Any review on Apollon Purifi 1ET9040BA DM Dual Mono Stereo Amplifier?

[Ursulou]

Here are the payment details for shipping from Slovenia to France:
€2,380.00
DPD Shipping (Low Insurance): €63.00
Shipping to France.

Change address
€488.60
€2,931.60
There is indeed €488.60 in VAT on top of the shipping cost.
So, it's more expensive than Audiophonics, and delivery takes longer—plus the manufacturing time.
I really like Apollon's philosophy and their work; they deserve a lot of success!
Audiophonics' after-sales service is exceptional; returning units is easy, and they are very responsive to email inquiries...

 

[Ursulou]

488,60€/2380€:
"If you buy directly from a store in Slovenia: The seller applies the local standard rate. The standard VAT rate in Slovenia (known as DDV) is 22%. In both cases, this amount represents a consumption tax, not a customs duty": this 22% tax is the Slovenian tax; there are no other customs duties between European countries.

 

[Ursulou]

My only reason for wanting to buy the Apollon Purifi 1ET9040BA M monoblock amplifiers would have been a version without the RCA/XLR input switching circuitry—an XLR-only unit; I emailed Apollon about this but haven't received a reply yet.
Audiophonics cannot offer these amplifiers in an XLR-only configuration; they only sell the models listed on their site, which feature the RCA/XLR switch.
It’s a real shame, as this option could have opened up more sales for them.

 

[Ruediger]

I have an Apollon, but we don't have a audiophonics here in Germany. Be glad that you have such a great shop with their own integration lineup.

PSU and modules are the same, so it's about case, options, binding posts, connectors and such. I like the inustrial style case they use for this mono block. Also has the proper size on the inside. I also like the rca/xlr switch over the little plastic slider I have.

"To suit all uses we have opted for 4 gain settings: +16.55dB (x6.72) / +22.7dB (x13.64) / +28.75dB (x27.38) / 30.8dB (x34.67). Settings available under the device."

The thing with the rca/xlr IMO is that you have to provide a buffer board with opamp in any case. So you add a little something extra and have that full second option on the back. It makes sense for them to not exclude buyers. I would not wonder if some sales (actually quite some) go to AVR/AVP users who just connect them with rca. Of course they could get a proper rca2xlr cable, but then what about the expensive snakeoil cables already there?

 

[Ruediger]

Apollon Lux
Gain settings:14,5/20,5/27,5/29 dB

Apollon standard
Gain settings:12,8/20,5/27,5/29 dB

Possibility to go a good amount lower with the Apollon standard.

Courtesy of the different buffer boards.

Disclaimer: there is no way you would hear that difference.

 

[Sernyl]

My only reason for wanting to buy the Apollon Purifi 1ET9040BA M monoblock amplifiers would have been a version without the RCA/XLR input switching circuitry—an XLR-only unit; I emailed Apollon about this but haven't received a reply yet.
Audiophonics cannot offer these amplifiers in an XLR-only configuration; they only sell the models listed on their site, which feature the RCA/XLR switch.
It’s a real shame, as this option could have opened up more sales for them.

Did you look at Boxem ?

 

[Ruediger]

Good point! Their design offers a different flavor, maybe more to the liking here.

I like the pretty competetive offers with 1ET6525SA from boxem.

 

[Ursulou]

Indeed, it could be very interesting—since there is no RCA/XLR switch—but there is no information or photos regarding the interior; what is the quality of the op-amp? The automatic shut-off feature seems completely useless, and there are no reviews or tests online.
The price appears to be inclusive of all taxes (excluding shipping).

Boxem
Arthur 5523/E1
€1,788.00
Incl. tax

Mono power amplifier
Proprietary boXem Stage III input and gain stage with composite topology
Audio sense: automatic power-up and shut-off
Adjustable gain
Purifi 1ET9040BA power stage

 

[Ruediger]

Oh, autosensing.. careful with that feature in high sensitivity / nearfield scenarios. When it's not adjustable it can really mess up things.

 

[Ursulou]

All these bells and whistles—automatic 10-minute detection Boxem (completely useless: an LED indicator with a front-panel switch would have been better!), RCA/XLR switching,(Audiophonics, Apollon)etc.—unnecessarily drive up the price and, above all, compromise the unit's simplicity, and thus its efficiency and quality.

 

[Sernyl]

From my arthur 4215, I can tell you that :
- Autosensing is a no problem (BTW, my ADI-2 pro can also auto-adjust its ouput)
- The auto switches on and delayed off are very usefull here, and makes me completely forget the amp. No need for a front panel switch.
- The innards guts look very professional.
- Yes, the LED is a bit bright : just cover it with tape (or add a resistor).
In short : order, listen ...anyway you can return it (maybe...)

 

[Ruediger]

I guess in this niche of amp makers he could ask the brand if the autosensensing feature is sensitive enough for his 106db high sensitivity / horn / low volume environment. And maybe they would even ship him 2 monoblocks with a very tiny threshold. This question might have come up before numerous times.

But for that one has to be OK with autosensing in general. I like it in a setup where it is clear it will always work (home theater channels with ~90db sensitivity speakers). But would stay away from it for nearfield setups or in such expensive amps, where I don't know what fancy speakers they will be paired with in years to come.

 

[Ursulou]

Hello.
From an electronics standpoint, how is the timer circuit that turns off the amplifier after 10 minutes constructed?

 

[Sernyl]

Hello.
From an electronics standpoint, how is the timer circuit that turns off the amplifier after 10 minutes constructed?

...and ?
:-(

 

[Ruediger]

No power button at the front, no trigger, then no autosensing.. just the switch at the back by the power cable.

Slim options for an amp of that class.

Personally I do external power cycle for the home cinema. But that's the only place (staggered control). And I always think that is not very common. Especially with powerful hardware controllling installations by power switch is not too smart. It doesn't take much to get a fuse/load switch going.

 

[Ursulou]

I just contacted Boxem to get more information about their automatic shutdown system and to find out if there was any electromagnetic (or other) risk associated with the proximity—less than 50 centimeters—of the passive filtering components or a compression driver like the Radian 745DPB8.
I asked them if it was possible, upon request, not to equip the mono blocks with this automatic shutdown system.

 

[Sernyl]

No power button at the front, no trigger, then no autosensing.. just the switch at the back by the power cable.

Slim options for an amp of that class.

Personally I do external power cycle for the home cinema. But that's the only place (staggered control). And I always think that is not very common. Especially with powerful hardware controllling installations by power switch is not too smart. It doesn't take much to get a fuse/load switch going.

Personnally, I don't even approach the system :
My ADI-2 stays in standby.
Just using the remote control stick.
Boxem switches ON if any signal (and OFF when it's gone, after a few minutes)
My ESL63 stay ON 24/7.

 

[Sernyl]

I just contacted Boxem to get more information about their automatic shutdown system and to find out if there was any electromagnetic (or other) risk associated with the proximity—less than 50 centimeters—of the passive filtering components or a compression driver like the Radian 745DPB8.
I asked them if it was possible, upon request, not to equip the mono blocks with this automatic shutdown system.

Should be... if necessary.

 

[Ruediger]

Personnally, I don't even approach the system :
My ADI-2 stays in standby.
Just using the remote control stick.
Boxem switches ON if any signal (and OFF when it's gone, after a few minutes)
My ESL63 stay ON 24/7.

I do the same in my home theater.

But with very high sensitivity speakers and low volume trouble is almost sure. Unless Boxem already thought about these edge cases and made it extremely sensitive.
Then OTOH who buys a 9040BA to draw a handful watts from the amp? It's best to ask them prior to buy.

 

[Ursulou]

Hello,
Even though, in theory, high-sensitivity, low-impedance speakers require little power:
How can one explain that for high-volume listening—loud enough to realistically reproduce a drum solo in the listening room—I had to turn the Teac UD-701N preamp (featuring a variable XLR output of up to 12Vrms) up past 60% when using Orchard Starkrimson Premium GaN 25 monoblocks (200W/4Ω, gain set to the maximum 21dB)? This was with a Qobuz track having a ReplayGain value between 0 and -3dB.
The advantage of the gain settings on ET9040AB-based modules (from Audiophonics, Boxem, Apollon, etc.) is precisely that they allow for low gain (around 15dB) on the power amplifier stage while letting me use the Teac preamp within a comfortable volume range of 30% to 50%. This way, the preamp's output signal level and the power amp's input level can be properly matched.
Only actual testing will determine this; I have received no response from Purifi on the matter, nor from Boxem regarding the possibility of disabling their automatic signal detection.