At the online platform Alpha-Audio, you’ll find a review of three SPL Professional Fidelity devices: the Performer s1200 power amplifier, the Director Mk2 preamplifier and the Phonos duo phono preamplifier.
The complete review is available online at Alpha-Audio. Here, we’ve put together a selection of original quotes highlighting the design, technology and sound of the three SPL devices.
Performer s1200:
“This little stereo powerhouse weighs 30 kilos and delivers 300 watts per channel into 8 ohms.”
“A rotary knob allows you to adjust the input signal, so that the match with the speakers and pre-amplifier can be optimally tuned. This is a nice feature that you do not often come across.”
“The amplifier performs flawlessly under all circumstances.”
Director Mk2:
“The digital and analogue connections, combined with the flexibility on offer, make the Director Mk2 a versatile and attractive piece of kit.”
“It has everything you could need.”
“In this case, ‘versatile’ is a compliment, as the quality of the whole unit is outstanding.”
“The DAC’s implementation is of a high standard.”
Phonos duo:
“Both MM and MC cartridges can be used, and a rotary switch allows you to select the sensitivity that best suits the cartridge.”
“The gain can be set to three different levels; your ears will tell you which setting best matches the cartridge.”
“The greatest quality of this phono preamplifier, however, is the sound.”
“Like the other components, the Phonos duo does the same: it produces a precise, detailed, transparent and relaxed sound.”
“The SPL Phonos duo achieves the latter – provided, of course, that the recording and mix allow for it – so that analogue instruments interact with one another in a way that feels entirely natural and doesn’t really stand out, because that’s exactly how you would hear it in reality.”
“It sounds right, and thus does not demand attention.”
About all three devices:
“This trio from SPL deserves the Alpha Approved stamp, wholeheartedly.”
“The ‘signature sound’ of SPL components is consistent: a transparent, relaxed sound that strives for neutrality, with the soundstage positioned slightly further back. To sum it up in one word: refined.”
“It all sounds very precise, with a wealth of detail that you can hear straight away.”
“The soundstage has a very spacious sound and seems boundless.”
“The stereo image holds its shape; it is as if you’re walking around it.”
“The SPL system conveys the poignancy of his performance very well.”
“It feels most like listening through a high-fidelity headphone setup, only without the headphones.”
Conclusion:
“The SPL sound gets under your skin and it gets harder and harder to do without.”
“SPL makes audio equipment for the critical listener, the music omnivore who listens to music for hours and hours a day. Because you can effortlessly keep listening for hours; fatigue does not set in.”
“The bottom line is that this set is exceptionally good and offers an extraordinarily good price-performance ratio.”
