Усилители мощности моно — Electrocompaniet AW 800 M

The AW 800 M is the reference monoblock power amplifier from Electrocompaniet, described by the Norwegian maker as the replacement for the AW 600 NEMO. Although sold as a mono unit, it can also be switched to run as a stereo amplifier or used for bi-amping, so a system can start with one chassis and grow later without discarding it. It is built in Norway.

Key specs that matter

Bridged to mono, rated output is 800 W into 8 ohms, 1500 W into 4 ohms and 2200 W into 2 ohms. Used as a stereo amplifier it gives 2 x 300 W into 8 ohms, 2 x 600 W into 4 ohms and 2 x 1000 W into 2 ohms. Voltage gain on the balanced input is 35 dB (x56) in mono and 29 dB (x28) in stereo, and input impedance is 330 kohm. Frequency response spans 0.5 Hz to 220 kHz while the input filter is engaged and 0.5 Hz to 1.1 MHz once it is switched off, where slew rate reaches 270 V per microsecond. Signal-to-noise ratio is 95 dB referenced to 1 W into 8 ohms and 122 dB at full power, both over 20 Hz to 20 kHz. THD+N is 0.0006 percent, intermodulation distortion 0.001 percent, input-referred noise below 2 microvolts, DC at the output under 5 mV and the damping factor into 8 ohms above 1000. Each unit measures 406 mm wide, 488 mm deep and 292 mm high and weighs 55 kg.

Engineering and use context

Electrocompaniet uses fully discrete circuitry in a balanced, dual-mono Class A layout, direct coupled and with high open-loop bandwidth, and keeps distortion low through a simplified feedback system. A newly designed output stage shields the input and driver stages from the effects of the loudspeaker impedance. The power supply has twin toroidal transformers with magnetic and electrostatic shielding and a total of 210,000 microfarads of filtering capacity, fed through a mains input filtered against DC and RF. An over-dimensioned internal ground reference is kept isolated from rectifier and output currents. The modular chassis was designed from scratch and carries a new front plate with a 3D logo, a redesigned power button, two black brushed aluminium rods across the top that add rigidity, and a matte finish. Soundcare SuperSpikes isolation feet come supplied. Protection circuits guard against DC, overload and excessive temperature, and standby consumption is below 0.5 W.

Pairing

A stereo system run in mono mode calls for one AW 800 M per channel. The gain figures quoted by Electrocompaniet refer to the balanced XLR input, which a preamplifier with balanced outputs can feed.

Alternatives

Electrocompaniet's AW 180 is another monoblock power amplifier in the current Classic line.