Apollo Greek God of MUSIC, POETRY and ART
Alvin, I was first introduced to Denafrips after Seeing John Darko Review the Terminator. I did my due diligence and then contacted you and bought one. This purchase led to a confidence and new awakening as to how good Chinese Hifi can sound.
I have added other Denafrips units into my System then I saw the Apollo and even before the Reviews were out I bought it without hearing. So now after 1 month I have decided to let you know what I am hearing with this amplifier and yes there is a difference, with my previous big-name amplifier.
With S/N Ratio 118dB, Dynamic Range >121dB and Stereo Crosstalk -110dB this Class -AB, True Balanced, Fully Discrete Power Amplifier Better be worth the S$5000 I paid so I set out to critically listen to some testing music.
OSCAR PETERSON, WE GET REQUESTS
48Khz 24-bit MQA
Track: You look Good to Me and The Girl from Ipanema.
Separation was excellent, the plucked String Bass was tight, and, in its space, the brushes slid across the skins and cymbals and the piano was exactly right. I could sit and follow every instrument from Start to finish and every note was clear and clean. OK so an MQA recording Should be Clean and clear but this had distinct Definition. SO, I MOVED ON TO BIG ORCHESTRAL
SCHEHERAZADE REINER and CHICAGO SYMPHONY
FLAC 44.1 16 bit
TRACK: Festival in Bagdad
TO BE FAIR, I do have the DSD Version as well, but wanted to Hear the dynamic range.
So using the FLAC version, the festival track starts with tutti opening then Silence then a solo violin stating the main theme. It is clear crisp and detailed another statement of theme then the rhythm enters Crisp triple tonguing on the trumpets and music explodes. I know this piece of music well.
I have never heard it so controlled and clear as with this amplifier Bass drums at 3 mins 20 and 3 mins 25 are also tight and powerful. Big Orchestral pieces often loose detail become muddy and both Dynamics and tone are lost but the Apollo holds on to everything and the sound overall is Fantastic.
SO NOW What about a guitar
WHO ELSE! JEFF BECK
FLAC 44.1 16 Bit
This blew me away, the audience cheers, the bass and then the Beck tight playing.
This amp is about control it seems to hold tight to everything, notes, rhythms and details nothing is lost. You can even hear one fan shout YEA! Just after a silent break. This is what I have paid for it is worth every penny.
But wait what about Voice.
So here I went to Someone who could combine the drama and Ethereal voice Lisa Gerrard : Known for being the voice on the Gladiator soundtrack and also in Dead can Dance amongst other works.
The Best of Lisa Gerrard
LISA GERRARD
FLAC 44.1 16 bit
TRACK : YULUNGA (Spirit Dance)
WOW ok I wanted voice, but this track combined with her voice and Rhythms in a middle eastern form sounds fantastic and the Apollo holds on to everything it is totally in control and allows you to forget about the Audiophile nature of this Amp it is just another instrument.
IN CONCLUSION
This Amplifier is Fantastic, I have been a professional Horn player, I have Sold HiFi and been an Audiophile for 45 years so I have owned and heard many amplifiers, this is honestly the best I have heard.
I recently watched a vid from a great British Amplifier manufacturer, they were boasting how one of their amps has 1 Pair or Transistors another had 2 and even better another amplifier had 4 well in the Apollo it has 16 pairs per side this may be what controls and holds this amplifier it just gives.
THE MUSIC
THE WHOLE MUSIC
AND NOTHING BUT THE MUSIC
Thank you.
Credit: David L. @ Singapore
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