MADE-in-GERMANY SPL AUDIO Wows the AUDIOPHILIAC

Would have been interesting to see how the power amp works with different pre amps - especially tube pre amps.

Any company that thinks I should pay to repair their products after only 730 days.... No thanks.

I’ve been considering the S900 or the Wattson Audio Madison amp. Two different sound signatures but I tend to lean on the warm side of neutral. Hope to get an audition of both somewhere, sometime..

I bought a used SPL Elector pre amp and S800 power amp from The Music Room. Love it. Sound presentation is different. Clean, dynamic, effortless, wide and
airy. The louder I play it, the more noticeable the Voltaire technology is. I even used another brand power amp and the presentation is still different. And like you, Steve, I do have a project speaker. A combination of JBL 2360 old cinema horns and Altec 825 cabinets. Crossovers are JBL 4638TH. Very dynamic speaker system. Hard to resist not to play them loud but I want to protect my hearing too. But, SPL Elector preamp is the most inexpensive way to experience their Voltaire technology. DAC’s are always changing. External ones are the best imo. I haven’t tried live music on my system. The Altecs 825’s are part of the VOTT line up back in the days and also use in live performances and PA systems. But I’m also using this system for tv sound. I do have a separate speakers for bass reinforcement. In the future, I need to buy another Elector for the bass speakers. With tariffs, new ones are probably more expensive. i’m good with the preowned ones from The Music Room.

I want to see a audiophile reviewer actually say they hate a product. Will never happen.

Dear Steve mr. Audiophiliac. I just subscribed today. But I have been following you for many years, mainly the videos when others are involved because you just let them do their thing, authencity you know, diplomatic authencity I guess is your main strong point from my point of view. So, there is this thing I like too, you don't shy away from Jamaican music (mainly the older stuff), which is hugely important to me personaly, another reason why I care about you. But there is this other thing on the other side of the spectrum. Loads of "audiophiles" rave about all kinds of psychadelic music like say the obvious one Pink Floyd. I never heard or see any Audiophile mention Infected Mushroom. I wonder why electronic music is still such an outcast in the audiophile world. I have been listenin to Infected Mushroom's album REBORN for 3 days now, I consider it one of the best electronic albums ever. But just in general it's kind of looked down on, electronic music, it's annoying really. 8n the end it's all electronic anyway. Little tip: TC Matic, Les Negresse Vertes, Vaya Con Dios and The Doors were my favourite music when I was 6
Edit: all I am saying please listen to some Infected Mushroom

Now that was fun and interesting, very well described, and great to see less-known brands in the high end. Vigil's system and abobode are calming, elegant with a lovely Noguchi table. Very nice...

I think a really interesting comparison would be with the benchmark AHV2 amplifier. It’s CLAS a very little noise and exhibit a tremendous control over speakers.

if only high end audio gear could mine bitcoin when not needed for serious listening . . .

I have had SPL Director mk2, SPL Performer S800, headphone amp SPL Phonitor XE (Hifiman HE1000) for almost 3 years, and have never looked for other equipment! S800 drives my Amphion Argon S3, and my primary signal source - besides streaming (Qobuz) is Teac VRDS-701T. Even after 3 years with SPL, I can't get my arms down! 🤗

Steve! Get rid of that old, tired, and un-cool music intro!! SMH!

The Audiophiliac is shaken and stirred by SPL's Director preamp and $900 🤔 power amp ???????????

Peter Walker said that optimal audio amplification is nothing more nor less than s straight wire with gain. This is anathema to those audiophiles who want their overbuilt, overpriced hardware to have a "sound" that sets it apart. (Admittedly Peter Walker of Quad fame wore rather uninteresting shirts.)

Interesting, I must say that as I am getting older and like to hear music all evening, I enjoy the more rounded mellower sounding amplifiers and DACs, like the Pass Labs

Steve, a preamp VU meter shows signal level. A power amp meter would need to show actual power, which is messy load‑dependent, expensive, and absolutely pointless unless you are a manufacturer showing off. My EAR Yoshino 912 All tube transformer driven Pre has stunning top of the line VU's and I find them incredibly useful. One use is setting catridge loading and gain, another is rewording to Reel To Reel. I think they are a legacy if Tim de Pavaracini having incredible legacy experience in studio recording and I guess that's where SPL are coming from.

Does this products UL Safety certification. High voltage above 60 volt is not good.

There is different Phil Collins music too! Big band music! 😂

why meters on the pre-amp? well, that's where I'd want them to be... I have an 8 channel SPL mic preamp with the same meters -- very important to have the ability to visually determine input gain levels at the preamp stage. Regarding output amplification, in my case that's a function of the reference monitors having built-in amplification. The preamp meters might be of greater value if the source was a reel-to-reel for example.

I so want a Phonitor!

For $4k I can find a better stereo

you lost me at the mention of price.

Wouldn’t it just be ideal to get some ATC’s or genelec’s and be done?

As a “poor” I’ll pass!

Another great video and I love the album thoughts and suggestions.
Off topic, but hey Steve, how about another visit with Herb? I just watch a two year old one where you guys talk about upgrades. You’ve done some recent reviews of horn based speakers and tubes and I’d love to see you two, by far my favorite reviewers, hood up again for our enjoyment and enlightenment.

Thanks Steve for looking into less known quality products. I am in the same camp as a PassLabs xa25 owner but can appreciated the need for a different sound signature. The Graceland album is definitely an artistic and audiophile gem. I got the 2015 US inyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Maroon, 180g. It is much better than my Cdn OG. It sounds fantastic.

Does it surprise the hemophiliac?

Cool-looking gear!

The price of the SPL Director MK2 DAC/Preamp is insane... there are much better solutions for a DAC on the market that cost up to a fraction of that price and perform the same if not way better.

So, so cool that SPL is getting some love from The Audiophiliac! Have had the Elector pre for some time now and constantly wonder why more enthusiasts out there not race over this gear.

German engineering at its finest. Clear proof that great-sounding devices don't necessarily have to be huge.

You can weld with it! Lol !

Sorry, but those meters look incredibly cheap...like they cost 6 bucks out of an early 90's Carver parts bin. They really downgrade the look.

Man, what if you blended both the pass and spl signals to a mixer and played with the balance to get the perfect sonic on any given day/recording? Just a thought. I like to cook so the idea of balancing elements is natural to me.

Enjoyed the video Steve thanks
Bet those Quads are amazing 1st one I heard yeah I was tripping hard lol 😆

khozmo AVC Autoformer Passive Preamplifier, would love a review by you

Great review Steve! I wonder how the Quad33 and 303 would compare to the SPL's.

How's your book going Steve? I'm looking forward to reading it. Terrific review.

Great to see an influencer reviewing European HiFi instead of slavishly promoting ChiFi. The torrent of cheap Chinese audio equipement is undermining the HiFi industry in the west but nobody seems to care.

dang those are beautiful things.

Isle of dogs! Now that is a fantastic film. Thank Steve.

Props for expanding your and our horizons!