Интегральные усилители — Wlm Amadeus

The Amadeus is the top integrated amplifier from WLM, Wiener Lautsprecher Manufaktur, the Austrian company led by Hannes Frick and best known for its loudspeakers. It combines a hand-wired analogue preamplifier, including all the features of WLM's Anton reference preamplifier, with Class D power stages derived from WLM's Johann monoblocks. It also includes a phono stage, a headphone amplifier and a Bluetooth receiver.

Key specs that matter

Output is 2 x 1,175 W into 4 ohms at 1% THD+N and 1 kHz. Inputs are one XLR, three RCA, two phono inputs switchable between MM and MC, and Bluetooth. The phono stage has variable RIAA equalisation curves. The front panel carries a 30 degree harmonic switch at 8 kHz, a 45 degree harmonic switch at 10 kHz, a +3 dB bass switch at 25 Hz, a bass contour switch at 25 and 50 Hz and a bass contour adjustment of up to +6 dB at 25 and 50 Hz. A headphone output, a variable RIAA selector and an output on/off switch are also on the front panel.

Engineering and use context

WLM made the Amadeus fully symmetrical, from the preamplifier through to the power stages. The preamplifier section is analogue and hand-wired, like the whole unit, and it reproduces the feature set of WLM's Anton preamplifier. The power stages are fully balanced high-end Class D amplifiers, technically corresponding to the Johann monoblocks, and they deliver very high power in a single chassis. With more than a kilowatt per channel into 4 ohms, the Amadeus can drive low-sensitivity speakers and difficult loads that would challenge most integrated amplifiers. The harmonic switches and bass contour controls allow adjustments to the upper treble and the deep bass, useful for matching the amplifier to a room or to speakers whose bass extension depends on placement. The variable RIAA equalisation lets older records cut with other curves play correctly, and the two phono inputs allow two turntables or two cartridges. The Bluetooth receiver streams stored music from phones and tablets.

Pairing

The Amadeus drives any loudspeaker, including WLM's own La Scala and other high-sensitivity designs, where its power reserve gives headroom rather than volume. The MM and MC phono inputs make a turntable the natural source, and the XLR input suits a balanced DAC or streamer.

Alternatives

WLM's Sonata is the brand's earlier valve integrated amplifier, a very different design from the Class D Amadeus.