At SoundStage!Ultra, you’ll find a review about the SPL Performer m1000. Aron Garrecht spent two months with our powerhouse mono-blocks. You want to know what he thinks about the device after all this time?
You can read the complete review online at SoundStage!Ultra or a summary here on our blog.
“SPL currently offers myriad models in their Mastering, Studio, Plugin, and Professional Fidelity lines, the last comprising nine models for high-end home audio: two analog preamplifiers, one with and one without a DAC; two headphone amplifiers; one preamp-headphone amp; one phono stage; a standalone crossover; a stereo power amplifier; and the subject of this review, the Performer m1000 monoblock amplifier.”
“The Performer m1000 is a solid-state, class-AB, monoblock power amplifier – a charmingly svelte little powerhouse measuring 11ʺW x 8ʺH x 14.75ʺD. It weighs 54.7 pounds and is specified to punch out 1000W into 2 ohms, 750W into 4 ohms, or 420W into 8 ohms.”
“With such specs claimed for so small an amp, I had to peek under its hood to confirm that it’s not some funky class-D hybrid. When I did, I realized two things: The Performer m1000 is densely packed with high-quality components, and there’s nothing class-D about it.”
“Every Professional Fidelity model includes SPL’s unique VOLTAiR technology, aka 120V DC Audio Rail. In most audio components, AC power is accepted from the wall by the transformer and converted to a secondary DC voltage of, typically, +/-15V or less – anything more would cook the component’s receiving operational amplifier (op-amp). SPL has developed their own op-amp, the SUPRA, capable of handling ±60V or 120V DC. They say the advantages of this are increased dynamic range and headroom with lower levels of total harmonic distortion and noise (THD+N): in the case of the m1000, 0.008% at 1kHz at 1000W into 2 ohms.”
Sound:
“The slightly warm yet powerful sound of the m1000s helped bring a sense of balance to this and every track on this album—things I rarely hear from a solid-state class-AB amp. About the best way to describe the Performer m1000’s sound is ‘tube-like.’”
“Overall, I found the Performer m1000s enjoyable to listen to, and never got the impression that I was missing anything or that they fell short in any way.”
Conclusion:
“My two months of listening to SPL’s Performer m1000 monoblocks has left me impressed and a bit smitten with them. The m1000 packs one hell of a punch, in sound and in value. Not once did I feel it had to strain to produce enough output power, or that its sound was constrained in any way, even at very high playback levels. Furthermore, the Performer m1000s ran cool, look cool, and, if you’re brave enough to lift one, feel solid as a rock. But most important, the m1000s were compelling to listen to.”
“Add all of that together and the math is simple: Sound Performance Lab’s Performer m1000 presents a heck of a value proposition for anyone in the market for a high-powered, solid-state, class-AB power amplifier. Highly recommended!”
