NuForce Reference 9SE, Day 1

Amp/Preamp Asylum

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Curiosity got the better of us, so I took a pair home. This pair actually has a silver faceplate. So don't let anyone strong-arm you into accepting a color (rose copper is standard) you don't like. I can't make these amps any fancier than they are. They are half-width, just 2" tall, and of regular depth. At least on this pair, the silver color is on all six sides. On back, there are an IEC jack, binding posts (take out the plastic plugs, if you are going to use bananas), RCA input, XLR input, and a switch to choose between RCA/XLR. A powercord with built-in ferrite ring is included with each monoblock amp.
Whoa! Upon turn-on, a loud POP goes through the speakers. I tried turning the amps on and off, and the loud POP happens every time. I didn't notice any damage to the speakers, so I guess Ref9SE owners will leave the amps on all the time. Which isn't that bad, since they don't suck up electricity, and run warm, not hot. If you put your hand on the top of the chassis, it's about as warm as holding another adult's hand. It's certainly cooler than, say, sweating in hockey gear.
The first speaker I used with the 9SE is the Thiel CS2.4. I didn't change anything else in the system [go to Inmates Systems for a listing of what's in my "Surf & Turf" home setup]. Tonal balance seems pretty even, but a fog is clouding the view, and the soundstage seems confined between the speakers. This is pretty typical for new, out-of-the-box gear, but I sense potential here. I'll keep the amps playing, and look out for changes in sonics over time.
-Lummy The Seahorse

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Parts Connexion

Topic - NuForce Reference 9SE, Day 1 - Luminator 10:33:37 09/3/06 (2)

Looking forward to hearing more... - McGruder 13:33:19 09/3/06 (1)

Preamps In Use - Luminator 14:06:19 09/3/06 (0)

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