Spl amp reviews12/26/2023 Large toroidal transformer is just visible beneath the s1200's heatsinking, each side hosting three pairs of 16A 'perforated emitter' power transistors from ON Semiconductor Limited features are similarly focused, so the Elector preamp has a tape loop, comprising 'send' outputs and 'return' inputs, despite SPL admitting that not many people are using tape decks these days. This thinking is clear in the design of both preamp and power amp, which employ its proprietary '120V' VOLTAiR line and gain stages. There are also 12V trigger connections on both pre and power amps, allowing the former to switch the latter on and off remotely.Ĭoming up on its 40th anniversary in 2023, SPL's mantra is that 'experimenting and listening is more important to us than designing by the book'. The amp's inputs are on both XLRs and RCAs, with a simple switch to select between them, and an input trim knob for each channel offering up to 5.5dB of signal attenuation in 0.5dB steps. The Elector has three sets of balanced XLR inputs and four RCA line-ins, with one set apiece of outputs. There's a firm sense of both pre and power amp having everything you need and no extras – well, arguably apart from those VU meters – and of all the features having been thoroughly well thought through. The preamp shares the dinky dimensions of the power amp, standing a mere 10cm tall, but despite this feels solid and substantial thanks to the company's superbly high build and finish quality. The latter is an exceptionally simple-looking all-analogue device, its functional 'studio' look extending to an input selector and volume control, plus little flip-switches for tape monitoring and to adjust the sensitivity of its illuminated VU meters. Personally, I'm tempted by our red review sample, especially when it also extends to the company's matching preamplifier, the £2399 Elector. Linear PSU supplies relay-switched inputs, motorised volume, balanced 'Supra' op-amps and single-ended Supra op-amps As another nice touch, the power amp comes with three coloured decorative panels, which attach to the cut-out on the amp's fascia using neodymium magnets – so if you want red on black or black on silver or whatever, it's up to you. Like all the Professional Fidelity models, the amps come in a choice of finishes: not just black or silver, but also a very vibrant red, all in extremely high-quality anodised heavyweight aluminium, allowing the equipment either to blend into your décor or make a real statement. This, then, is a very serious power amp in compact form, beaten in SPL's range only by the m1000 monoblocks, which will set you back £7900 a pair, but reward with even more power at their rated 750W/4ohm. This should be more than enough for even the most demanding speakers and level-hungry listeners. The new Performer s1200 (£6499) may only measure a smidge under 28cm wide and a little over 20cm tall, making it a tiddler in the pantheon of high-end stereo power amps, but it's still capable of a claimed 300W/8ohm, rising to 520W/4ohm. Mind you, the promise of room-shaking raises its head again with the new flagship power amplifier in the company's domestic – or 'Professional Fidelity' – range, which promises 'Mastering Grade Listening'. We pair the s1200 with SPL's Elector preamp for a big-hearted, all-analogue systemīased some 40 minutes west of Düsseldorf, SPL sounds like an attractive prospect for those who like their music loud – though in this case the name has nothing to do with Sound Pressure Level, standing instead for 'Sound Performance Laboratory'. Germany's 'Sound Performance Laboratory' has launched its largest stereo power amp yet.
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