Telos offers a distinctly different and arguably far more sophisticated approach to both stable power management and ground noise dissipation when compared to the prevalent approaches offered by the competition. Eschewing isolation transformers, regeneration, balanced power supplies and batteries/super-caps, as well as the passive, parallel approach to system grounding, their solutions are based on wide-ranging experience of creating ultra-stable, low-noise power supplies and working environments for the likes of server farms and CNC shops. Our experience with units at both the top and bottom of the range (yes, they have products that cost less than four-figures – and yes, they too are seriously effective) suggests that Telos could be providing the most serious and effective solution when it comes to delivering optimum power and grounding infrastructure in high-end systems. The arrival of the Foundation Series, just makes the approach and technologies more accessible.
The Mark Levinson 600 Series – and an old friend…
Mark Levinson (the brand – not the man) introduced a new, high-end amplifier series with more than a hint of familiarity about it. The short line consists of the 626 dual-mono pre-amplifier (with balanced and single-ended line, phono [MM/MC] and digital inputs, but no streaming input), the 632 dual-mono amplifier and the 631 mono-bloc – more than just a little reminiscent of the much-loved 33H. Black and curved with slightly garish red LED lighting (which can be switched off) the pieces certainly both look unmistakably Levinson and look the part. Inevitably, it’s the 631 ($40,000 ea.) that catches the eye. Squat and powerful in appearance, it offers a choice of high or low-bias operation, in yet another approximation of Class A, although they’ve published no rated output as yet. The circuit is described as “low-feedback and ultra-wide bandwidth” and looks like a welcome return to the brand’s traditional values. The matching 626 pre-amp is priced at $25,000 – which seems almost reasonable for a full-facilities unit these days.
Elsewhere in the same, large and largely passive display area, it was nice to re-acquaint ourselves with Arcam, a reliable, high-value fixture from our days in retail and still going strong. Lovely to see the sleek simplicity of the CD5 disc player – at £699, still arguably the best and most cost-effective route to high-quality music access. The matching amplifiers spread from £749 to £1,099 with the high-performance Glass G designs starting at £1,499. Although the brand produces a pair of standalone streamers the St5 and ST25), the big introduction in Munich was a pair of streaming-capable integrated amps, the SA35 (£3,000 and 120 W/ch) and SA45 (£4,500 and 180 W/ch) both with Class G output stages and the plethora of inputs and connectivity options you’d expect. It’s high time to revisit Arcam – especially the entry-level products – to see if the current range is keeping the faith?
The Diptyque Reference 2 loudspeakers and Kora electronics
