Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.

Product Strengths

  • Said to achieve extremely high linearity, high voltage gain, high current gain, and very high input impedance
  • Excelled at emotional connection, smoothness, transparency, dynamics, realism, and low-level ambiance
  • Brings music to life with soul and emotion
  • Essentia amplifier is a Class-A single-stage, single-ended TriodeFet amp that has no competition—as there are no other audio manufacturers that have successfully implemented this groundbreaking approach

Takeaway:

The Ianus Essentia is an amplifier that brings music to life with emotion and provides excellent sonic characteristics. It offers a unique approach to amplification that is both groundbreaking and rewarding.

How useful are hifi reviews? We consider them useful for three things: (1) Surfacing new products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've ever heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's unique attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we  discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on everything—rarely being negative for fear of souring relationships with manufacturers. Further, they seldom have more than a couple products on-hand at once, relying on their imperfect memories to compare to past products.

Compared to their other products

We think it's helpful to understand how this product fits into the brand's full lineup (below). To learn more about these products, visit the brand's page.

Prestige Series

  • Positioning: The entry-level lineup offering high-quality audio performance with accessible designs.
  • Description: Delivers impressive sound quality through carefully engineered components. While it provides a solid foundation, it lacks the advanced technologies found in the higher-tier Reference and Signature Series, resulting in comparatively less refined audio reproduction.

Reference Series

  • Positioning: Mid-tier products that introduce enhanced features and performance over the Prestige Series.
  • Description: Incorporates improved circuit designs and higher-grade materials, offering a more detailed and dynamic listening experience. However, it doesn't include the proprietary Inverted Triode technology present in the Signature Series, which limits its ability to deliver the same level of sonic purity and realism.

Signature Series

  • Positioning: High-end products featuring Aries Cerat's proprietary technologies for superior audio fidelity.
  • Description: Stands out with the implementation of the unique Inverted Triode technology, providing exceptional linearity and low distortion. This results in a more natural and immersive sound compared to the Reference Series.

Limited Edition Series

  • Positioning: The flagship lineup representing the highest level of craftsmanship and audio performance.
  • Description: Features top-of-the-line components and exclusive designs, such as the dual-chassis configuration for improved isolation and power supply integrity. This meticulous engineering surpasses the capabilities of the Signature Series, delivering extraordinary soundstage and detail retrieval.
See all the brand's products

Read the reviews

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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer's notes

The Ianus Essentia monoblock amplifier uses TriodeFet technology but has features that make it unique in the already innovative Ianus range. In contrary to the bigger Geminae model, the Essentia is using the TriodeFet active element in a very different topology, as this is a Single Ended design. It is also performing sonically at the highest level, and even though it is the 'smaller' model still weighs in at 80 kilos per channel.
The Ianus Essentia amplifier is not only Single Ended, it is also a Single Stage! Incredibly there is no driver stage and no input stage! This extremely simple topology we feel is a breakthrough in amplifier design, and is an elusive design goal for many, including our lab. It is only possible to execute now as we are finally able to use an active element that has the needed specifications for the purpose: Extremely high linearity, high voltage gain, high current gain and very high input impedance. The Essentia, as its name suggests, consists of only one TriodeFet stage, fed directly and used as a simple Single Ended amplifier and uses the “Essence” of the Geminea technology.
  • Power Output: 40W @ 8ohm, 70W @ 4ohm
  • Gain: 26db (26-22-18-14-10-6)db
  • Signal to Noise Ratio: 100db with reference 0db
  • Full power bandwidth: 5Hz - 60Khz
  • Idle power consumption per channel: 100W
  • Inputs: RCA X1, TVC X 1, AC link X1, XLR (optional)
  • Dimensions: 420mm H x 400mm W x 310mm D
  • Weight: 80kg per monoblock
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Average Price
$40,001-$75,000
Used Products
3
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
257
 of 600+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products
29
Founded
2010

Our take on the brand

Aries Cerat is a hifi brand known for its use of oversized components and TriodeFet technology, which combines tube and solid-state designs to create a distinctive sound signature. Their products, including the Kassandra DAC and Symphonia horn speakers, are built with massive power handling capabilities and carefully selected drivers to deliver a muscular, dynamic sound that rivals top analogue systems.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Most data on ExtremeHiFi is proprietary—researched and reviewed after thousands of hours of loving labor. We archive our site's data and its pages on Archive.org and take legal action against those repurposing the data. We also fingerprint data to know when text and numbers came from us first.
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What if you spend a bit more?

PSE1605
83958
83958
/
1
Reviews
Audio Phonique

Audio Phonique PSE1605 mono amplifiers will take you to the world of limitless space full of dynamic vibrant sound sources and associated extremely high emotional content. If being as close to live music as possible is what you’re after, then our luxurious and unique PSE1605 mono amplifiers will get you there.

Audiophonique is a Polish hifi brand that hand-makes all its products using 316L stainless steel enclosures and medical and military-grade components. Their DAC DHT stands out for its rare use of directly heated triodes and DSD conversion, while their cables feature a proprietary Extended Air Geometry with monocrystalline silver and copper conductors.
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Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • High momentum, dynamic span, effortlessness, and immediacy.
  • Open and highly complex spatial frames with loads of air around sound sources, filled with colors securing a zesty, vibrant, moisturized, and articulated view.
  • A unique blend of virtues—posh, elegant, euphonic, organic, fresh, and engaging—while showing detail and clarity.

Product Considerations

  • Very hot and needs enough space for heat dissipation.
  • The shiny chassis attracts dust and fingerprints and requires regular cleaning.
  • Elongated narrow enclosures require deeper than usual shelves or floor placement.
  • The review unit had an inactive balanced socket that paying customers won't see.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Trilogy 995R: Bass is shallower and not as beefy, but more elastic and complements the higher ranges instead of dominating.
  • Vs Aavik I-880: PSE1605 trades some quickness for extra tone.
  • Vs Enleum AMP-23R, Nagra Classic-INT, and AGD Production Vivace monos: PSE1605 trades some of its quickness and illumination for more tone and grounded perspective, but still scores very high on detail and clarity.

Takeaway: The Audio Phonique PSE1605 mono amps offer a unique listening experience with exceptional sound and a vibrant soundstage. If one appreciates a combination of elegance, detail, and engaging sound, the PSE1605 could be a great fit.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Audiophonique is a Polish hifi brand that hand-makes all its products using 316L stainless steel enclosures and medical and military-grade components. Their DAC DHT stands out for its rare use of directly heated triodes and DSD conversion, while their cables feature a proprietary Extended Air Geometry with monocrystalline silver and copper conductors.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit our
PSE1605
page
Product Page
Apex
99000
99000
/
7
Reviews
Gryphon

Since its introduction in 2022, Apex has been hailed as the finest power amplifier ever created. Critics and connoisseurs have universally praised its combination of shattering power and sublime delicacy; its ability to drive any loudspeaker balanced with unimpeachable tonal neutrality. It has always been Gryphon’s mission to achieve the highest possible audio performance in terms of sheer musicality, transparency and realism. With Apex Mono and Apex Stereo, Gryphon Audio Designs has elevated pure Class A power amplification a titanic leap above what was previously considered possible. Gryphon Apex takes us several significant steps closer in the quest for the most natural and convincing musical illusion.

Gryphon is one of the most respected high-end amplifier brands in the world. Its bass grip is phenomenal, thanks to an unusually high level of capacitance, which keeps everything tight and controlled, even with demanding speakers. Gryphon is also known for its bold, brutalist design—a look that a lot of people love. You’ll find their gear all over Europe and Asia, and the Diablo 333 is often considered an ‘endgame’ amp by those chasing the very best sound and aesthetics.
Check on Amazon
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Delivers lots of current due to a new 2000VA toroidal transformer
  • The Apex Stereo's ease of presentation was immediately obvious—it fully engaged the reviewer
  • The amp exuded supreme self-confidence
  • The amp simultaneously speeds things up and slows things down
  • Superior speaker grip, improving organization, timing, and musical flow

Product Considerations

  • Initial start-up can be alarming due to flashing error lights
  • The size and weight (445 lbs) can make installation challenging
  • It's gigantic and heavy, requiring special equipment and tools to handle its production

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Boulder 2060: The Apex revealed more tonally saturated sounds
  • Vs Boulder 2060: Apex cast a larger soundstage, and within those huge spaces, images were generally larger and more three-dimensional
  • Vs Boulder 2060: Apex exposed more detail in the music

Takeaway: The Gryphon Apex Stereo is a powerful amplifier that brings music to life with a balanced and full sound at any volume. Its ability to reveal the resonant nature of instruments transforms listening sessions into immersive experiences.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Gryphon is one of the most respected high-end amplifier brands in the world. Its bass grip is phenomenal, thanks to an unusually high level of capacitance, which keeps everything tight and controlled, even with demanding speakers. Gryphon is also known for its bold, brutalist design—a look that a lot of people love. You’ll find their gear all over Europe and Asia, and the Diablo 333 is often considered an ‘endgame’ amp by those chasing the very best sound and aesthetics.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit our
Apex
page
Product Page
Momentum M400 MxV
79950
79950
/
4
Reviews
Dan D'Agostino

The company's inaugural creation, the Momentum Mono Amplifier, served as the foundation for its product line. The Momentum M400 MxV Mono Amplifier, the latest iteration, enhances the iconic design to new heights. Incorporating techniques and topologies from the Relentless Mono Amplifier, the Momentum M400 MxV models represent the pinnacle of Momentum circuitry evolution. The new model name, MxV, signifies Mass times Velocity—the fundamental equation for Momentum, a recognition that resonates particularly with individuals having a physics background. Explore the cutting-edge Momentum M400 MxV for an unparalleled audio experience.

Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
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Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Exquisite aesthetics with a sleek design and a power meter that glows green
  • Delivers a smooth and satisfying sound
  • The sound is described as 'louder' and more powerful
  • Said to be able to drive any speaker to its maximum output
  • Upgrades are retrofittable to earlier Momentum models
  • Balanced input only

Product Considerations

  • Runs warm
  • The scale on the power meter is essentially uncalibrated
  • Requires a return to the factory for MxV upgrades on earlier Momentum Models

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The Momentum M400 MxV incorporates technology from the Relentless line and gets very close to the Relentless sound regarding space and depth
  • The Momentum M400 MxV is smaller and lighter than the Karan Acoustics POWERa mono
  • The Momentum M400 MxV is smaller and lighter than the D'Agostino Progression M550 Mono amplifier

Takeaway: The Momentum M400 MxV monoblock is a beautifully designed and powerful amplifier that delivers a smooth and satisfying listening experience. It incorporates technology from the flagship Relentless model, making it a top-tier choice for audiophiles.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit our
Momentum M400 MxV
page
Product Page
Reference 330M
90000
90000
/
2
Reviews
Audio Research
Audio Research is a hifi brand that has stayed committed to tube technology while many competitors moved to solid-state designs. The brand is known for its use of KT150 power beam tetrodes and hybrid power supply designs that blend tube amplification with solid-state regulation.
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Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Fully balanced design, handcrafted in the USA
  • Employs a sextet of KT170 valves, ECC83, and 6H30, with hand-selected and matched valves
  • Features Audio Research's 'Auto-Bias' circuitry and an internal hour meter for monitoring valve usage
  • Aesthetically elegant design with unique 'Ghost Meters' which are LED-illuminated and can be dimmed or switched off
  • Capable of delivering high power at low frequencies, controlling and driving speakers like a big solid-state amplifier

Product Considerations

  • High price point
  • Requires a 20A IEC cable (supplied)
  • The bass control and sheer bass output of the Gryphon Audio Antileon EVO (solid state) could not quite be matched by the Reference 330M
  • The unit use a variable speed fan, although it was essentially silent during testing, this may still present a point of concern for some users

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Gryphon Audio Antileon EVO: The Gryphon Audio Antileon EVO (solid state) has slightly better bass control and output

Takeaway: The Audio Research Reference 330M is an intelligently engineered and beautifully styled amplifier that embodies the meaning of 'Reference' in sound quality. Its powerful valve design delivers excellent performance and is sure to be a conversation piece in any high-end audio setup.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Audio Research is a hifi brand that has stayed committed to tube technology while many competitors moved to solid-state designs. The brand is known for its use of KT150 power beam tetrodes and hybrid power supply designs that blend tube amplification with solid-state regulation.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit our
Reference 330M
page
Product Page

What else competes at this price?

RSA-BW7EX
62207
/
Released
Spec
The RSA-BW7EX delivers the dynamism of music to you. The sound of RSA-BW7EX is based on the RSA-777EX, with more expressive power in the mid-low range.
Check on Amazon
SPEC Corporation views amplifiers as musical instruments, using woods like spruce and maple that vibrate with the music, and incorporating Himalayan ruby mica capacitors for profound silence. Their amplifiers use a sealed Class D system with a "Pure Direct System" to amplify minute signals accurately, while the wooden structure enhances the musicality of the sound.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Incredibly dense sound filled with information, creating a three-dimensional and deep sound
  • Excellent saturation of the lower midrange and mid-bass
  • Smooth, warm treble, sharing characteristics with tube amplifiers
  • Sounds emerge from absolute, black silence—enhancing the impression of fullness
  • Well proportioned and has a minimalist design using a combination of metal and wood

Product Considerations

  • Lacks a traditional remote control, instead—an external remote with radio signal transmission is sold separately
  • An unbalanced design even with an XLR input, which is added for convenience
  • Sound sources are not precisely defined, lacking clear edges
  • Softening of sharpness around 5-6kHz may shape the sound in a specific way
  • Uses a switching power supply for the power amplifier rather than a linear one for the entire device

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The RSA-BW7 EX has a less weighted midrange, while Hegel has clearer contours and a brighter, more open and expressive sound

Takeaway: The RSA-BW7 EX is a well-built amplifier that provides a dense and deep sound with a touch of warmth. This amplifier allows listeners to focus on the beauty of the music, offering a relaxed and enjoyable listening experience.

Video review

Our take on the brand

SPEC Corporation views amplifiers as musical instruments, using woods like spruce and maple that vibrate with the music, and incorporating Himalayan ruby mica capacitors for profound silence. Their amplifiers use a sealed Class D system with a "Pure Direct System" to amplify minute signals accurately, while the wooden structure enhances the musicality of the sound.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit
RSA-BW7EX
Page
Product Page
AW 800 M Reference
45000
/
Released
2023
Electrocompaniet
The AW 800 M is Electrocompaniet's brand-new flagship power amplifier. It replaces the legendary AW 600 NEMO as our most powerful monoblock power amplifier. The amplifier showcases an updated, yet unmistakable and distinctive Electrocompaniet design that is a perfect match for all current and legacy Electrocompaniet products.
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Electrocompaniet, a nearly 50-year-old hifi brand recognized by audiophiles and major recording studios worldwide, specializes in amplifiers with unique features like Floating Transformer Technology and fully balanced operation. Their amplifiers are designed with direct-coupled high open-loop bandwidth topology and zero feedback class A operation.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Very clean and noise-free output signal provides a stable soundstage with a very black background at any sound level
  • Exceptional bass control and depth delivers a powerful and tight bass response that underpins the overall musical experience
  • Offers flexibility with mono, stereo, and bi-amping operating modes, allowing for system upgrades and configuration changes
  • Dynamic and fast, reacting instantaneously to the signal it receives and delivering power and subtlety where needed
  • Continues the company's aesthetic with the massive perspex front panel covering

Product Considerations

  • Speaker binding posts may not be compatible with all types of speaker cable terminations, specifically thicker spades
  • The control for the illuminated 'E' on the front is located underneath the amp and may be difficult to access
  • May be more 'laid-back', which some may interpret as lacking ultimate transparency or strict neutrality
  • Provides only for XLR balanced inputs, though Electrocompaniet can provide appropriate high-quality adaptors for RCA connectors

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Brings another level of control and depth to everything, compared to Totaldac Amp 1
  • The memorable blackness of bass pinged recognition, compared to Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos

Takeaway: The Electrocompaniet AW 800 M is a powerful and versatile amplifier known for its exceptional bass control, clean output, and dynamic performance. It is a great choice for audiophiles seeking a high-quality listening experience with flexibility for system configuration.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Electrocompaniet, a nearly 50-year-old hifi brand recognized by audiophiles and major recording studios worldwide, specializes in amplifiers with unique features like Floating Transformer Technology and fully balanced operation. Their amplifiers are designed with direct-coupled high open-loop bandwidth topology and zero feedback class A operation.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit
AW 800 M Reference
Page
Product Page
Momentum S250 MxV
44950
/
Released
2021
Dan D'Agostino
The Momentum S250 MxV stereo amplifier delivers the extraordinary sound quality of the Momentum M400 MxV monoblock in a more affordable stereo design. The circuit topology and construction of the stereo amplifier mirror those of the monoblock, using the same ultra-efficient copper heat sinks with venturi cooling, the same 1% metal-film resistors, the same 69 MHz output transistors and the same fully complementary balanced configuration.
Check on Amazon
Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Incredibly resolving, with plenty of detail
  • Perfectly controlled, 'wide' sound in terms of dynamics and panorama
  • A quieter background brings forward a level of detail
  • A clearly structured form, with symmetrical divisions and repetitions
  • Inspired by the Relentless Epic amplifier series

Product Considerations

  • Speaker jacks accept only spades and bare wires, and connecting spades from the top bends the cable significantly
  • Components on the rear panel are placed close to each other and not particularly convenient to use

Takeaway: The Momentum S250 MxV amplifier delivers an immersive and detailed listening experience, making it great for those who enjoy actively listening to music. It brings out the best in loudspeakers, offering tremendous dynamics and a wide soundstage.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Dan D'Agostino is an ultra-premium hifi brand distinguished by its unique copper heat sinks with holes and distinctive circular green-lit VU meters that give their amplifiers a steampunk aesthetic. Their amplifiers feature proprietary "Super Rail" technology that maintains high voltage for front-end transistors, while their three-chassis Relentless Preamplifier uses 30-pin interlocking connectors to eliminate wiring anomalies.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit
Momentum S250 MxV
Page
Product Page
Klimax Solo 800
45000
/
Released
2024
Linn
With Klimax Solo 800, we have created a superior-performance mono amplifier which can drive any given speaker optimally – under any conditions. To achieve this, our electronic engineers returned to first principles with their crosshairs trained on 'consistency' and 'accuracy' – because consistency and accuracy are key to pure, unadulterated, power amp performance. It features novel and original technologies which combine to produce staggeringly low distortion measurements, with superb signal-to-noise ratio and incredible efficiency.
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Linn is a hifi brand known for its modular designs, particularly the Sondek LP12 turntable where users can upgrade virtually every component over time to maintain performance across decades. The brand stands out for developing its own technologies in-house, including the Organik DAC with FPGA processing and Space Optimisation, which models room acoustics without needing microphone measurements.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Delivers a complete and unabridged rendition of music, offering a sense of authority and positively influencing the sound
  • Presents music as a tightly unified whole, creating a singular event rather than a collection of individual sounds
  • Offers beautifully balanced and poised sound across the entire frequency range, from deep bass to detailed highs
  • Maintains steady output voltage regardless of changes in load, defying mains input variations, thanks to the Utopik power supply
  • The Adaptive Bias Control (ABC) technology establishes and adjusts bias current in real time

Product Considerations

  • The high price dictates that all other system components (source, pre-amplification, speakers, supports) need to be of similarly high quality and expense

Takeaway: The Linn Klimax Solo 800 is an uncompromising amplifier that allows one to hear their music in a new light by delivering a complete picture of the sound. It offers exceptional clarity, balance, and control over the music signal.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Linn is a hifi brand known for its modular designs, particularly the Sondek LP12 turntable where users can upgrade virtually every component over time to maintain performance across decades. The brand stands out for developing its own technologies in-house, including the Organik DAC with FPGA processing and Space Optimisation, which models room acoustics without needing microphone measurements.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit
Klimax Solo 800
Page
Product Page
Ferios
43553
/
Released
2022
TIDAL
The all new TIDAL Ferios G2. We have pushed the concept of the first Ferios power amplifier to its extreme and developed an all new power supply with a true power regulation. Thus, the TIDAL Ferios mono amplifier board is certain for all practical means and purposes to be supplied with never failing power reserves and a lavish feed of clean current that will drive every imaginable speaker with ease.
Check on Amazon
TIDAL Audio is renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, creating products that are both visually stunning and acoustically superior, with their Prisma preamplifier and Ferios power amplifiers particularly praised for their build quality. The brand's products deliver a distinctive "liquid" and "sensual" sound quality that avoids clinical sterility, while supporting immersive formats like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Transparent and uncolored
  • Exceptional casework and styling
  • Ample power without muscularity becoming the product's defining attribute
  • Utterly effortless and transparent magnification of the electrical impulse
  • Allows a listener to devote their psychic energy to making an emotional connection to music
  • Only has balanced inputs

Product Considerations

  • Only has balanced inputs

Takeaway: The Ferios monoblock power amplifiers are some of the best electronics available, combining immediacy, transparency, and tonal beauty. Its ability to effortlessly resolve complex arrangements makes it a worthwhile choice for serious audiophiles.

Video review

Our take on the brand

TIDAL Audio is renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, creating products that are both visually stunning and acoustically superior, with their Prisma preamplifier and Ferios power amplifiers particularly praised for their build quality. The brand's products deliver a distinctive "liquid" and "sensual" sound quality that avoids clinical sterility, while supporting immersive formats like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit
Ferios
Page
Product Page

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.

Product Strengths

  • Said to achieve extremely high linearity, high voltage gain, high current gain, and very high input impedance
  • Excelled at emotional connection, smoothness, transparency, dynamics, realism, and low-level ambiance
  • Brings music to life with soul and emotion
  • Essentia amplifier is a Class-A single-stage, single-ended TriodeFet amp that has no competition—as there are no other audio manufacturers that have successfully implemented this groundbreaking approach

Takeaway:

The Ianus Essentia is an amplifier that brings music to life with emotion and provides excellent sonic characteristics. It offers a unique approach to amplification that is both groundbreaking and rewarding.

How useful are hifi reviews? We consider them useful for three things: (1) Surfacing new products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've ever heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's unique attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we  discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on everything—rarely being negative for fear of souring relationships with manufacturers. Further, they seldom have more than a couple products on-hand at once, relying on their imperfect memories to compare to past products.

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