies: “Attributes at this end of the scale include a total lack of grain, effortless dynamics, both macro and micro, an inky black background during silences within the music, accompanied by much more retrieval of low level detail. The music takes on another dimension with favourite recordings sounding fresh and much more real.” Jeff Clark from Hamilton’s The Audio Consultant likes the Naim 202/200 pre power combo: “Great combination, beautiful control, simple to operate – what more do you need!”

Perreaux SXP2/SX60M $2697.00

Perreaux’s combination of a passive preamp and mono power amps, all housed in their slim Silhouette chassis, has many excited. “Miniature purist,” says Nelson’s Living Sound. “That sound is all Perreaux, detailed, and well balanced through all octaves.” John Ransley from Dunedin’s Totally Wired says “In our opinion this is the most balanced and satisfying design Perreaux have ever produced - and certainly the best value for money. The combination is at once detailed yet relaxed - we attribute this to the passive preamplifier. The power amplifiers are dynamic without being aggressive.”

Perreaux SM6Mk2 ($4699) and 350p ($8199)

“This is a formidable combination,” says Eastern Hi-Fi’s Neil Young. “Not many amps can deliver the power and delicacy that this can. True world class performance at a realistic price and will happily drive any speaker you want with no problems whatsoever. The revised SM6 has layers of detail that the original didn’t quite reach. The remote is a work of art! Either of these products in isolation is fantastic, but together it’s a whole other story. Obviously designed to work together, realistically the only way to do better is to go up to the 750 monoblocks. Unreservedly recommended!”

Plinius Tautoru ($8680) and SA Refernce ($19,665)

“Plinius's new reference products have once again lifted the bar for New Zealands premier manufacturer,” says Romesh Anandaraja of Hamilton’s The Listening Post. “They compete head on head with reference offerings from the big boys overseas. What makes them one of our favourites, and a favourite with our clients is the pricing in New Zealand, which is substantially under international pricing. The sounds is big and effortless with fantastic dynamics and clarity.

AudioEnz review of the Tautoro

Project Pre-Box and Amp-Box ($499 each)

Very small cases for this Project's pre and power combination. Christchurch’s The Listening Post recommend the Project as its “bottom end is well proportioned and deep; delivered with real gutso. Imaging is remarkably coherent (especially for a pre-power combo under $1000). Midrange is warm and lively, easily resolving the rugged yet delicate melodies of Nina Simone for example. Stringed instruments have a rich texture, horns are not too bright and bass woody. Very impressive for such a junior combination.”

Rega Brio 3 $1075

“Two knobs-volume and source select with no remote keep things simple with all the goodies inside the box,” says Living Sound about this popular UK amplifier. “The music swings along with lively rhythms, good detail and an all round believable presentation.” “Music in abundance,” says Allan McFarlane from Wellington’s The Real Music Company. “Timbral accuracy, accurate timing and a good sense of the musicians having fun. And a Rega phono stage built in.”

Rotel RA-04 ($699) and RA-05 ($999)

These two amplifiers from Rotel are very similar, with the major difference being remote control. The cheaper RA-04 is recommended by Nelson’s Living Sound, who say that it “delivers a punchy sound with good pace to the music”. John Ransley from Dunedin’s Totally Wired says “it opens the door to real high fidelity at an affordable level, but without compromising musical quality.” John adds “the RA05 simply sounds demonstrably better than any other amplifier under NZ$1000 when hooked up to similarly priced and conceived speakers.” Strong words!

VTL TL6.5 Preamplifier ($18,995) and S400 power amplifier ($49,995)

Romesh Anandaraja of Hamilton’s The Listening Post says that “the TL6.5 & S400 deliver a substantial portion of VTL's reference combinations performance, making them one of our dream products. They have the liquidity, harmonic richness, and musicality usually associated with good tube equipment, but they also have resolution, speed, dynamics, and authority, making them incredibly involving with any music. They are among the finest tube products we've heard.”

Also recommended:

Sugden A21SE $5699 (recommended by Eastern Hi-Fi Newmarket)
Tri- TRV35SE $3499 (recommended by Eastern Hi-Fi, Newmarket)
Fatman iTube 252 $2,499 (recommended by Hamilton’s The Listening Post)
Yamaha A-S2000 (recommended by The Listening Post, Christchurch)