Dan D'Agostino Momentum Z – Flagship Monoblock of the Ultimate Series

The American company Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems has unveiled the new Dan D'Agostino Momentum Z mono power amplifier, released to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the Arizona-based brand. The new model is capable of delivering 500 W into 8 ohms and operates in a fully analogue mode – all digital control and monitoring circuits are excluded from the signal path.

Dan D'Agostino Momentum Z represents an evolution of the existing Momentum platform, building on technical solutions developed during the creation of the Relentless series. This new generation goes further, introducing significant changes to the power supply, input gain stage, cooling systems, and monitoring architecture. All of this reflects a broader rethinking of what a reference-class power amplifier should be in modern high-end audio systems.

In terms of design, the Momentum Z monoblock is unmistakably a D'Agostino product. The signature copper heat sinks are now five-axis machined from solid 19-kilogram copper billets, forming an elliptical geometry optimised for improved airflow and heat dissipation. The CNC-machined copper side panels not only look spectacular but also contribute to efficient thermal management and high thermal stability. As copper has nearly twice the thermal conductivity of aluminium, this solution ensures stable operation even when the amplifier is delivering its full output.

The new Dual Domain Meter Display combines a 3.5-inch LCD screen for digital status information with the brand’s iconic mechanical needle, inspired by Swiss watchmaking.

The power supply of the Dan D'Agostino Momentum Z is built around a pair of 1,200 VA toroidal transformers and the proprietary Kinetic Drive Regulator. According to Dan D’Agostino, this architecture allows the amplifier to maintain extremely stable voltages regardless of incoming mains quality or the changing demands of connected loudspeakers.

The specified performance figures are impressive: 500 W into 8 ohms, doubling to 1,000 W into 4 ohms and 2,000 W into 2 ohms. This places the Momentum Z among the most powerful home audio amplifiers, but sheer power is only part of the story. The main focus lies in how that power is controlled. The Kinetic Drive Regulator uses a hybrid of MOSFET and bipolar transistors to stabilise the amplifier against fluctuations in the mains supply and varying speaker loads, reducing noise, lowering distortion, and ensuring more consistent control of demanding loudspeakers.

The signal path remains fully analogue throughout, while a background software-based control system continuously monitors bias and transistor operating parameters in real time, keeping the amplifier within its optimal operating range. The Momentum Z also features a new JFET-based input stage, chosen for its low noise and linearity when handling very small signals. Two selectable input modes allow the amplifier to be optimised for use with D’Agostino preamplifiers or with conventional third-party designs.

For the first time in the history of Dan D'Agostino, the Momentum Z monoblock is equipped with an Ethernet port, providing access to a web-based interface that displays operating voltages, temperature, bias, DC offset, and trigger status in real time, along with control of the front-panel display modes. While this does not enable full remote control, it gives users and service engineers much deeper insight into how the amplifier is performing within a system.

Information on the recommended retail price and the start of sales for the Dan D'Agostino Momentum Z monoblock has not yet been announced.