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

[Ruediger]

These class A amps are kind of the opposite of the Purifi 9040BA. Heavy, hot, big and inefficient. Also not a lot of output power, but that is not the practical point.

Some people love them. Often described as warm sounding. No idea if these brands try to deliver transparent amps. Or if they cater to a certain flavor. Coloration, tuning, however people would call it.

So when looking at these specs, what's there to see. I'd say nothing.

I guess they don't measure anywhere near a Purifi module nor are they trying to.

But actual measurements would be interesting. Maybe someone can chime in and share something.

It's BS to say stuff like the warm bass, that is actually just distortion. Or poor driver control. Or a non-linear frequency response. Problems with impedance. Or all these things together. To know the real difference, if there is anything audible at all in a proper (!) test, is something else. What actually often happens when doing away with improper test surroundings is that the differences aren't there anymore. That could very well happen here too.

 

[Ursulou]

Personally, I wouldn't speak of "warm bass," but rather of a different sense of scale in the low frequencies.
The damping factor—if that metric actually means anything—of these two Class A amplifiers is one-quarter that of the Purifi units; yet, how does this translate into the actual sound reproduction?
One thing is already certain regarding the B&W 800 Matrix speakers: at low volumes, the tonal balance was superior with the Pass Labs X600.5, offering bass that was well-balanced relative to the other frequencies.
The ET9040ABs required a higher volume level for the bass to make itself felt and finally achieve balance with the rest of the spectrum.
This was the most obvious takeaway from this initial, brief test, and it cannot be considered fully indicative of the inherent qualities and flaws of each amplifier.

 

[Purité Audio]

That I find highly unlikely.
Keith

 

[Ruediger]

The ET9040ABs required a higher volume level for the bass to make itself felt and finally achieve balance with the rest of the spectrum.
This was the most obvious takeaway from this initial, brief test, and it cannot be considered fully indicative of the inherent qualities and flaws of each amplifier.

I think you had two things. A different interaction amp / speakers with all it's details. And an unmatched level. Small differences can make huge impressions.

So what you could do to get more insight is listen again. A proper test setup would be it, but for starters do accurate level matching.

 

[Ursulou]

The volume level on the Atma-Sphere preamplifier was kept strictly identical for both tests (very low volume), and it was striking to note that the bass frequencies stood out more with the Class A Pass Labs amplifiers.
The balance evened out completely with the Purifi units once that very low threshold was crossed; this was the first observation we made.
We will share more details soon.

 

[Ruediger]

That's not how you do it. The level to match is the output SPL of the amps.

F.e. test tone and SPL meter app or microphone at fixed position.

If you want to do it right, look up how to set up a proper test. I guess there are many in the forum that know all the details. The above is just what my logic tells me.

 

[Ursulou]

I understand your measurement protocol, but carrying out such precise measurements would be impossible for us; we simply aren't equipped for it.
During the testing of the Orchard Starkrimson Premium GaN 25s on the Steve Hoffman forums, none of the "testers" performed any measurements (from what I read); instead, each person—in their own words—shared their impressions regarding the sound reproduction of tracks close to their hearts, comparing the experience against other amplifiers they were familiar with. I recognize that the emotional impact and the accuracy of timbres (whether of a voice or an instrument)—which are subjective to each listener—cannot be measured.
Ultimately, two worlds divide music lovers: the technical and the emotional—yet all music lovers share the same central interest: music.
I would therefore understand—if that is your wish and the forum's preference—if there is no point in dwelling on this further, as subjective impressions and emotions do not lend themselves to curves or measurements.
Furthermore, at my very humble level, I cannot guarantee that an automated translation would be accurate or fully understood.
In any case, I am learning a great deal—here and elsewhere—thanks to this sharing and exchange of ideas. P.S.: After much deliberation and comparison, we are leaning towards the "Arthur" models from BoXem; the deciding factors were the price-to-performance ratio, the exclusive use of XLR outputs (though Apollon can also provide this upon request), and the fact that the Audiosens detector can be disabled.
This difficult, personal, and unbiased choice (there is no conflict of interest) in no way reflects poorly on the other brands.
These amplifiers will be tested and compared—without technical measurements—across two different systems: one featuring my high-sensitivity speakers, a Teac UD-701N player with an external clock, and Vincent Class A amplification; and another setup comprising a Nubert nuControl X, an Atma-Sphere MP3 preamplifier, Pass Labs X600.5 amplifiers, and B&W 800 Matrix speakers.

Best regards to you all

 

[EdW]

In any case, I am learning a great deal—here and elsewhere—thanks to this sharing and exchange of ideas. P.S.: After much deliberation and comparison, we are leaning towards the "Arthur" models from BoXem; the deciding factors were the price-to-performance ratio, the exclusive use of XLR outputs (though Apollon can also provide this upon request), and the fact that the Audiosens detector can be disabled.
This difficult, personal, and unbiased choice (there is no conflict of interest) in no way reflects poorly on the other brands.

BoXem amps are highly rated by their owners. There are several posts from satisfied users on this site (and all of them very demanding!) - a testament to Fred Jacquot’s superb attention to quality and detail . The Arthur 5523 /E1 amp should drive virtually any loudspeaker flawlessly.

 

[Ruediger]

It's impossible to generate a test tone with a mobile and use an SPL meter app with a little tripod for a basic setup that starts to be a bit of a proper comparison?
Well, that's pretty sad if you guys are able to set up and judge amps for many thousand euros.

During the testing of the Orchard Starkrimson Premium GaN 25s on the Steve Hoffman forums, none of the "testers" performed any measurements (from what I read); instead, each person—in their own words—shared their impressions regarding the sound reproduction of tracks close to their hearts, comparing the experience against other amplifiers they were familiar with. I recognize that the emotional impact and the accuracy of timbres (whether of a voice or an instrument)—which are subjective to each listener—cannot be measured.

It's perfectly fine when you get the amps that give you the most joy. There is no one truth. If it makes your heart go it's good.

My advice would be not to listen too much to the stories of audiophiles. Impressions are subjective. And when passed on as facts can became audiofoolery fast. Get your own impressions.

Happy learning and hunting!

 

[Ursulou]

Yes, I also saw excellent reviews of Audiophonics and Apollon, but I had to make a decision.
I'm very wary of reviews; in fact, I've often been disappointed if they were the only reference point.

However, I've observed that when a system sounds magnificent (not the most expensive ones, by the way), the vast majority of people also find it very good.

One question: have you ever failed to appreciate amplifiers whose measurements were exceptional? (An ambiguous question, as the crucial "pairing" with the other components is paramount.)

 

[SPO]

Hi all,
This will be my first post on ASR.
I'm interest in Apollon 1ET9040BA DM power amp but it's kinda hard to find the review or measurment.
(https://apollonaudio.com/product/purifi-1et9040ba-dm-dual-mono-stereo-amplifier)
I saw buckeye's similiar model's here and it got really good score by measurement.
Is there anyone who can share their own experience with this Apollon model?

I am very late to the party here, but wanted to let you know that I bought this exact model about 4 months ago. I am in the US, and it took just a little over a month to arrive - in line with the time they said it would take. I did not have to pay any tariffs, and used DHL (the less expensive option on their site). I used their chat tool, and received timely responses from Tibor (the owner, I believe) as I tracked the item's progress. I went with this option versus the Buckeye, mainly due to the fact that I liked the build quality and look of the Apollon amps, and the price was relatively similar to Buckeye - actually cheaper than 2 of the 1ET9040 Monoblocks. Buckeye does not offer a dual-mono stero amp on their site.

I have the Apollon 1ET9040BA DM amp paired with an Eversolo DMP-A8 and Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers, which like clean, high-current amplification to control their bass. I have been very pleased with the amp, and the Vandersteen's are producing amazing well controlled bass with this setup. I reached out to Tibor and he was very helpful in selecting the best gain setting for this combination.

Thanks
Steve

 

[JPGBe]

Indeed, it is difficult to find tests or reviews of the Purifi Eigentakt 1ET9040BA module, despite the fact that it appears to be very promising, judging by its use in amplifiers from Apollon Audio. Audiophonics also uses this module, and the user reviews available there are unanimously positive.
It would be interesting to identify the differences in applications and the technical arguments behind the various Purifi modules, namely the 1ET7040A, 1ET9040BA, and 1ET6525SA. Understanding how these modules differ in terms of design, performance, power capability, efficiency, and intended use would help determine which one is best suited to different audio systems.

Apollon offers (+ 400€) the OP Sparkos Labs SS2590 option that give a warmer sound; unfortunately Audiophonics does not provide it but their gears are first class.

 

[Purité Audio]

A ‘warmer’ sound from a change of op-amp for 400 Euros!
Keith

 

[Ruediger]

Apollon offers (+ 400€) the OP Sparkos Labs SS2590 option that give a warmer sound; unfortunately Audiophonics does not provide it but their gears are first class.

I think that warmer sound is repeated hearsay and has no anchor in reality.