Trinnov Amplitude 16 Amplifier Review

[Cbdb2]

The comparisons between this amp and other amps where multiple units are required to obtain the same number of amplification channels serve little purpose. This is a 16 channels in one (very attractive) box solution. That is its selling point. Doesn’t matter that two ugly amps with 8 channels each can be had for much less money.

These things are hidden in a rack in a closet.

 

[Cbdb2]

Even a 90 dB efficient speaker at a 20 ft listening distance only reaches 104 dB with 1000W of power.

What about 16 speakers with room gain?

 

[kyuu]

These things are hidden in a rack in a closet.

Not always. Some people like to proudly display their gear. Even if it's in a rack, it might have a glass front or otherwise be done as to look aesthetically appealing and/or to show off to guests.

To be clear, if I was in the market for 16 channels of amplification, I would be the sort to get a couple of 8 channel Buckeyes. Even if my gear was visible and not hidden away in a rack. However, I can certainly see that there are those for whom the money simply isn't an object and would prefer this much more attractive setup. The DB25 connection for going between the amp and processor is also not just visually appealing for the customer with less visible wiring, but would obviously be a big plus for a custom integrator.

So yes, like all things Trinnov, it's obnoxiously expensive. I'm willing to bet it has a market though.

 

[Cbdb2]

How many hoops do you need to jump through to buy one of these things? Looks like every vendor need to be contacted to request a quote. That’s obnoxious, and also not worth the time to the person who can spend $12k on an amp.

If saving $6000 dollars and getting a better Amp is not worth your time, pay some one and your still way better off.

 

[Cbdb2]

We have to see things under their content.
Apart from looks,gain structure optimization,personalized support,5 years warranty,etc,etc is what Amir says at the end of the review,we can't compare apples to oranges.
I quote him:

Im comparing apples to apples:https://professional.dolby.com/site...dolby_multichannel_amplifier_manual_issue.pdf

 

[Sokel]

Im comparing apples to apples:https://professional.dolby.com/site...dolby_multichannel_amplifier_manual_issue.pdf

Oh,that's fair.
I see is about 8k euro here in Europe,that's a good discount.

(but to retain my reputation as the most superficial user in here,I would gladly pay the premium for the looks alone,let alone the "feel like a king" support,gain optimization,integration,etc)

Edit:Trinnov Aplitude 16 is about 9.5k euro in europe street price,and can be bettered depending of the relationship with your dealer/installer,so the difference not even worth the thought of it.

 

[GXAlan]

What about 16 speakers with room gain?

You aren’t using all 16 at the same time playing the same content. It’s not a line array

You’ll get a few extra dB with room gain but some people listen beyond 6m and if you think about the Salon2, 86 dB efficient, 6 ohms. Even with room gain, IF you wanted to hit 105 dB peaks (which again, I personally don’t) you do need gobs of power.

But it’s silly to claim that you need 200 seat theaters for this much power.

 

[TankTop]

Custom is a beast of a business - especially when you don't get fully paid until the work is finished (i.e. new construction - you'll get paid after the house is done)

I don’t get paid for 60-90 days after sometimes but my labor and materials get paid by me immediately. People see these big numbers and don’t realize how many others have their hand out taking a piece.

 

[ryanmh1]

Depends by what one means better amp.
Cause this chart is unbeatable so far as the main single aspect of a power amp is clean power:

View attachment 397431

It's closer to ideal more than any amp measured here.

All else are doable though,yes.

Let's not forget that the Powercube only uses a 20ms toneburst, so at 2 ohms, this amounts to little more than a test of the power supply (for 20ms). On top of that, a Class D amplifier does not have to dissipate the energy of a reactive load in its output devices. The power delivered goes straight back into the power supply, more or less. You could almost say it's getting a recharge. Depending upon how the test signal is configured, there's at least some potential for "false" results in that the reactive loads present no real load or strain to the Class D amplifier, which then potentially has a nice, long break and a "recharge" before it gets hit again with a short 20ms resistive load where it needs to do work again. So, it is a great result, and is one advantage a Class D has into reactive loads (and why they are great for ESLs), but it doesn't necessarily tell you all that much about whether it could deliver the power into cone speakers on music, ironically. Possibly, it could tell even less than the IHF test into straight 2R if the PowerCube is running the tests in the order of reactive/resistive/reactive/resistive since the amplifier is under strain less than it "ought" to be. On a class AB, each reactive component would be straining the amplifier. With Class D, it would be snoozing and getting a recharge. So, a great result, but does not necessarily say much about the robustness into 2 ohms. A Class AB, on the other hand, would need a hugely robust output stage to pull this off, which is why PowerCube was invented in the first place.

Realistically, I suspect the Trinnov would perform very similarly to the Marantz Amp10 into 2 ohms, which does not sustain its voltage--not even close. I would not lay out thousands and thousands over the Marantz thinking this can do something the Marantz can't. It's basically the same exact thing priced thousands and thousands higher because it says "Trinnov" and "custom install" market. Then again, I wouldn't buy either anyway, so there's that. I'd get the Denon AVR-A1H for my next upgrade, and toss existing amplification at critical channels. These things are really designed for custom installs with 16 identical in-wall or in-ceiling, high power speakers. There's absolutely zero point in hooking my Atmos heights or side surrounds up this in the first place. Impressive power in a tiny box though!

 

[welwynnick]

It doesn't add up, but I definitely found a semi-tear-down of an Amplitude 16 on a Chinese website, and it clearly showed 300A2 modules. I was expecting to see 400A2. Neither are fantastic, and both are CHEAP!. I owned some earlier ICEpower amplifiers in the past, and they really weren't good. I think ICEedge are better, but not that much better, and I'm sceptical about whether they're up to this price level, even with 16 channels.

I was convinced that I'd recently seen pictures inside the Amplitude 16 that showed ICEPower 300A2 modules, but couldn't understand why I couldn't find them again.
Then I found this article about the StormAudio ISR Fusion 20, that packs 16 power amplifier channels in one box - that's what uses the 300A2. Well worth reading.

StormAudio ISR Fusion 20 評測：史上最精確、聲道數最多、最暴力的環繞擴大機

什麼是完美的環繞擴大機？完美當然永遠不存在，但是在既有的技術基礎之上，總有可能做出最接近「理想型」、現今最佳化程度最高的製品。去年（2023）十月一日我在普洛影音網告訴大家StormAudio ISR Fusion 20發表的消息，毫無意外，它成為歷史上第一部先天內建Dirac Live Active Room Treatment（以下簡寫為Dirac Live ART） ...

www.audionet.com.tw

The Amplitude 16 definitely uses 400A2 modules.
Apologies, my bad.

 

[Sokel]

Let's not forget that the Powercube only uses a 20ms toneburst, so at 2 ohms, this amounts to little more than a test of the power supply (for 20ms). On top of that, a Class D amplifier does not have to dissipate the energy of a reactive load in its output devices. The power delivered goes straight back into the power supply, more or less. You could almost say it's getting a recharge. Depending upon how the test signal is configured, there's at least some potential for "false" results in that the reactive loads present no real load or strain to the Class D amplifier, which then potentially has a nice, long break and a "recharge" before it gets hit again with a short 20ms resistive load where it needs to do work again. So, it is a great result, and is one advantage a Class D has into reactive loads (and why they are great for ESLs), but it doesn't necessarily tell you all that much about whether it could deliver the power into cone speakers on music, ironically. Possibly, it could tell even less than the IHF test into straight 2R if the PowerCube is running the tests in the order of reactive/resistive/reactive/resistive since the amplifier is under strain less than it "ought" to be. On a class AB, each reactive component would be straining the amplifier. With Class D, it would be snoozing and getting a recharge. So, a great result, but does not necessarily say much about the robustness into 2 ohms. A Class AB, on the other hand, would need a hugely robust output stage to pull this off, which is why PowerCube was invented in the first place.

Realistically, I suspect the Trinnov would perform very similarly to the Marantz Amp10 into 2 ohms, which does not sustain its voltage--not even close. I would not lay out thousands and thousands over the Marantz thinking this can do something the Marantz can't. It's basically the same exact thing priced thousands and thousands higher because it says "Trinnov" and "custom install" market. Then again, I wouldn't buy either anyway, so there's that. I'd get the Denon AVR-A1H for my next upgrade, and toss existing amplification at critical channels. These things are really designed for custom installs with 16 identical in-wall or in-ceiling, high power speakers. There's absolutely zero point in hooking my Atmos heights or side surrounds up this in the first place. Impressive power in a tiny box though!

I wouldn't generalized about it,at least about icepower as it depends on cooling (same for the rest I presume)
Here's an example with the bigger brother 1200as (spec'd about 2 x 600W at 4 Ohm ) in real life performance with torture tests lasting a minute or so (specially the Interstellar LFE channel and the extreme 10Hz one)
Way more than the bursts of the usual ones.
Cooling is passive but adequate (heatshinks) :

It's from this thread:https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-output-power-measurements.55602/post-2032709

Class D has no reason not to deliver when PSU and cooling has been taken care off.
Trinnov has a better advantage as doing active cooling.

 

[milosz]

If you have the money to pay a pro installer company to set up your home theater, I guess the high price for the amp doesn't really matter. Few of us here on this forum have such wealth, but some do. And if the installer needs to save space, here's an option.

 

[DudleyDuoflush]

If you have the money to pay a pro installer company to set up your home theater, I guess the high price for the amp doesn't really matter. Few of us here on this forum have such wealth, but some do. And if the installer needs to save space, here's an option.

Exactly. An extra $8k for amplification is in the noise for high end cinema rooms. You get some back anyway in ease of install and, hopefully, excellent support.

 

[voodooless]

And if the installer needs to save space, here's an option.

So people have a whole spare room to build a huge home cinema, but then can't spare the space for another 1U enclosure? I wonder how many of the actual customers are in this particular predicament?

 

[ryanmh1]

I wouldn't generalized about it,at least about icepower as it depends on cooling (same for the rest I presume)
Here's an example with the bigger brother 1200as (spec'd about 2 x 600W at 4 Ohm ) in real life performance with torture tests lasting a minute or so (specially the Interstellar LFE channel and the extreme 10Hz one)
Way more than the bursts of the usual ones.
Cooling is passive but adequate (heatshinks) :

View attachment 397876

It's from this thread:https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-output-power-measurements.55602/post-2032709

Class D has no reason not to deliver when PSU and cooling has been taken care off.
Trinnov has a better advantage as doing active cooling.

tl;dr: So that basically shows it doesn't perform into 2 ohms, which is what I was saying. If you think this amp will perform to the PowerCube for more than 20ms, it probably won't. It's not rated into 2 ohms, and don't plan on using it as such and getting a constant voltage source.

The chart on Interstellar is exactly what I would have expected. 1200AS2 will do the 2 ohm load, but it will not actually "double down" into it as PowerCube probably would suggest even for the 1200AS2. In fact, it won't even hit "rated" numbers. Hypothetically, this is a 2x600 (8R) and 2x1200 (4R) amplifier. That's the flashy, published top-line number. Of course, if you read the datasheet, you quickly see that's very misleading. It will only apparently only deliver that for 15 seconds on one channel. It's 600 on two, for 15 seconds. Continuous 270W. Since there is still some crest factor on the Interstellar track, it does basically do what it says. It just doesn't perform to the usual advertised figures. Into 3 it just gives up the ghost in the chart, not increasing output at all, but instead dialing back the voltage. But it wasn't rated into that load, and it's not a surprise.

So, how about that 400A2 datasheet? Supposedly it will sustain the "burst" of 400W for 50S. So there's some reason to believe it will do that, and on demanding content, may delivery to spec. That said, continuously it's rated at only 45W without a heatsink. With one, 55W. More or less, I still wouldn't expect it to perform into 2 ohms. However you look at it, the 200W/400W ratings are a bit fast and loose. They're extremely time limited, but probably long enough to work on most content. On the other hand, my AB amp will sit there just below clipping for about as long as your would like, pounding out 1000W into 2 ohms, and just... not care. These won't. I would have some concern about putting it into a high end home cinema and hitting it with a demanding load that actually needed 400W to drive each channel (such as all full range speakers). Better off racking up the custom install with a bank of Crowns in the gear closet, if you wanted to be safe. I have my doubts about something that collapses from 400W to 50W in a minute, provided that it doesn't outperform the datasheet.

It's really the old NAD Power Envelope concept extended out for a longer period of time, just long enough to pass a bench test and look like something it arguably isn't. It's sensible, but in my book, that's not really "delivering" what you're selling. Instead of lying about power, NAD petitioned to change the rule, without success. ICEPower themselves seem to be honest about the power being "burst" in the datasheets, but those who incorporate the modules often are not. Applied to the Trinnov, that's potentially a big, fat ASTERISK that appears nowhere in the marketing materials and might violate the FTC amplifier rule unless the Trinnov in fact performs significantly better than the 400A2 on which it is based. These guys claim "Maximum continuous power with all 16 channels driven is 2800W at 115V." Hey, they said continuous, not me. I rather doubt it. Who wants to hook this thing up to 16 water heater elements and see how long it takes to melt down, or if it does it?

EDIT: I'm not trying to detract from the fact that's its neat that you can get an amp that puts out 200W/400W into 16 channels, and will do it on most program content. I just don't like the marketing, nor the testing implcation that the amp is "load invariant" when it's probably going to just collapse on much more than a 20ms burst on 2 ohms.

 

[Sokel]

tl;dr: So that basically shows it doesn't perform into 2 ohms, which is what I was saying. If you think this amp will perform to the PowerCube for more than 20ms, it probably won't. It's not rated into 2 ohms, and don't plan on using it as such and getting a constant voltage source.

The chart on Interstellar is exactly what I would have expected. 1200AS2 will do the 2 ohm load, but it will not actually "double down" into it as PowerCube probably would suggest even for the 1200AS2. In fact, it won't even hit "rated" numbers. Hypothetically, this is a 2x600 (8R) and 2x1200 (4R) amplifier. That's the flashy, published top-line number. Of course, if you read the datasheet, you quickly see that's very misleading. It will only apparently only deliver that for 15 seconds on one channel. It's 600 on two, for 15 seconds. Continuous 270W. Since there is still some crest factor on the Interstellar track, it does basically do what it says. It just doesn't perform to the usual advertised figures. Into 3 it just gives up the ghost in the chart, not increasing output at all, but instead dialing back the voltage. But it wasn't rated into that load, and it's not a surprise.

So, how about that 400A2 datasheet? Supposedly it will sustain the "burst" of 400W for 50S. So there's some reason to believe it will do that, and on demanding content, may delivery to spec. That said, continuously it's rated at only 45W without a heatsink. With one, 55W. More or less, I still wouldn't expect it to perform into 2 ohms. However you look at it, the 200W/400W ratings are a bit fast and loose. They're extremely time limited, but probably long enough to work on most content. On the other hand, my AB amp will sit there just below clipping for about as long as your would like, pounding out 1000W into 2 ohms, and just... not care. These won't. I would have some concern about putting it into a high end home cinema and hitting it with a demanding load that actually needed 400W to drive each channel (such as all full range speakers). Better off racking up the custom install with a bank of Crowns in the gear closet, if you wanted to be safe. I have my doubts about something that collapses from 400W to 50W in a minute, provided that it doesn't outperform the datasheet.

It's really the old NAD Power Envelope concept extended out for a longer period of time, just long enough to pass a bench test and look like something it arguably isn't. It's sensible, but in my book, that's not really "delivering" what you're selling. Instead of lying about power, NAD petitioned to change the rule, without success. ICEPower themselves seem to be honest about the power being "burst" in the datasheets, but those who incorporate the modules often are not. Applied to the Trinnov, that's potentially a big, fat ASTERISK that appears nowhere in the marketing materials and might violate the FTC amplifier rule unless the Trinnov in fact performs significantly better than the 400A2 on which it is based. These guys claim "Maximum continuous power with all 16 channels driven is 2800W at 115V." Hey, they said continuous, not me. I rather doubt it. Who wants to hook this thing up to 16 water heater elements and see how long it takes to melt down, or if it does it?

EDIT: I'm not trying to detract from the fact that's its neat that you can get an amp that puts out 200W/400W into 16 channels, and will do it on most program content. I just don't like the marketing, nor the testing implcation that the amp is "load invariant" when it's probably going to just collapse on much more than a 20ms burst on 2 ohms.

Yes,but all the above are doing passive cooling with stock modules.
Trinnov uses active ,custom PCB for the amps and the same for PSUs and that's the big difference.

1200as is are more or less as you point passive cooled and rated for 2.7 Ohm.I'm surprised myself that it did 3 Ohm passive at 600 W under the conditions of the test for a minute,more so for the "illegal" 10Hz one.

However,the active cooled module (called ICEpro) does all that continuous.
You won't find it in datasheets,you can ask about it though,it's this one,top of the second chart:



As with all amps,cooling is the key.And lets not forget ice is suppose to do 5kW under some conditions with the same chips.
(Of course all that will settle with the new FTC rule I hope,along with the 10% distortion nonsense advertising)

My previous A/AB one did 2850 W at 1 Ohm but I doubt very much it would deliver as much as my active 1200as+300a per channel scheme with the same performance.
(Stereophille rated it's distortion into 60's at 2 and 1 Ohm for some serious power and it didn't do much better lower despite it's 30Kg )

 

[Fidji]

Depending upon how the test signal is configured, there's at least some potential for "false" results in that the reactive loads present no real load or strain to the Class D amplifier, which then potentially has a nice, long break and a "recharge" before it gets hit again with a short 20ms resistive load where it needs to do work again. So, it is a great result, and is one advantage a Class D has into reactive loads (and why they are great for ESLs), but it doesn't necessarily tell you all that much about whether it could deliver the power into cone speakers on music, ironically.

Could you please point me to some theory re D Class and Electrostats? I have big MartinLogans and Purifi 9040 based amps - and never lacked power or anything, but there seems to be long held belief among ESL fans, that you can not live without huge transformers.

Couple of remarks to Amplitude - amplifier is optimized to be paired with Altitude AVP and is cheaper of 2 concepts (Amplitude 8 has 8 hypex1200 modules with LPS).
Gain matching gives audible advantage to the system, DB25 connectors are very comfortable to work with, you cannot underestimate how much better it is to handle 2 cables instead of 16. Ability to bridge the channels gives another level of flexibility. e.g. in 9.x.4 setup you can bridge l-c-r for more power.

And to bring things into perspective, you expect to see it paired with Alt 16 that costs around 18k eur, and if you get both, you can expect to get some good deal.

I am more in the Purifi camp myself, but I fully appreciate trinnov concept. Alt 16 + Amp 16 = 16 channel 30k receiver.

 

[IamJF]

This review is once again a good reason why experienced Class D amp users nowadays straight go to Hypex and don't look back

 

[Martin]

Nice, now if they would only knock a zero off that price.

Martin

 

[digital_av]

Now only one is left to be tested: Amplitude8 (not 8m). I’m curious about this as I own it and it’s a bit more “special” than the other two as it has a linear power supply.

For me the perfect amp (unicorn) would be a 32channels with Dante and Ravenna input, passive cooling and little to no heat and no more than 350mm depth. All my speakers now are active (2 channels per speaker) so a 32 channels actually becomes a 16 channel device.