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Model 3 and Model 1

Model 3 (mono)

1987-1991

used 2000 euro

hifi-advice.com - info and reviews - Christiaan Punter - April 2010

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Model 1 inside and rear. Please note the special connectors that do not take bananas.

The model 1 is a more space-efficient, more compact stereo version of the 3, or so to say. Inside are similar electronics but there's less power on tap. These amps have a trick up their sleeve though: they can be converted to monos. Using two of them will drive almost any speakers you care to connect. But please take note: not all model 1's can be bridged. Apparently some older preduction versions don't have the bridging option. For example, one with serial number 114x did not have the biwire option. The cutout for the bridging switch is there, but there is no switch installed, and the back of the faceplate does not have labelling for that switch. A model one with serial number 1479 however did have the biwire option. Speaker cable connection is via heavy duty screw strip terminals that are compatible with spades and bare wire only. Bananas do not apply.

I've owned a model 1 myself and compared it to the model 2 and the mono sixes. The 1 is a warm, fluid and mellow sounding amp with extremely velvety highs and a fat, deep bass. Especially symphonic music was incredibly lifelike. You could hear the wood and the music was real and live. The louder you play the better it gets! But ultimately it lacks the resolution and transparency that the model 2 and model 6 have on offer.

You could say that the model 3's are smaller versions of the model 7's but that's probably not entirely true as the design has been overhauled completely. Power in watts is not incredibly high (100/200 watts in 8/4 ohms) but there is 30 amperes available at all times and 80 amps peak. The 3's also run quite hot even though they are not class A.

Model 1

(stereo, bridgeable)

1998-1994

new approx 5000 euro

used 2000 euro

Shown together with the Consonance preamp

Rear side: do note the position of the IEC inlet, right next to the handlebar. A friend let me know that it is actually impossible to use high grade IEC connectors (big ones) because of this arrangement.