What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
03 NOV 2004
Roksan Caspian M series-1 power
This Roksan is an excellent buy that puts most of the opposition to shame when it comes to sonic ability
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In common with its partnering preamplifier, Roksan’s Caspian M-Series-1 monobloc power amp is hardly the glitziest-looking piece of equipment you’ll ever own. Yes, the looks are distinctive, but pretty? Stylish? Purposeful? We think not. There are other amps at this level likely to draw more envious glances when installed on your equipment-rack.
But all that changes when the amp is fired up. Partner a pair of these amps with the matching preamp, and your get a sound that’s staggeringly transparent, and delivered with bags of grip.
That’s hardly surprising: this amp may deliver a relatively modest 100w in to 8 ohms, but that’s only the start of the story. It’s go on to deliver 175w into 4 ohms, 250w into 2ohms and 330w into 1ohm, so tricky speaker loads really won’t be a problem, especially with protection circuitry provided to keep the whole plot on the road should the speakers decide to get really stroppy.
Simple and direct sound
That, and a hefty 350VA transformer aside, things are pretty simple here: you get a single RCA phono input, a ‘daisy chain’ output and two sets of speaker terminals to make biwiring simpler. Oh, and the amp is happiest when used with Roksan’s own HCD-02S speaker cable.
And simple and direct is what the sound is all about: there’s a clean, crisp and insightful presentation that captures every vocal nuance with class-leading skill. The amp works as well with the charging beats of The Streets as it does with the gentler piano–based music of Tori Amos.
There are no weaknesses: despite giving away a hefty dose of power to most of its price-competition – at least on paper - it sounds as authoritative as any of them. Qualities such as dynamics, tonal balance and imaging are spot-on, too.
If you put features, cosmetics or power output high on your list, there are better alternatives. But if you want the most honest-sounding power amp you can get for the money, this Roksan can’t be ignored.
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