Genesis Reference Amplifier
The challenge of driving Genesis loudspeakers is that they are such excellent transducers that they expose the flaws, or highlight the quality, of everything up the chain - something that almost every review of Genesis loudspeakers has mentioned. Hence, they demand a very well-designed and well-executed power amplifier.
When we developed the Limited Edition line of affordable valve amplifiers as proof of concept that you did not need a megabuck and/or kilowatt amplifier to drive a pair of Genesis loudspeakers, they garnered rave reviews, and sold out quickly. Reviewers took to calling them "reference quality" (Srajan Ebaen - on 6moons), conveying "all the benefits of tube amplification with virtually none of the drawbacks" (Jason Victor Serinus - Secrets of Home Theater and Hifi), "robust, powerful, and full of life" (Jack Roberts - Dagogo).
However, much more than how "reference quality" they are, the objective of the design is to play music with true verve and emotion - not just satisfy some specification. "I was surprised how musically enjoyable the Genesis I60 was" (Jack Roberts - Dagogo) "...the M60's delivered. Drenched with feelings, I wiped away a few tears and ironed out plenty of goose bumps." (Srajan Ebaen - 6moons)
A new Genesis amplifier had to be better than the M60s in all aspects. The design brief was simple, a load invariant, high-current, wide-bandwidth amplifier that would allow the musical performance to come to life. In addition, the new amplifiers had to be capable of driving any model in the Genesis range, from the Genesis 7.1 petite to the towering flagship - the Genesis 1.1.
The Genesis Reference Amplifier challenges the status quo of music amplifiers by marrying the advantages of tube (imaging, soundstage, and portrayal of tonal colors) with solid-state (control, dynamics and accuracy).
Technical Details
The Genesis Reference Amplifier challenges the status quo of music amplifiers by marrying the advantages of tube (imaging, soundstage, and portrayal of tonal colors) with solid state (control, dynamics and accuracy). To achieve this, we had to develop some ground-breaking technologies.
Dynamic Power Delivery Supply (DPDS)
Traditional DC power supplies developed with established design principles are specified into a constant current draw with a resistive load. However, except for Class A amplifiers (and Class AB at low power), the load is not linear. The power supply is hence specified for the maximum current drawn, but such a huge power supply is often slow.
The Genesis DPDS, on the other hand, is designed to deliver current into a non-linear, dynamic musical load, leading to a sense of power with finesse. The result is that the Genesis Reference Amplifier has the dynamics, extension and drive of high-power transistor amplifiers without the muscle-bound sound, and the elegance, emotion and tonal colors of flea-powered single-ended triode tube amplifiers without being weak or flaccid.
Super Silent Low Voltage Supply
We recognized that published specifications for noise rejection of opamps and even discrete small-signal amplification circuits did not always tell the whole story. The problem is that PSRR is usually measured at one frequency – usually 1kHz, but then rapidly gets much worse as the frequency rises. Hence the necessity for line power conditioning.
For the Genesis Reference Amplifier, a low-current regulated power supply was developed that has broad bandwidth noise rejection so that RFI coming in over the power lines do not intrude on your music.
Other Features
- A grounded Faraday Cage chassis for RFI and EMI rejection improves micro-dynamics and tonal colors and contrast.
- Balanced components, in the push and the pull parts of the power supply, and having critical components toleranced to less than +/- 1% results in a sense of aliveness and ease in the music.
- Special circuitry to “keep things warm” without wasting a lot of electricity means that your system is ready for you to listen to whenever you are.
- Add-On options & modules.
Maximum Dynamic Headroom Reservoir
An add-on power supply upgrade module can be specified for the Genesis Reference amplifier to give you the ability to drive harder with increased dynamics from having more current available into lower impedance loads. Another benefit of the MDHR is better micro-dynamics - one listener described it as "having cream in your coffee instead of non-fat soy."
Acoustic Syspension System
The Genesis Reference Amplifier comes with an acoustic suspension system that isolates the amplifier from floor or structure borne vibrations. Designed like the suspension system of a race car, the acoustic suspension is made of an acrylic suspension frame, neoprene shock absorbers tuned to the weight of the amplifier module, and steel spikes to anchor the suspension frame to ground. The Acoustic Suspension System is also available as an optional upgrade to the Maximum Dynamic Headroom Reservoir.
Reviews
To Frederic Beudot of 6moons.com, the GR360 is "an amplifier getting out of
the way in every way possible to let more of the music flow. More veracity,
more ambiance, more space." He calls it an amp with "gorgeous soundstage,
luscious tones and plain emotional connectivity with the ability to drive
just about any speaker ever designed."
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