NuForce HAP-100, NuForce STA-100, Audio Epilog Issa
For the first time we review amplifier and loudspeakers
together and we do it because the distributor found out that the two stuffs
match very well. The typical case in which the whole is greater than the sum of
the single parts. Yes, I agree, this might sound strange in a world where there
is nothing objective and certain. Let's start with the amps, made by NuForce,
the famous American enterprise, whose designers are Class D pioneers. They have
designed proprietary circuits instead of using those produced by others. Much
water has passed under the bridges since I reviewed the model 8 pre-amps. Those
of you that read my listening impressions then, may remember that I did not
like them because I had found them noisy. I'm not talking about a hiss but of a
real background noise, a sort of “silence distortion” that was present right
before and after the single keys. It's something that could be heard especially
when listening to simple sounds such as a piano key for an instance. The
strange thing was that many audiophiles were enthousiastic about that sound. They
loved the philosophy of that brand and stuck with it. It's probably necessary a
certain ability and not everybody has it … luckily no, may be I should add.
Anyway, these small objects have many positive characteristics, in fact they are light weighted and are small, they have reduced power consumption, have a fast answer to transients, very good dynamics, high power and damping factor. A defect they had was the sensitivity of the power stage to impedence loads that changed sensibly the frequency response. At that time I think I ended my review writing that in the future, Class D would solve its problems and would go beyond the T-Amps and similar gadgets. That was an easy prophecy: NuForce has flourished just like other brands that produce class D for their own or for OEM. Two for all are the B&O ICE-Power and Hypex Modules. Modulation frequencies more and more high and output filters with superior performances, shorten the gap signal/noise and make it similar to that of more classical projects. In a short while I'll tell you what our "golden ears” think about it. Let's talk about these brand new californian components. The HAP-100 preamplifier is also a very good amp for earphones and descends from the very expensive P-20 that is the NuForce flagship preamp. The volume control employs a resistor network and can be adjusted in 100 - 1dB steps. The circuit is said to be a "zero negative feedback", while the headphones amp is a class A. Inputs are controlled by high quality relays and the linear power supply employs a toroidal transformer and a large capacitor reserve. There are 4 unbalanced inputs, while the unbalanced output can be excluded with the remote if you use the headphones output. A three digit display, invisible when off, shows the selected input and the volume level. The stereo power amp STA-100 delivers 80W for each channel on 8 Ohms, that double on 4. It's a class D and its circuit has a 400 kHz switching frequency and switching power supply. The weight of each one of these two components is 1,20 kg. 
Let's talk now about the two
Audio Epilog loudspeakers that are made in Croatia. The model Issa,
among the two floor models manufactured by AE, is the smaller. It has a slender
line that is made even more streamlined by the rounded shape under the tweeter,
that is detached from the rest of the unit inside the cabinet. The finishing of
the model we have here is satin black; it is very elegant and it's the perfect
example of an inexpensive finishing that looks really great. It is a two way
speaker, and employs a 25 mm soft dome tweeter and a 153 mm fiberglass woofer. The
loading is bass reflex. It has a first order crossover with Mundorf capacitors.
The declared frequency response is very extended: 30-30 000 Hz +/-3dB and may
be a bit optimistic, although during the listening the bass sounded incredible.
Sensitivity is 88 dB on 8Ohm impedance.
Dimensions are limited: 1060x205x205 mm and the weight is 20 kgs each. Four
big spikes to be screwed under the base of the loudspeaker are included. Let's
talk about the listening session: the components have been connected to the
following system: turntable Basis 2001, tonearm Graham 2.2, cartridge Scan Tech
Lyra Helikon, phono preamplifier: Einstein "The Turntable's Choice",
CD/SACD player dCS Puccini + Puccini U-Clock, preamplifier: MBL 4006, power
amplifiers: Bryston 7B ST mono, loudspeakers: JBL 4350B, interconnect cables: MIT Oracle MA-X Proline,
MIT Shotgun S2 RCA, Transparent Super XLR, Transparent Super RCA, LAT
International XLR, loudspeaker cables: MIT Magnum MA, Vovox Initio, power
cables: MIT Shotgun AC 1, Black Noise Pearl and others DIY, mains distributor:
Lector Edison 230/8, mains filter: Black Noise 2500.
The first thing I noticed is that the volume knob
seems to activate only towards the end of its range. This is a very intelligent
thing because when using high sensitivity loudspeakers, it's very useful to
have a sound that can be precisely controlled also at low levels, especially at
night. The first record I listen to is Jan Garbarek "I Took Up the
Runes" (ECM). Percussions sound straight away quick and full bodied in the
transients. The sax is dynamic and well set. Turning up the volume the control
of the amp on the loudspeakers can be noticed and makes you want – wrongly - a
bigger quantity of bass, with the risk to overstate it. Meanwhile, the sound
pressure increases without distortions. All in all the sound message does not
evidence particular flaws and from the loudspeakers comes out real music and
not that fragmented sound that I have occasionally heard from some Class D
machines. If I focus my attention on the price of the components I think that
It's really hard to do any better than this. No harsh or forced sounds, no
unnatural mellow sounds, only what's in the recording and this is something
remarkable, that few components in this market segment can achieve. It's time
to listen to "Beethoven Complete Symphonies" directed by Simon Rattle
(EMI Classics). It's a recording I have recently bought, 10 euros for 9 CDs,
one of those things that reconcile you with the music market. The Wiener
Philarmoniker is wide and deep and the sensation is of a good realism, even if
on a reduced scale. Bass drum and timpani are surprisingly realistic; they make
you wanna open the loudspeaker to verify if by chance there's a bigger woofer
hidden inside. The small but big NuForce, guide the loudspeakers and control
them flawlessly; the signal the NuForce send is distortionless, free and authoritative when needed. Let's
listen to "A Momentary lapse of Reason"by the Pink Floyd. Nothing to
say about the timbric, it is very
balanced in the whole audio range and makes you think about a flat frequency
response. I had few doubts about the bass but soon I have been reassured by a good performance. Almost
all sounds are clearly heard and are well integrated in the medium low range. There's
no punch just like that we get with the big woofers one, but we keep on staring
to those small cones that do incredible things, while reaching high sound
pressures with nonchalance. The NuForce drive with power but delightfully the
black parallelepipeds, while the notes of "On the Turning Away" fill
the room with their melody. David Gilmour's guitar solo has a realistic
and touching sound. A unique and
recognizable sound, the feature trait of this British musician. The tweeters'
performance is very interesting, too. They are discreet, not too high pitched
and with the right size. All the details of the recording are present and are
not neglected. "Kind of Blue at 50" is the umpteenth remastering of
Miles Davies 1959 recording. It's a 2 Cds and 1 DVD version. Mark Wilder, the
sound engineer, did a great job with it. The NuForce\AE duo, makes a good
impression with this technical and musical masterpiece. The pathos of the
performance remains unchanged even if the impact and immediacy of more
expensive systems is missing.Very proud of this Lapalissian truth I keep on
listening to the double bass played with mastery by these croatian loudspeakers.
The soundstage is wide and credible. The sound of the cymbals is just a little
bit mellow and laid back. The Cd "Horn Concertos", musics by Antonio
Rosetti for 2 horns, conducted by Johannes Moesus (CPO) sounds very natural
from the very first keys. Audio Epilog plays chamber music very well, they make
you concentrate on the music and make you forget about the electronics that are
playing. They are also very good in disguising in the room, no sound seems to
come directly from them. The power of the small NuForce amps is enough for
every need. The dynamics and the low range sounds do not represent a problem
for this system. Very positive is also the headphones test. My hybrid AKG
K430 sounded well, although at a low
volume. I suggest to use low impedance headphones because my AKG with their 600
Ohm are too much a load for this American pre amp.
Very funny indeed. When I decided to review this pair I was convinced that the distributor had in mind only commercial purposes in presenting these components together. I realized straight away that these loudspeakers and amplifiers are perfectly matched and seem to have been designed by the same "ears". I think that for 3000 euros, a small sum all in all, it's really hard to get something better than this. It's a smart investment. Add to this a multi standard player such as the OPPO - that costs 600 euros- and you'll live happily ever after with your music.
Angelo Jasparro Translation: Francesca Rubino |
