Un avis sur le Populse (en anglais sorry):
par Stephan Date d'ajout : samedi 20 juin, 2009
I had my eye on this amp for quite a while since the "Poppulse T77" popped up on the market. I thought it was time to give it a try and find out what the rave is all about. My intention was to use it as a cool running amp for my second system comprising of a "Mac Mini" as music server wirelessly transmitting to an "AirPort Express" which is feeding a "Moodlab Dice DAC". Speakers are planar "Magnepan MMG-W's" (88 dB, nominal impedance 5 Ohm) running in stereo mode. The inevitable sub bass system comes from "BK electronics/ Great Britain - model XLS200" (they're built to order). Some months ago I hooked up my "Naim Nait 2" in between after ordering some Chord RCA/DIN cables plus Chord Rumour speaker cables. The "Naim Nait 2" is my back up amp for a pair of "Martin Logan CLS" which are commonly driven by "Leak TL/ 25 plus" mono tube amps. Huge output transformers serve enough current for the Logans. As you can google about the "Naim Nait 2" ain't no slouch at all - it drives the Logans (85 dB, going down from 4 to 1,6 Ohm) sufficiently but as a typical Naim product is from the "flat earth" type. It comes nowhere near to the Leak monos which make the instruments almost palpable in a 3D stage where speakers disappear.
So I took my chance and let the Poppulse burn in a few days as recommended by a lot of users. Just for fun I hooked the "Poppulse T150" up to the "Martin Logan CLS" and wasn't even surprised that the sound was rather thin and flattened. Turning up the volume knob (which is slightly out of center and therefore scratching at the edges of either turns) from mid-position to high did not change very much - music wasn´t getting louder. Turning up a little further or even to full extent brought the "Poppulse T150" to clipping or better "muting" (due to overcurrent protection).
I hooked the "Poppulse" to the "Magnepan MMG-W"-set hoping they were able to drive a not so heavy load (at least on paper!). All I can say is that this amp is not capable of driving the 88 dB Magnepan speaker to a satisfying level. To get a volume level that was recognizable I had to turn the volume knob half way round, turning it up to full extent did not change very much either (though not clipping this time). I couldn't concentrate very much on the musical presentation and the soundstage the amp threw in because it is insufficient to my ears - which makes all other t-amps suspicious too unless they exactly double their output from a 8 Ohm to a 4 Ohm load - which the "Poppulse" does NOT (77W @ 8Ohm an 150W @ 4 Ohm).
Rather disappointing: I don't think I will give it a try as a mono block since I have to order another one and I'm very curious it will not change the situation by any means.
Classement : [1 sur 5 étoiles !]

Mais il y a d'autres avis plus enthousiastes sur des enceintes à HP
