“A combination for all cases.”
You can find two reviews in one in HiFi-Stars magazine (edition 47). Wolfgang Vogel has extensively examined our DA Converter and Preamplifier SPL Director Mk2 as well as the Performer s800 power amplifier and is enthusiastic about the combination. As always, we offer you a short summary here:
Technology:
“The Director Mk2 has a total of six analog stereo inputs. Two of them are designed as XLR connectors (input resistance 10 kohms) and four as RCA connectors (RCA inputs with 47 kohms resistance).”
“The AK4490 Velvet Sound is used as converter chip. This results in the following sampling rates available at 32bit (with encoded PCM): 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384, 705.6 and 768kHz. For DSD the formats DSD1 (DSD64), DSD2 (DSD128) and DSD4 (DSD256) can be used. Ain’t that somethin’?”
“The Performer s800 offers impressive performance data considering its unobtrusive physique: 2x285WRMS in 4 ohms, 2x185WRMS in 8 ohms and 1x450WRMS in 8 ohms in bridge mode are supplied…”
“On the connection side, everything that is useful and usable is offered – up to the (again) popular tape loop. I will spare you and myself any further technical data – it should suffice that these are all first-class.”
Sound:
“To be honest, it doesn’t really exist. The SPLs are extremely close to the notorious amplifying ‘piece of wire’… If you feel committed to the ideal of high fidelity and only want to hear what is actually on the recording medium, then this combination is the perfect choice!”
“Director Mk2 and Performer s800 always impressed with their apparent absence. They hit AC/DCs ‘High Voltage‘ just as hard as they did the soulful-expressive playing style of Ivo Pogorelich – these are simply first-class amplifiers!”
Conclusion:
“The ‘Director 2’ demonstrates exemplary neutrality, typical for a studio. A power amplifier that can handle both high-efficiency (horn) speakers and power-hungry speakers (of whatever color) – that’s the SPL Performer s800. In combination, the duo is lightning-fast and reproduces neutrally, but still powerful and never lacks anything… an acoustically straightforward and versatile amplifier combination for all high-fidelity cases…!”
