Electrocompaniet, Norwegian manufacturer of HiFi equipment entirely produced in their own factory in Norway, are launching their brand-new flagship power amplifier AW800 M.
The launch coincides with their 50-year anniversary and the 25-year jubilee since the launch of the legendary AW600 NEMO. Filling the legend’s footsteps, the Electrocompaniet AW800 M is set to have a substantial impact in the marketplace. The AW800 M is an 800 watt into 8 ohms monoblock amplifier. However, the user can also run it in stereo as well as bi-amping mode with the flick of a switch. The amplifier showcases an updated, yet unmistakable and distinctive Electrocompaniet design. Thus, it is a perfect match for all current and legacy Electrocompaniet products.
The amazing sonic performance of Electrocompaniet saw significant improvements in this new amplifier. The AW800 M accomplishes this whilst at the same time manages to keep the unique design philosophy. At the same time, it retains tha brand’s signature sound, for which the company is renowned around the world.
Electrocompaniet AW800 M technology
The AW800 M encompasses the Electrocompaniet direct coupled high open loop bandwidth topology, further enhanced with high slew-rate and very high bandwidth amplifier stages. In addition, a brand-new output stage is designed that heavily shields the input and driver stages from the load and makes the output extremely stiff and unaffected by the connected load.
This has the added benefit of significantly simplifying the workload of the already gently working feedback system, and thus provides vanishingly low distortion figures. The output stage incorporates a total of 32 high bandwidth, high current bipolar output transistors and can therefore deliver very high currents to the load with no sign of strain.
To feed the output stage the power supply is heavily updated and now has a total of 210 000 uF supply filtering, while mains power input is DC and RF filtered. The twin toroidal, wire gauge upgraded transformers are magnetically and electrostatically shielded to keep any noise from intruding.
The amplifier features a vastly overdimensioned internal ground reference which is fully free of rectifying and output currents. The result is a very clean, noise free output signal regardless of output power, providing a very stable sound stage with the blackest background possible at any sound level.
An intriguing new attribute of the AW 800 M is the ability to switch between mono, stereo and bi-amping operating modes, enabling you to upgrade your system or change your configuration while retaining your initial investment. Comfort upgrades are on/off switchable auto power down and switchable feature lighting, as well as trigger input-output.
Availability and price
Production of the Electrocompaniet AW800 M has commenced in Norway. It will be available in Germany from late November at a recommended retail price of 21 500 Euros for a single unit or 43 000 Euro for a stereo pair.