Amps are an integral component of guitar and amp culture. Their wide array of tones allows players to explore everything from classic cleans to heavy crunch with ease, not to mention high frequencies that are easily managed through their treble and presence dials.
AMP may offer your business numerous advantages, but is it the right framework for you? Before making your decision, it may be beneficial to learn more about its features and advantages before making a final decision.
Cambridge Audio XS 3
From its exterior appearance, the Naim XS 3 resembles its legendary predecessor – the Supernait 2. The industrial design dates back to 2000; yet within lies state-of-the-art Naim circuitry with built-in MM phono stage. Furthermore, one of the most powerful amplifiers around, providing 70W into eight ohms – capable of driving virtually all loudspeakers without issue.
This amplifier was designed for hi-fi enthusiasts looking for an audiophile-grade integrated amp at an affordable price point. The design of this unit makes it simple and user-friendly, featuring one central button to control speaker selection as well as buttons that enter a setup menu where settings such as inputs, DAC output and USB class settings can be changed easily.
This amplifier boasts outstanding sound quality, with exceptional channel separation and detail levels. Its audio circuitry was carefully assembled to minimize noise interference for an enjoyable listening experience, boasting low distortion figures of less than 1% across most audible frequency ranges. Furthermore, this amp is exceptionally quiet; noise interference has been eliminated to provide a peaceful listening experience.
My testing showed that the XS3 had plenty of power and never came close to clipping, enabling it to provide your music through speakers or headphones and producing high-resolution sounds that will sound better than ever.
The XS3 offers an innovative five-way protection system called CAP5 that protects it from overcurrent, overtemperature, short circuited speaker outputs, DC on speaker outputs and clipping. This microprocessor-controlled feature will immediately shut down if any problems arise in order to save itself and your equipment from further harm – an invaluable feature when looking out for investment protection!
Marantz PM6007
The Marantz PM6007 is an enhanced successor of its popular PM6006. Equipped with new components in both power amp and phono stage for increased versatility and improved performance, as well as an RCA output for external subwoofer compatibility, making this unit the perfect hub for your hi-fi system.
It provides both analog and digital inputs, including a preamp phono input compatible with MM phono cartridges, two S/PDIF coaxial Toslink inputs for your CD player or ultra-HD Blu-ray player, headphone output, stereo RCA outputs and preamp mono output to power speakers or subwoofers; in addition, its toroidal power transformer and Shottky barrier diodes deliver high current power for powerful sound reproduction.
Marantz has introduced the AK4490 digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to their PM6007 receiver, supporting high-resolution audio up to 192 kHz/24 bits and featuring two digital filters for optimizing decoding carried out by its DAC: Filter 1 has a slow roll-off preset for improved stereo imaging depth while Filter 2 delivers more precise sound reproduction.
Surface-mount circuit boards replace standard IC op-amps for more stable operation and superior audio quality, providing HDAM s3 modules with power from their high capacity power supply and shielded toroidal transformer. Producing up to 2.45 Watts of preamp sections per module helps minimize noise interference.
The PM6007 is also designed to work seamlessly with HEOS wireless music streaming system, providing access to tunes on smartphones, tablets or PCs through your home network and streaming them straight to your Hi-Fi through it. Voice control of your Hi-Fi can also be enabled using its built-in microphone; or connect it to an optional remote for convenient operation.
Origin 20C
The Marshall Origin 20C is a medium-sized combo amp designed to offer classic Marshall valve tone with modern features. Equipped with a Celestion V type speaker, its rich harmonic tones respond perfectly to playing dynamics. Furthermore, both its gain boost and effects loop are footswitchable for hands-free control; making this an excellent choice for use with effect pedals. Suitable for beginners and intermediate players looking for that signature Marshall sound!
Marshall Origin 20C features an intuitive control layout and can accommodate most guitar tones easily. Equipped with two EL34 power tubes and three ECC83 preamp tubes for plenty of gain, its master volume control enables you to tailor distortion levels as per venue. Furthermore, its Powerstem circuit lets you switch between high, medium or low power modes as needed – perfect for blues, classic rock or indie rock styles as well as pedal use! The Marshall Origin 20C makes an excellent addition for blues, classic or indie rock genres when partnered with pedals!
Marshall is striking an ideal balance between innovation and heritage with their product offerings this year, including several hi-tech offerings while continuing its tradition of vintage reissues. Their Origin series amps provide classic Marshall tones at an accessible price point.
The Marshall Origin 20C features an outstanding clean channel with 3-band EQ designed to complement pedals. Furthermore, its gain boost is footswitchable, and the speaker-emulated DI output produces rich tones ideal for recording purposes. Furthermore, this amp can be used effectively on gigging gigs too – just make sure that low power mode is switched on when performing in smaller venues!
Lavardin ITx
Lavardin is a small and specialist company that doesn’t produce large volumes of amplifiers, enabling it to focus on designing and developing high-quality components without making compromises necessary for affordable models. As a result, Lavardin amps stand apart in the market, competing favorably against larger, more established manufacturers’ offerings.
The company was established in 1996 near its namesake village, famous for its ancient church, 14th-century bridge and medieval castle ruins. Their inaugural product was the Model IT integrated amplifier which proved revolutionary because it used “Memory Free” technology that claimed to drastically decrease what the company termed “memory distortion”, an issue it held as one of the main factors contributing to solid-state amps being associated with sounding metallic and harsh.
Its design is minimal with only volume control and power switch on its front panel; while on its back are four single-ended source inputs, tape output, and speaker binding posts. Furthermore, unlike many of its rivals it doesn’t take days before sounding good; rather it sounds great less than 30 minutes after first turning on!
Its soundstage is expansive and impressively detailed, its dynamics breath-taking. Musicality and communicability also shine through; I found layers of music I never knew were present through using it with various speakers; the ITx is one of the most natural-sounding amps I have encountered regardless of price and reveals details that were never apparent with mainstream solid-state amplifiers.
Dr. Z Route 66
Groove Tubes’ KT66 output tubes and an EF preamp tube power this 32-watt single channel amp. It boasts an attractively simple tone stack featuring Volume, Bass and Treble controls that feed into a non negative feedback phase inverter for true harmonic content and output tube dynamics. A GZ-34 rectifier completes the circuit for roundness enveloped tone. This amplifier can handle heavy amounts of distortion while offering piano-like clarity with endless sustain even at low volumes.
Dr Z is one of the premier contemporary boutique designers. His amplifiers are widely renowned for setting new tonal templates rather than simply reproducing vintage ones – an example being his Route 66 tube amp, which features ruggedized military-spec 6L6 power tubes (KT66s) with an EF86 preamp tube which boasts incredible gain and input dynamics; typically used in high-end stereo systems or Vox AC15 amps from the 1960s.
The resultant tone is silky-smooth with an unforgettable character that stands out in any crowd. Clean tones feature sweet brilliance while even when overdriven the sound remains rich without becoming harsh; bass frequencies remain tight and well defined regardless of volume levels being increased.
This amp is not designed for lead work, but can still get loud. However, unlike some amps it does not automatically overdrive and must be driven into heavy distortion using either a distortion pedal or humbuckers in order to do so. Overall this amplifier makes an excellent choice for blues and classic rock tones as well as some hard rock sounds.