Hey guys, this ones a good one. Used as my reference for a while now. If you enjoyed me sharing my experience, please give this video a thumbs up, it helps the channel out greatly and it does not cost you anything! Head to squarespace.com/jaysiyagi to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code jaysiyagi Denafrips Apollo: www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-apollo-poweramp Related videos: Denafrips Thallo & Hades review: th-cam.com/video/F7m_nRvE17k/w-d-xo.html 0:00 ABOUT Denafrips Apollo 2:02 Denafrips Amplifier Build Review 5:54 Inside the Denafrips Amplifier 7:20 Denafrips Amplifier Sound Review 11:56 Parasound VS Denafrips Amplifier Comparison 15:06 Caveats
Can you please compare it to the earthquake cinenova grande as they also have huge toroidal transformers and can be tuned to higher class a bias from the shop.
@@Jayiyagi Any plans to review Bryston amps / integrated? It seems Bryston makes insanely good amps and I would love to know how it compares to the competition .
Jay, I own an Apollo amplifier, I am from Ireland and live in Singapore where I deal with Alvin Directly. When I first received my Apollo I found much the same Sound Signature as you, I went through a few cables and then discovered DH Labs Silver sonics. These cables gave a lift to the apollo in terms of the soft top end, The Staging is improved and that depth is fantastic. Previously I have owned Amplifiers from Quad, Rogers, VTL, Cambridge, and many others as I was selling HIFI in the late '70s. I have been an audiophile for a long time. The Speakers I am using with this amplifier are a pair of Apertura Armonia Evolution and a REL T9i Subwoofer in a Small to Medium Room. I firmly believe that a change in cables will change this amplifier's sound, if you get a set of DH Labs try them and listen to the amplifier anew.
I'm glad to hear you reference Parasound, because that's the obvious comparison on first blush. Big, heavy, giant power supply, balanced design, leans warm, able to drive any speakers like a rented mule...that pretty much describes Parasound.
I bought the Thallo amp 6 months ago, based on your review, and true to your words what a great sounding power amp, I was really curious when you were going to review the Apollo. About 3 months ago I bought some new floor standing speakers to replace my Audio physic floor standers and that's when I realised there wasn't much improvement in sound quality, so was a little disappointed. I started to think maybe a different amp with more power might change things, however I really didn't want to replace the Thallo. I decided to try some 300 watt mono blocks with every intension of sending them back if there wasn't much of a difference. Well pretty much from the first song the audible difference was a real upgrade in my system and I knew there was no turning back, they really brought out the speakers full potential and I'm not talking about loud sound levels, at low sounds levels it retained the sound stage, separation and details, so I think I've become a Mono block convert. I think Mono blocks is something most audio enthusiasts should try at some point in there journey.
I’ve never tried mono blocks but I will try them someday you are correct everybody should just like they say you have to use tubes someday I’ve done that and I am a convert Listener
Would it be useful to compare this to Kinki Studio’s EX-B7 mono-blocks relative to sound signature and ability to drive speakers? They come to the market at a similar price and, on paper, are rated at about the same power, but they seem to get there by very different means. Maybe you could shed some light on the similarities and differences. Your insights are very useful. Thanks.
Thanks Donald ! To summarize; Kinki monoblocks are more balanced and neutral/open sounding while the apollo is a warmer/muscular sound. Hope that helps !
Nice value proposition but that warranty situation would be a deal breaker for myself (others not so much) having enjoyed Parasound ownership for over 18 years now.. with A21, A51 and now JC5.... I'll continue to enjoy the reliable delivery.... But it is good to see an entrypoint to similar performance becoming more economical.
Hi Marcus..I totally und your concerns regarding warranty process. I own a complete bespoke tube setup and now the DENAFRIPS GAIA, Terminator Plus, Athena and Apollo 9a pair of Apollos). I can tell you, from personal experience, and complete confidence, that Alvin and his team respond faster than any other vendor I’ve worked with, outright righteous immediate support and he even checks back with you after the issue has been resolved. Here in the state Todd is his support person and the guy knows his onions, as the saying goes. My TPlus came with a BNC connector that had a lump of extra material - emailed Alvin and a pair of replacements was received just days later. Alvin and his team are expanding but the service level is only getting better! I’m all in.
@@omanyaki402 I will second your experience, Iris DDC, Ares II, Hades preamp and Thallo amplifier, nothing buy outstanding service from both Alvin and Vincent. Hopefully will be purchasing the Pontus II here shortly. Alvin has some of the most responsive customer service I have ever experienced. I wish more companies were operated as well as Vinshine Audio.
That Parasound and any warranty like it, is of any use for customers from the same country or a nearby one, as the manufacturer. Send that faulty JC5 from lets say Italy to the US for repairs and watch your life spiral into oblivion.
If you think this is a great value you should experience my schiit tyr monoblocks. Continuity topology gives almost class a linearity, a giant choke reduces ripple by a little over 20db, a standby button, almost as much power as the Apollo, output stage is kept clear for clear sound, basically can power any speaker to ear bleeding levels and way less money bro.
cool ! I'm assuming you have heard the Apollo in comparison to the schiit to determine that it was a better value? What were the main differences you've heard?
@@Jayiyagi Cmon man. Have you Jay? I know we both work for our hobby so it's not like we can just pick up some variety and compare. I'm not knocking the denafrips Apollo in fact I love denafrips for their r2r dacs and was looking at the Athena preamp recently and I bet the Apollo is amazing. But I can't imagine them being that different. They have large high quality transformers so bass and soundstage should be great. The reserve amounts of power should also add some air and effortlessness.
@@V1ralB1ack I have not and that is why I was asking because it sounded like you have. Wasn't throwing any shades... I'm curious about the schiit and I make no assumptions based on what I see. Like I mentioned in the video; apollo follows similar structure/formula to some of the solid state amplifiers I have heard in the past that sounded less musical to my ears... I didn't think the apollo was anything special nor did I have any expectations of it sounding warm before listening to it ! I may like the schiit better, who knows ! Would be down to try one day.
@@Jayiyagi Sorry I overreacted. This California heat is killing me. If you lived nearby you can go ahead and test mine. They're mostly just sitting around because my speakers are now efficient and my bookshelves are not in use. My next goal is to buy a willsenton r800i like you also thanks to you man. Sorry for the attitude.
Interesting take on the Apollo vs the Thallo. I kicked the idea around, replacing my Thallo with the Apollo, but it sounds so good! This just seals the deal, the Thallo is staying. I run it with the Hades preamp, Iris DDC and Ares II... Hopefully a Pontus II is in my future.
Glad to see you back after the c, Jay! I've been through it myself. Not pleasant at all. If you're still not feeling 100%, I highly recommend breathwork. For both body and mind. Oxygen is the key to life! Best /Filip from Sweden
Still in this price range and in regards of real amp power, I'd go with Rotel Michi X3. Thx for yor dedication, very good details and time!! Cheers from Germany.
Try the Thallo first, unless you say have a large room to fill with sound. I have the Hades Thallo and could not be happier. No plans on upgrading any time soon. I am using the Model 5's for speakers. Jays Hades Thallo review was spot on, he nailed the sound. And he was suing the Model 5's in that video. I beielve the Pontus II or Venus DAC... Either way, Jay nailed it, and I can see why he is a fan of Denafrips gear.
I have listened to it in the past but never reviewed it on my channel. Shame. There are many gear that I never covered on the channel because I wasn't all-out on youtube at the time. Hopefully I'll get around to listening to it again and review it for you guys this time.
Nice video Jay, and informative of what appears to be a reasonably affordable amp. I would think it would be really cool for you to reach out to Schiit to try out the Tyr mono block amps. Now that would be a really interesting evaluation and comparison to the Apollo.
The SPL Audio Amp‘s with Voltair Technology are Real Game Changer. Test it … it‘s Mind blowing if they are right adjust and you will in next 10 years or longer nothing else buying
Who da thunk a Luxman amp would be compared to Denafrips amp... I do like the contrast and comparison though, even though the two products are poles apart. Keep up the good work.
JAY: Big torroid Xfrmrs and caps aside; it's the output devices that are the final determiners of current both delivered and dumped, to the binding posts of the amplifier. The number of paralleled (or not) transistors and their emitter resistors combined with operation mode class A, AB determine the final transconductance between the power supply and binding posts. I'm not going to dive into the speaker cables here. I just wanted to remind you, Jay. Sincerely, Nils P.
I enjoyed this video. I am in the market for a new power amplifier and haven been considering the Bryston 4B cubed and have turned my gaze from time to time to the Parasound JC5; an expensive amplifier - $10,000 Canadian. Denafrips Apollo is an amplifier to be given serious consideration.
Having lived with this amp it is such a bargain and the sound signature is terrific with the right cables, this is well worth the money, and as for the Gtee, it is also primarily modular so no prob.
Hey Jay! Glad you're feeling better. I just got COVID for the first time too last month. Can you let us know when you're going to announce the winner of the R700s? The anticipation is killing me lol
When is the contest winner for the Polk system going to be announced? Been almost a month and nothing has been mentioned. Hope you are feeling better, keep up the good reviews.
Interesting review. Apollo over the JC 5 didn't see that coming. Is it the treble range that you prefer over the JC 5? Or maybe it has more more of something else? At one point you mentioned JC 5 is a bit better maybe only in power. Certainly seems like a great value overall.
did you had any problem which by the Apollo came in protect mode heard about this issue which can occur with the Athena or other pre amps iam concerned, maybe this problem is not true or solved
Now that you've completed the Denafrips lineup...time for Audio-GD!! (Not their fan or anything, just interested to hear how their DACs and amps compare)
Hi Jay, have you tried using the Denafrips’ flagship preamp Athena with this Apollo power amp? Just curious with its matching if it is better than Hades. Thanks!
I have the Athena and Apollo combination, and I have no doubt that the Athena is a substantial upgrade from the Hades preamp. And as you may know, it's the proper match intended for the Apollo. I also wish Jay had tested with the Athena. Athena has much better transformer isolation and many other upgrades. It's in the Terminator Plus sized case. I highly recommend the combination!
As cool as the denafrips amps seem to me, I can't get pass the unity gain and only 1 rca input on the preamps. I mainly listen to vinyl and cassettes and that extra gain comes in handy. Shame, because I think their amps are visually attractive and seem to have a sound profile I would enjoy.
I have the Hades and Thallo, along with the Iris DDC and Ares II DAC, Model 5 speakers... I was concerned about the zero gain, until I really sat and listened to the system. I used to play my music loud, not so anymore, this Denafrips system honestly changed the way I listen to, and appreciate music. Everything Jay said in his Hades/Thallo review is true with this setup. He used the Model 5's in that video, but did not stay until a later video. Jay nailed the sound.
Modern Harbeths are not "warm sounding" any more. I used to have C7ES3 40th, and it was actually bright sounding to me. Now replaced with darker sounding ProAc.
Thanks for this long awaited great review!, I was just wondering, which one would you prefer most - Luxman or Hegel? I am aware that you like Hegel a lot, and would love to hear your opinion on these two, as Luxman has great reviews as well. Thank you.
To my knowledge, for those interested in Denafrips be aware they have a NO return policy. I also had sync issues with the Ares 2 optical connection. They only inform you about this in the FAQ’s so buyer beware! It should be noted, I was easily able to sell the unit but it was an inconvenience nevertheless.
Hey some bro3 in the background! I just got a pair on sale a few days ago thanks to Sean zero fidelity for turning me onto the $399 sale. And are those the gr research next to them?!
16 pairs for each channel sounds pretty impressive, coz 14 pairs of Hegel H30 got my jaw dropped ! But wonder anyone checked what kind of BJT it's using. Ok not MOSFET, but is it MJL3281, Toshiba(C5200) or Sanken, or something else ?
Great video as usual! Made me wonder what are those Triangle speakers in the back though? They look like the Borea BRO3 but I've never seen them in this colourway before anywhere. Looks quite attractive with this light oak and light grey front :O
Is it gray or the blue? I know they have green, as well as white, black, mahogany, light oak, and . .not sure. Lol Only know because I just received a white pair a few days ago on sale $399 usd
Hey Jay; are the first watts of this amp pure class a (like some Pass labs amps) or are they right from the beginning class a/b? Greetings from Switzerland
Hey Paul. Class A/B designs are class A to a certain wattage. Not exactly sure on the apollo but im sure you can message them for a quick curiosity fix. I might do that myself as well since you mentioned it
Considering the weight your appreciation and comments about the packing and the delivery would be useful to appraise the feasibility of such purchase. A krell is delivered by (at least) two men...
I've owned the Apollo for about 6 months, and I was able to move it myself, get it down some carpeted stairs, and get it unpacked without help. I used furniture sliders to assist me in sliding it. I'm a middle-aged guy and not particularly large. Still I wouldn't recommend it if you have any kind of back problems LOL. Would be better to have some help but I was so excited about it I couldn't wait so I did it myself LOL.
@@toddt5562 haha my man! I had a similar experience sneaking my parasound a21+ into the house. The double box is unwieldy and large, and the amp is some 70lb. I somehow yanked it straight out of my trunk and just walked it inside, back be damned. I thought about waiting for the girlfriend to get home but decided I got this
Great review ! I wonder if the Apollo paired with my newly bought PrimaLuna EVO 400 tube preamp would make a perfect match to drive my ( current hungry ) Maggies 3.7i’s ? Best regards from Sweden
I’m really hoping for good reviews for this amp. I love my super heavy (94lbs) Mark Levinson power amp. It sounds great and last year I was thinking of getting it overhauled and recapped. I was quoted $1,500-2,500 excluding shipping. I decided not to do the work because it sounds great however it’s getting old (built in 1998). So I’m thinking of this Denafrips because for just a little more, I can have a new amp and be good for 20 years hopefully.
Mark Levinsons are great. Worth the re-cap in my opinon but the apollo is great as well as I've stated in the video... hard choice if I was in your shoes but I personally I would get the apollo BUT it's also a good choice to just keep what you love and re-cap it (since you know you already like it).
@@Jayiyagi I agree it’s a hard decision. I’m leaning towards buying the Denafrips Apollo to run my two sets of Magnepan’s and using the ML in another system. Keep up the great work and glad you survived Covid.
Owning this Apollo and knowing amplifiers I can assure you that you will be happy with this amplifier but choose cables carefully to match your speakers. This amplifier is cable sensitive, many of JAy's points on sound can be altered with good quality cables (not to Expensive)
![[UNCUT] The Loyal Pin ปิ่นภักดิ์ EP.6 (1/4)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/m05kZ2GDKXg/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey guys, this ones a good one. Used as my reference for a while now. If you enjoyed me sharing my experience, please give this video a thumbs up, it helps the channel out greatly and it does not cost you anything!
Head to squarespace.com/jaysiyagi to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code jaysiyagi
Denafrips Apollo: www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-apollo-poweramp
Related videos:
Denafrips Thallo & Hades review: th-cam.com/video/F7m_nRvE17k/w-d-xo.html
0:00 ABOUT Denafrips Apollo
2:02 Denafrips Amplifier Build Review
5:54 Inside the Denafrips Amplifier
7:20 Denafrips Amplifier Sound Review
11:56 Parasound VS Denafrips Amplifier Comparison
15:06 Caveats
Hello Jay Iyagi i am wondering if you can please make dac reviews what are your thoughts on what is the best dac amp stack to get??!!
Would you review the luxman?
@@varislew584 absolutely
Can you please compare it to the earthquake cinenova grande as they also have huge toroidal transformers and can be tuned to higher class a bias from the shop.
@@Jayiyagi Any plans to review Bryston amps / integrated? It seems Bryston makes insanely good amps and I would love to know how it compares to the competition .
Jay, I own an Apollo amplifier, I am from Ireland and live in Singapore where I deal with Alvin Directly.
When I first received my Apollo I found much the same Sound Signature as you, I went through a few cables and then discovered DH Labs Silver sonics. These cables gave a lift to the apollo in terms of the soft top end, The Staging is improved and that depth is fantastic.
Previously I have owned Amplifiers from Quad, Rogers, VTL, Cambridge, and many others as I was selling HIFI in the late '70s. I have been an audiophile for a long time.
The Speakers I am using with this amplifier are a pair of Apertura Armonia Evolution and a REL T9i Subwoofer in a Small to Medium Room.
I firmly believe that a change in cables will change this amplifier's sound, if you get a set of DH Labs try them and listen to the amplifier anew.
I'm glad to hear you reference Parasound, because that's the obvious comparison on first blush. Big, heavy, giant power supply, balanced design, leans warm, able to drive any speakers like a rented mule...that pretty much describes Parasound.
“It’s well built… for the money.” Talk about damning with praise.
I bought the Thallo amp 6 months ago, based on your review, and true to your words what a great sounding power amp, I was really curious when you were going to review the Apollo. About 3 months ago I bought some new floor standing speakers to replace my Audio physic floor standers and that's when I realised there wasn't much improvement in sound quality, so was a little disappointed. I started to think maybe a different amp with more power might change things, however I really didn't want to replace the Thallo. I decided to try some 300 watt mono blocks with every intension of sending them back if there wasn't much of a difference. Well pretty much from the first song the audible difference was a real upgrade in my system and I knew there was no turning back, they really brought out the speakers full potential and I'm not talking about loud sound levels, at low sounds levels it retained the sound stage, separation and details, so I think I've become a Mono block convert. I think Mono blocks is something most audio enthusiasts should try at some point in there journey.
I’ve never tried mono blocks but I will try them someday you are correct everybody should just like they say you have to use tubes someday I’ve done that and I am a convert Listener
Monos double current ability I think? So you could just get a high current stereo amp if space is a concern
There they are, the XLS Encore! 😂 Thanks for the review, Jay!
They are finally here !
Saw those too! I’m still breaking mine in, but so far, so good! Imaging is super imho… Great review yet again Jay.
Would it be useful to compare this to Kinki Studio’s EX-B7 mono-blocks relative to sound signature and ability to drive speakers? They come to the market at a similar price and, on paper, are rated at about the same power, but they seem to get there by very different means. Maybe you could shed some light on the similarities and differences. Your insights are very useful. Thanks.
Thanks Donald ! To summarize; Kinki monoblocks are more balanced and neutral/open sounding while the apollo is a warmer/muscular sound. Hope that helps !
Thank you, Jay. Glad you’re feeling better.
So,
Maybe the Denafrips with Maggie 3.7s.
@@donalddietz4755 hi im interested in that combo too! If you do try please let me know please! (Or upload some sound clips! :p) thanks!
Nice value proposition but that warranty situation would be a deal breaker for myself (others not so much) having enjoyed Parasound ownership for over 18 years now.. with A21, A51 and now JC5.... I'll continue to enjoy the reliable delivery.... But it is good to see an entrypoint to similar performance becoming more economical.
Hi Marcus..I totally und your concerns regarding warranty process. I own a complete bespoke tube setup and now the DENAFRIPS GAIA, Terminator Plus, Athena and Apollo 9a pair of Apollos). I can tell you, from personal experience, and complete confidence, that Alvin and his team respond faster than any other vendor I’ve worked with, outright righteous immediate support and he even checks back with you after the issue has been resolved. Here in the state Todd is his support person and the guy knows his onions, as the saying goes. My TPlus came with a BNC connector that had a lump of extra material - emailed Alvin and a pair of replacements was received just days later. Alvin and his team are expanding but the service level is only getting better! I’m all in.
@@omanyaki402 I will second your experience, Iris DDC, Ares II, Hades preamp and Thallo amplifier, nothing buy outstanding service from both Alvin and Vincent. Hopefully will be purchasing the Pontus II here shortly. Alvin has some of the most responsive customer service I have ever experienced. I wish more companies were operated as well as Vinshine Audio.
That Parasound and any warranty like it, is of any use for customers from the same country or a nearby one, as the manufacturer. Send that faulty JC5 from lets say Italy to the US for repairs and watch your life spiral into oblivion.
If you think this is a great value you should experience my schiit tyr monoblocks. Continuity topology gives almost class a linearity, a giant choke reduces ripple by a little over 20db, a standby button, almost as much power as the Apollo, output stage is kept clear for clear sound, basically can power any speaker to ear bleeding levels and way less money bro.
cool ! I'm assuming you have heard the Apollo in comparison to the schiit to determine that it was a better value? What were the main differences you've heard?
@@Jayiyagi Cmon man. Have you Jay? I know we both work for our hobby so it's not like we can just pick up some variety and compare. I'm not knocking the denafrips Apollo in fact I love denafrips for their r2r dacs and was looking at the Athena preamp recently and I bet the Apollo is amazing. But I can't imagine them being that different. They have large high quality transformers so bass and soundstage should be great. The reserve amounts of power should also add some air and effortlessness.
@@V1ralB1ack I have not and that is why I was asking because it sounded like you have. Wasn't throwing any shades... I'm curious about the schiit and I make no assumptions based on what I see. Like I mentioned in the video; apollo follows similar structure/formula to some of the solid state amplifiers I have heard in the past that sounded less musical to my ears... I didn't think the apollo was anything special nor did I have any expectations of it sounding warm before listening to it ! I may like the schiit better, who knows ! Would be down to try one day.
@@Jayiyagi Sorry I overreacted. This California heat is killing me. If you lived nearby you can go ahead and test mine. They're mostly just sitting around because my speakers are now efficient and my bookshelves are not in use. My next goal is to buy a willsenton r800i like you also thanks to you man. Sorry for the attitude.
@@V1ralB1ack hey man. No worries. I live in Canada so prob not an option but I’ll hopefully get my hands on it eventually
Really good to see you back, Jay.
Great review. Meaty. Informative. Thanks for being there for us!
Interesting take on the Apollo vs the Thallo. I kicked the idea around, replacing my Thallo with the Apollo, but it sounds so good! This just seals the deal, the Thallo is staying. I run it with the Hades preamp, Iris DDC and Ares II... Hopefully a Pontus II is in my future.
Glad to see you back after the c, Jay! I've been through it myself. Not pleasant at all. If you're still not feeling 100%, I highly recommend breathwork. For both body and mind. Oxygen is the key to life! Best /Filip from Sweden
Glad you're back! Hope your recovery continues to go smoothly. Stay safe, be well.
Still in this price range and in regards of real amp power, I'd go with Rotel Michi X3. Thx for yor dedication, very good details and time!! Cheers from Germany.
Glad you're back, Jay.
Thanks Apisak !
This giant aluminum beauty is hard not to want to give the credit card over for lol. Great review man, love the amp!
Loved the trailer for the GR "research" review...... Can't wait.
Thanks for the great review. I am glad you are feeling better. I also recently got over COVID, and it was not fun
God Bless you always. I'm glad that you're ok.
I currently have the Hades/Hyperion combo, someday this will be next. Thank you sir!
Any thoughts on the combo? It’s on my wishlist
Dude. That combination rocks on it's own ways. Rock on
Try the Thallo first, unless you say have a large room to fill with sound. I have the Hades Thallo and could not be happier. No plans on upgrading any time soon. I am using the Model 5's for speakers. Jays Hades Thallo review was spot on, he nailed the sound. And he was suing the Model 5's in that video. I beielve the Pontus II or Venus DAC... Either way, Jay nailed it, and I can see why he is a fan of Denafrips gear.
Sry u have been sick man. Glad u bounced back strong 💪 🙏
Welcome back!
Thanks Ben !
Great review! I'm looking forward to seeing your take on the upcoming Soncoz SGP1 power amplifier, which is a beauty!
Hey Jay, did you ever tested the Benchmark AHB2 (specially 2x in bridge mode)?
I have listened to it in the past but never reviewed it on my channel. Shame. There are many gear that I never covered on the channel because I wasn't all-out on youtube at the time. Hopefully I'll get around to listening to it again and review it for you guys this time.
Glade you’re feeling better. Covid-19 is no joke I had it and had the long term type.
Nice video Jay, and informative of what appears to be a reasonably affordable amp. I would think it would be really cool for you to reach out to Schiit to try out the Tyr mono block amps. Now that would be a really interesting evaluation and comparison to the Apollo.
I would think so as well !
I've had many poweramp and always come back to ATI and outlaw audio. I have a 1505 and a 770.
cool !
For difficult speakers I have a Perreaux 2150B. 340/680/920wpc@8/4/2ohms. Bought used on eBay for $900.
The SPL Audio Amp‘s with Voltair Technology are Real Game Changer. Test it … it‘s Mind blowing if they are right adjust and you will in next 10 years or longer nothing else buying
Who da thunk a Luxman amp would be compared to Denafrips amp... I do like the contrast and comparison though, even though the two products are poles apart. Keep up the good work.
JAY: Big torroid Xfrmrs and caps aside; it's the output devices that are the final determiners of current both delivered and dumped, to the binding posts of the amplifier. The number of paralleled (or not) transistors and their emitter resistors combined with operation mode class A, AB determine the final transconductance between the power supply and binding posts. I'm not going to dive into the speaker cables here. I just wanted to remind you, Jay. Sincerely, Nils P.
16 pairs of BJT transistors with associated caps this is a power house amplifier check the transistors on other discrete balanced amplifiers.
Transformers + caps/rectifiers AND banks of output transistors = lots of watts/current!
Hi @Jay, how would you compare the M900U and Apollo? I have the M900U and finding the next amp for my 2nd system.
I enjoyed this video. I am in the market for a new power amplifier and haven been considering the Bryston 4B cubed and have turned my gaze from time to time to the Parasound JC5; an expensive amplifier - $10,000 Canadian. Denafrips Apollo is an amplifier to be given serious consideration.
If you were in the market for the JC5... I agree... serious contender
Having lived with this amp it is such a bargain and the sound signature is terrific with the right cables, this is well worth the money, and as for the Gtee, it is also primarily modular so no prob.
Haven´t you Canadians all been double vaxed?? Didn´t it work? :-D
M900U, LM805 w/the tennis balls & Apollo. Wowza dude!
not tennis balls although those and squash balls do work. I'm currently using isoacoustics under the luxman
@@Jayiyagi Right on. Looked like the 6SN7 tennis balls. I’ve got a guitar amp that takes a 6SN7. It’s my favorite amp.
@@Jayiyagi I use ISo Acoustic pucks under my Apollo
BJT transistors! Capacitors are the cylindrical things (;
16 Pairs of Bjt transistors with associated caps
Love to see those new cables and Encores.
Hey Jay! Glad you're feeling better. I just got COVID for the first time too last month.
Can you let us know when you're going to announce the winner of the R700s? The anticipation is killing me lol
🔥
When is the contest winner for the Polk system going to be announced? Been almost a month and nothing has been mentioned. Hope you are feeling better, keep up the good reviews.
Interesting review. Apollo over the JC 5 didn't see that coming. Is it the treble range that you prefer over the JC 5? Or maybe it has more more of something else? At one point you mentioned JC 5 is a bit better maybe only in power. Certainly seems like a great value overall.
I'm amp shopping in this price range and I'm leaning towards the Jeff Rowland 525 it offers a lot of bang for the buck imho,
$3825.98 for those that don't feel like checking 😉
there is the exact calculations and I'm wrong... I've not lived up to my own stereotype on the math side...
@@Jayiyagi lmao
did you had any problem which by the Apollo came in protect mode heard about this issue which can occur with the Athena or other pre amps iam concerned, maybe this problem is not true or solved
Glad you're better.
thanks scott !
Hi Jay I wanted some information on the damping factor and slew rate on the Apollo amplifier thanks
Email them
Now that you've completed the Denafrips lineup...time for Audio-GD!!
(Not their fan or anything, just interested to hear how their DACs and amps compare)
Thank you, Jay! Wish it wasn't only balanced, but there are always tradeoffs!
yep !
Hi Jay, have you tried using the Denafrips’ flagship preamp Athena with this Apollo power amp?
Just curious with its matching if it is better than Hades. Thanks!
I have the Athena and Apollo combination, and I have no doubt that the Athena is a substantial upgrade from the Hades preamp. And as you may know, it's the proper match intended for the Apollo. I also wish Jay had tested with the Athena. Athena has much better transformer isolation and many other upgrades. It's in the Terminator Plus sized case. I highly recommend the combination!
Hi Jay, long term follower. Loved this video. I have a question, how would you compare this to say a Hegel H390?
Way interesting amplifier 🤩
As cool as the denafrips amps seem to me, I can't get pass the unity gain and only 1 rca input on the preamps. I mainly listen to vinyl and cassettes and that extra gain comes in handy. Shame, because I think their amps are visually attractive and seem to have a sound profile I would enjoy.
I have the Hades and Thallo, along with the Iris DDC and Ares II DAC, Model 5 speakers... I was concerned about the zero gain, until I really sat and listened to the system. I used to play my music loud, not so anymore, this Denafrips system honestly changed the way I listen to, and appreciate music. Everything Jay said in his Hades/Thallo review is true with this setup. He used the Model 5's in that video, but did not stay until a later video. Jay nailed the sound.
Hey Jay, why didn't you say?? If your focal's are bright......GET THIS
I kinda did
Where did they come up with the name "Denafrips"?
Interesting review.
Modern Harbeths are not "warm sounding" any more. I used to have C7ES3 40th, and it was actually bright sounding to me. Now replaced with darker sounding ProAc.
Thanks for this long awaited great review!, I was just wondering, which one would you prefer most - Luxman or Hegel? I am aware that you like Hegel a lot, and would love to hear your opinion on these two, as Luxman has great reviews as well. Thank you.
Honestly it depends on the speakers ! Crazy cuz you would think I'd choose the more expensive luxman every time !
Obviously, not Luxman, that’s why you are selling that?
I am enjoying an Orchard Dual-Mono amp with maximum caps. Please ask Leo to send you an amp for evaluation.
To my knowledge, for those interested in Denafrips be aware they have a NO return policy. I also had sync issues with the Ares 2 optical connection. They only inform you about this in the FAQ’s so buyer beware! It should be noted, I was easily able to sell the unit but it was an inconvenience nevertheless.
doea this amp sound better than the ps audio bhk 300 mono blocs ?
I would like to see a comparison to the Tyr. They seem like close competitors.
Why did you prefer the Luxman with the 2ohm Tektons instead of this amp?
Hey some bro3 in the background! I just got a pair on sale a few days ago thanks to Sean zero fidelity for turning me onto the $399 sale.
And are those the gr research next to them?!
Pass Labs X150.5 on used market is phenomenal if you can find one.
Did you managed to try this amp with the doge pre you have? That's what I'm hoping to pair them with. Hope to hear what you think.
you have the Luxman amp, can you let me know how does this compare to the McIntosh? want to know the difference in sound.
Luxman is more open. More sparkle. Cleaner, transient. Mcintosh is in “general” more full bodied and lusher with less emphasis on treble or detail
@@Jayiyagi thank you for your comments, appreciate them. it just personal preference i like full bodied sound especially with classical music.
Hi Jay, may I know which preamp did you partner the Apollo with? Was it also the Hades? Thanks.
it was the Hades but I've tried with several other pre-amps including tube pre like the doge8.
I have the Denafrips Athena and am looking at this and the Kinki EX-M7. Thoughts on the sound of the Apollo vs The Kinki? Love the channel!
To summarize; Kinki's sound signature are more balanced and neutral/open sounding while the apollo is a warmer/muscular sound. Hope that helps !
16 pairs for each channel sounds pretty impressive, coz 14 pairs of Hegel H30 got my jaw dropped ! But wonder anyone checked what kind of BJT it's using. Ok not MOSFET, but is it MJL3281, Toshiba(C5200) or Sanken, or something else ?
I'm happy with my schitt!
😆
I think I'll try a Peachtree Amp500 for $1500. Will it sound better than my $800 Avantone CLA200? It better for $1500.
good luck !
I wish you could review some of South Africa product: Valve Audio, Vivid Audio and Sonor Audio.........will await your trusted reviews 😊
I am glad you are well👍🙂
Frederick
Thanks man !
Hi, how does it compare to the Hegel h390?
I guess such amp needs pretty thick speaker cables in order to deliver it's full output capacity.
Great video as usual! Made me wonder what are those Triangle speakers in the back though? They look like the Borea BRO3 but I've never seen them in this colourway before anywhere. Looks quite attractive with this light oak and light grey front :O
Good catch! These colors might be new for this year…I saw them selling on Amazon US along with the older colors.
Is it gray or the blue? I know they have green, as well as white, black, mahogany, light oak, and .
.not sure. Lol
Only know because I just received a white pair a few days ago on sale $399 usd
why u did not compare it to kinki studio amp?
Hey Jay;
are the first watts of this amp pure class a (like some Pass labs amps) or are they right from the beginning class a/b?
Greetings from Switzerland
And does this amp run warm/hot?
Hey Paul. Class A/B designs are class A to a certain wattage. Not exactly sure on the apollo but im sure you can message them for a quick curiosity fix. I might do that myself as well since you mentioned it
@@paulgarbulski6023 it certainly runs warm and even hot if you run it for a long time
@@Jayiyagi Thank you for the quick response. Love your channel, keep on rocking.
i'm curious how it compares to the Xindak A600p
How does Apollo compare to Parasound A21+ ?
11:56 Parasound VS Denafrips Amplifier Comparison
can you do a benchmark ahb2 review?
For sure will consider !
compared to single ended kinki ex b7?
Handles would be handy
Hello Jay, please make comparison with Hegel h390
Considering the weight your appreciation and comments about the packing and the delivery would be useful to appraise the feasibility of such purchase. A krell is delivered by (at least) two men...
I've owned the Apollo for about 6 months, and I was able to move it myself, get it down some carpeted stairs, and get it unpacked without help. I used furniture sliders to assist me in sliding it. I'm a middle-aged guy and not particularly large. Still I wouldn't recommend it if you have any kind of back problems LOL. Would be better to have some help but I was so excited about it I couldn't wait so I did it myself LOL.
@@toddt5562 haha my man! I had a similar experience sneaking my parasound a21+ into the house. The double box is unwieldy and large, and the amp is some 70lb. I somehow yanked it straight out of my trunk and just walked it inside, back be damned. I thought about waiting for the girlfriend to get home but decided I got this
What about a Bryston 3B cubed
great hair Jay
And there's me looking at the Hyperion 😭😭
Did I miss the part kinki studio v. Denifraps
Or that is a no no.
when will the xls encore review drop??
they just arrived... probably when I have all the measurements, blind AB and stuff done :)
@@Jayiyagi I'll be looking forward to that video. I'll hit refresh so fast when it drops.
@Jay whats the model for Luxman please? Thanks
M900U !
Hope you are feeling better!
Thallo on the Tweeters, Apollo on the Bass?
yes finaly size matters
Great review. I really like their warranty model. I may buy their products.
Belles Audio
how does Apollo perform at low volumes ?
Smooth and detailed I own an Apollo.
@@davidinsg what about dynamics in low volumes ? i have a small room so I am curious ..
thanks for your answers David!
Great review ! I wonder if the Apollo paired with my newly bought PrimaLuna EVO 400 tube preamp would make a perfect match to drive my ( current hungry ) Maggies 3.7i’s ?
Best regards from Sweden
I’m really hoping for good reviews for this amp. I love my super heavy (94lbs) Mark Levinson power amp. It sounds great and last year I was thinking of getting it overhauled and recapped. I was quoted $1,500-2,500 excluding shipping. I decided not to do the work because it sounds great however it’s getting old (built in 1998). So I’m thinking of this Denafrips because for just a little more, I can have a new amp and be good for 20 years hopefully.
Mark Levinsons are great. Worth the re-cap in my opinon but the apollo is great as well as I've stated in the video... hard choice if I was in your shoes but I personally I would get the apollo BUT it's also a good choice to just keep what you love and re-cap it (since you know you already like it).
A complete recap for $1,500-$2,500 sounds ridiculously cheap. My dentist quoted me $1200 per tooth.
@@Mark-rw3kw Ha ha. My dentist 🦷 charged $1,800 for a crown and that’s with insurance.
@@Jayiyagi I agree it’s a hard decision. I’m leaning towards buying the Denafrips Apollo to run my two sets of Magnepan’s and using the ML in another system. Keep up the great work and glad you survived Covid.
Owning this Apollo and knowing amplifiers I can assure you that you will be happy with this amplifier but choose cables carefully to match your speakers. This amplifier is cable sensitive, many of JAy's points on sound can be altered with good quality cables (not to Expensive)
What pre did you use?
Hades for the majority of the review
I use a Topping Pre 90 in Unity gain and let my Lumin U1 mini Control the volume so I can use their Leedh volume control
Interesting, in this day of everything being class D this is class a/b.