• About
    • About HFA
    • HFA Awards
    • Associated Equipment
    • Banners on HFA
    • HFA Analytics Data
    • HFA Audio Setup History
    • HFA Audio Setup Snapshots
    • Sitemap
    • Contact
  • HFA Awards
  • Reviews
    • All Reviews
    • Amplifier
      • All Amplifier Reviews
      • Integrated Amplifier
      • Preamplifier
      • Power Amplifier
      • Phono Preamp
    • Loudspeaker
      • All Loudspeaker Reviews
      • Passive Speaker
      • Active Analog Speaker
      • Active Digital Speaker
    • Digital
      • All Digital Reviews
      • CD Player
      • SPDIF DAC
      • USB DAC
      • Music Server
      • Network Player
      • Digital Recorder
      • Digital Interface
      • Audio Software
    • Turntable and Accessories
      • All Turntable and Accessories Reviews
      • Turntable
      • Tonearm
      • Phono Cartridge
      • Turntable Accessories
    • Cable
      • All Cable Reviews
      • Analog Interlink
      • Phono Interlink
      • Speaker Cable
      • Power Cable
      • Digital Cable
    • Accessories
      • All Accessories Reviews
      • Racks / Stands / Feet
      • Tuning / Tweaks
      • Power Connector
    • Industry Update
  • Insights
    • All Insights
    • Analog Insights
    • Cable Insights
    • Connector Insights
    • Digital Insights
    • Extensionblocks / Filters Insights
    • Generic Insights
    • System Synergy Q&A
  • Specials
  • Show Reports
    • All Show Reports
    • Alkmaar Audio Show
    • Chattelin Audio Systems
    • Dutch Audio Event
    • Enosound
    • HifiDeluxe
    • HifiLive
    • Munich High End
    • XFi
  • Classics
    • All Classics
    • Analog Classics
    • Digital Classics
  • Links
  • About
    • About HFA
    • HFA Awards
    • Associated Equipment
    • Banners on HFA
    • HFA Analytics Data
    • HFA Audio Setup History
    • HFA Audio Setup Snapshots
    • Sitemap
    • Contact
  • HFA Awards
  • Reviews
    • All Reviews
    • Amplifier
      • All Amplifier Reviews
      • Integrated Amplifier
      • Preamplifier
      • Power Amplifier
      • Phono Preamp
    • Loudspeaker
      • All Loudspeaker Reviews
      • Passive Speaker
      • Active Analog Speaker
      • Active Digital Speaker
    • Digital
      • All Digital Reviews
      • CD Player
      • SPDIF DAC
      • USB DAC
      • Music Server
      • Network Player
      • Digital Recorder
      • Digital Interface
      • Audio Software
    • Turntable and Accessories
      • All Turntable and Accessories Reviews
      • Turntable
      • Tonearm
      • Phono Cartridge
      • Turntable Accessories
    • Cable
      • All Cable Reviews
      • Analog Interlink
      • Phono Interlink
      • Speaker Cable
      • Power Cable
      • Digital Cable
    • Accessories
      • All Accessories Reviews
      • Racks / Stands / Feet
      • Tuning / Tweaks
      • Power Connector
    • Industry Update
  • Insights
    • All Insights
    • Analog Insights
    • Cable Insights
    • Connector Insights
    • Digital Insights
    • Extensionblocks / Filters Insights
    • Generic Insights
    • System Synergy Q&A
  • Specials
  • Show Reports
    • All Show Reports
    • Alkmaar Audio Show
    • Chattelin Audio Systems
    • Dutch Audio Event
    • Enosound
    • HifiDeluxe
    • HifiLive
    • Munich High End
    • XFi
  • Classics
    • All Classics
    • Analog Classics
    • Digital Classics
  • Links
scroll down for more
Power Amplifier Reviews

Halcro Eclipse Stereo Power Amplifier

Christiaan Punter 4 April 2024 6 Comments
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Review organized by Marc Loubeau / Prestige Audio Diffusion
Review sample kindly supplied by Terrason Audio

Retail prices in Europe, incl. VAT:
Eclipse Stereo €47.900 (powdercoated finish)
Eclipse Signature Stereo €55.900 (premium high quality painted finish) (as reviewed)

Halcro History

Halcro was the brainchild of Bruce Candy, a renowned physicist and inventor. He invented an audio power supply and amplifier topology that all but eliminated distortion. Halcro, which had become a subsidiary of Bruce’s metal detection business, Minelab Electronics, stunned the world with their first amplifier, which had distortion measured in parts per billion at full power.

Since Stereophile’s 2002 gushing review of the dm58, numerous awards and ultra-positive reviews soon followed, and Halcro grew into one of the world’s most respected hi-fi brands. Over the years, a series of improvements were made to the dm58, culminating in the dm88 monoblocks and the dm38 stereo amplifier. The family was later joined by the dm8 and dm10 preamplifiers and a foray into home theatre with the MC series of multichannel power amplifiers.

In 2008 Minelab was acquired by Codan, a large military communications company, because of the synergistic fit with their mine detection capability. Codan had no interest in Halcro, so the company was retained by the original shareholders and shelved. This was in part due to the fact that what Codan was really buying was Bruce Candy’s genius and Halcro was seen as a distraction for his time.

Halcro briefly licensed their products to be manufactured by Vivid Audio, but unfortunately, this ended with the onset of the Global Financial Crisis. Subsequently, the Halcro assets were mothballed and left in storage.

At some point, the owners of Magenta Audio, a specialist Australian Hi-Fi importer, became aware that Halcro was intact but lying dormant in a warehouse just on the other side of the city. Longwood Audio was founded by Magenta’s Dr Peter Foster, Mike Kirkham, and Halcro’s former lead engineer Lance Hewitt. Soon, a deal was negotiated to acquire all the assets of Halcro, including the brand, the considerable patent portfolio, stock and tooling. This brings us to the brand’s revival in 2023. The new Halcro team has spent the past couple of years exploring every aspect of the unique platform for possible improvements, which culminated in the new Eclipse power amplifier.

Eclipse Power Amplifiers

Available in both stereo and mono versions, the Eclipse power amplifier enjoys a completely redesigned input stage, further reducing non-linear effects and distortion. There are multiple independently tracking power supplies, superior internal shielding and a higher output power. The distinctive Halcro aesthetic is retained but is updated with smoother and gentler curves to offer a new, modern, ‘lighter’ take, which is said to contribute to even better performance as the new, machined-from-solid casework reduces microphonics.

Halcro amplifiers are said to offer very precise imaging due to their unique ability to avoid adding ‘ghost’ notes that are thrown into the mix by the non-linear distortion of a conventional amplifier. Lack of distortion aside, one of the key aspects that defines Halcro amplifiers is the way they maintain the phase coherence of the signal source and thus the relative timing of various notes or tones within complex music.

Technical Aspects

The Eclipse power amplifier is comprised of four heavily shielded individual compartments: a power supply unit, an input amplifier section, a power amplifier compartment, and an output filter compartment. These individual sections have all been located in ideal positions with the interconnecting cabling neatly located in the two side pillars that also function to disperse heat from the power amp section. One might expect such large “fins” to disperse a lot of heat but in practice, the amp only ever gets moderately warm to the touch, certainly never hot.

The precise Halcro schematics are a close-guarded secret. Key component markings have been removed and some boards are coated in epoxy to protect the intellectual property. But in essence, Halcro Power Amplifiers are Solid State Class AB FET designs with a specific two-stage PFC switchmode power supply. The power supply employs active power factor correction, which minimizes mains current harmonic distortion. It offers less than 100 parts per million mains hum and ripple on the amplifier power rails. The supply section has two variants: the 110V model operates from 100-120 Volts R.M.S, 45-65Hz, and the 240V model operates from 220-240 Volts R.M.S, 45-65Hz.

The first switched power supply buffers the amplifier from the AC power by generating a very high DC voltage, from which the second switched power supply delivers the rail voltages for the power amplifier. The power amp stage uses complementary FETs and a reasonably high quiescent current, and although no information is supplied regarding feedback, the output impedance is said to be vanishingly low. In and of themselves, these components may not seem all too radical. What makes the concept truly unique is the way the building blocks are put together, physically and electrically, using the Halcro-proprietary distortion compensation topology.

For reliability, all semiconductors in the power supply and amplifier are at least industrial grade, and all electrolytic capacitors are rated to 105°C. The critical audio path employs only highly linear resistors and MKP10/ FKP1 capacitors. Six-layer PCBs are used in the power amplifier to minimize stray magnetic fields and define voltages accurately. Four-layer PCBs are used in the power supply to minimize E.M.I. and voltage transients, which improves reliability and power efficiency.

The Frequency Response is 7Hz – 90kHz within -1dB and 3Hz – 215kHz within -3db. The maximum slew rate for both small signal and the maximum output voltage is 100V/μs, which is equivalent to a maximum output voltage at approximately 250 kHz.

To ensure trouble-free operation under any circumstances, the Eclipse amplifier is exceptionally well-protected. The power supply is protected against most mains transients. It will cut out if common faults are detected, such as over-voltage, master clock at incorrect frequency, or excessive temperatures. The power amplifier section is short-circuit proof and protected against most input overloads. It has over-current limiting and protection against overheating. It will cut out if a continuous DC offset appears on output or if the output current continuously exceeds 12 A average over a period of a few minutes. The latter may seem like a compromise, but Halcro has rigorously tested this and confirmed that this condition never occurs in normal music reproduction. Hence, it poses no limitations.

Next: Eclipse Stereo/Mono differences, Finish, Future Products, System Context

Related Posts
WestminsterLab Quest preamp and Rei mono power amps
NuPrime AGM STA-SE stereo power amplifier
Collaboration between Admire Audio and ATM-Audio
NuPrime Evolution STA stereo power amplifier
CAT (Convergent Audio Technology) JL5 Black Path
NuPrime AMG-PRA with 2x AMG-STA power amplifier
Classé Delta Stereo and Delta Pre
NuPrime AGM STA stereo power amplifier
Page 1 of 3
Halcro
  • Share This:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Email
Christiaan Punter Owner of Hifi-Advice.com

6 Comments

  1. R Aker says:
    5 April 2024 at 10:46

    Halcro may claim that the current limitation on the amplifier has no effect in real life, but my experience is the contrary: current limited amplifiers do not drive “impedance challenged” loudspeakers very well. I confirmed this by listening to the original Halcro DM58 monoblocks many years ago trying to drive the original Sonus Faber Extremas, and not succeeding very well, over a period of two weeks in my system at that time. HiFi News May 2023 reviewed the new Halcro Eclipse, and confirmed a maximum current of only 10.4 Amperes. In my experience, a top of the line modern monoblock with pretensions to be able to drive difficult speakers (and let’s face it, many of the top models today are difficult to drive) should be able to output a maximum current of at least 50 – 60 Amperes. I note as an aside that even the integrated amplifier Musical Fidelity Nu Vista 800.2 (tested by HiFi News August 2023) is capable of outputting 46.9 Amperes.

    Reply
  2. Jon says:
    7 April 2024 at 06:46

    Fascinating review thanks Christian. I remember reading about Halcro way back when nice to get the whole story.

    Reply
  3. Vincent van der Velde says:
    7 May 2024 at 21:17

    Hi Christiaan, ever considered reviewing one of the Pilium amps?

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      8 May 2024 at 08:48

      Good suggestion! I got interested in these amplifiers after hearing the combination with the Magico S3s last year in Munich where it seemed like a great pairing. I was actually considering looking into reviewing them but other work got in the way. I guess I’ll have a chat with the local distributor to see if we can organize a review.

      Reply
  4. Stefan says:
    13 May 2024 at 19:10

    I just heard the Halcro driving a pair of Estelon X Diamond MK II’s to highly realistic levels. The Estelons definitely require a very firm grip and I can confirm that the Halcro did not only sound jaw-droppingly good, but also drove these demanding speakers incredibly well, with total control even on complicated tracks with huge dynamic range. This amplifier is an absolute winner. I can only begin to imagine what two of them can do …

    Reply
    1. Christiaan Punter says:
      15 May 2024 at 16:16

      In Munich, I heard what the pair can do, combined with the new Equinox preamp and the new Marten Coltrane Quintets, adn it is quite the match made in heaven! You can read more about this in the Munich High End 2024 Show Highlights that I published today.

      Reply

Your comment Cancel reply

All feedback is welcome but I may not be able to respond to every comment. First-time comments need manual approval which may cause a slight delay. Avoid using links to prevent marking as spam.

 

Categories

  • Accessories Reviews
  • Active Analog Speakers Reviews
  • Active Digital Speakers Reviews
  • Alkmaar Audio Show
  • Amplifier Reviews
  • Analog Classics
  • Analog Insights
  • Analog Interlink Reviews
  • Analogy Records
  • Apogee Acoustics Company Special
  • Audio Software Reviews
  • Audiophile Insights
  • Cables Insights
  • CD Player Reviews
  • Chattelin Audio Systems
  • Connectors Insights
  • Digital Cable Reviews
  • Digital Classics
  • Digital Insights
  • Digital Interface Reviews
  • Digital Recorder Reviews
  • Digital Reviews
  • Dutch Audio Event
  • Enosound
  • Extensionblocks / Filters Insights
  • Generic Insights
  • HFA Audio Setup History
  • HFA Audio Setup Snapshots
  • HifiDeluxe
  • HifiLive
  • Industry Update
  • Integrated Amplifier Reviews
  • Marantz & Philips Classics
  • Munich High End
  • Music Server Reviews
  • Network Player Reviews
  • Passive Speakers Reviews
  • Phono Cartridge Reviews
  • Phono Interlink Reviews
  • Phono Preamp Reviews
  • Power Amplifier Reviews
  • Power Cable Reviews
  • Power Conditioning
  • Power Connector Reviews
  • Preamplifier Reviews
  • Racks / Stands / Feet Reviews
  • Rhapsody
  • Show Reports
  • SPDIF DAC Reviews
  • Speaker Cable Reviews
  • Specials
  • System Synergy Q&A
  • Tonearm Reviews
  • Tuning / Tweaks Reviews
  • Turntable Accessories Reviews
  • Turntable and Accessories Reviews
  • Turntable Reviews
  • Uncategorized
  • USB DAC Reviews
  • XFi

BRANDS

  • A&B Systems
  • A10 Audio
  • Aavik
  • Acapella
  • Accuphase
  • AcousticMatters
  • Acustica Applicata
  • Admire Audio
  • Aequo Audio
  • AG Lifter
  • Aidas
  • Akiko Audio
  • Analog Domain
  • Analogy Records
  • Analysis Audio
  • Analysis Plus
  • Ansuz
  • Anthem
  • Anti-Cables
  • Antipodes
  • APL
  • Apogee
  • Apogee Acoustics
  • Aqua
  • Arcam
  • Aries Cerat
  • Artesania
  • ASI
  • Astin Trew
  • atm audio
  • A Tube High Fidelity
  • Audeze
  • AudioAanZee
  • Audio Aero
  • Audio Club Premier
  • Audio GD
  • Audiolab
  • Audiolympic
  • Audiomeca
  • Audio Note
  • Audionote
  • Audio Origami
  • Audio Physic
  • AudioQuest
  • Audio Research
  • Audio Synthesis
  • Audio Technica
  • Auralic
  • Aurender
  • Aurum Cantus
  • Avalon
  • AvantGarde
  • AVID
  • AVIDHIFI
  • Ayon
  • Ayre Acoustics
  • B&W
  • Bals
  • Bang & Olufsen
  • Behringer
  • Belden
  • Benz
  • Bergmann
  • Black Rhodium
  • Boenicke Audio
  • Bowers & Wilkins
  • Bricasti
  • Bryston
  • Burmester
  • Børresen
  • CAD
  • Cardas
  • Care Orchestra
  • CAT
  • CEC
  • Chord Electronics
  • CH Precision
  • Clarisys Audio
  • Classé
  • Clearaudio
  • Concert Fidelity
  • Conrad Johnson
  • Consonance
  • COS
  • Curious Cables
  • D'Agostino
  • DAD
  • Dali
  • Daniël Hertz
  • Daudio
  • dCS
  • Degritter
  • Denafrips
  • Denon
  • Devialet
  • Devore
  • Diptyque
  • Doepke
  • Driade
  • DS Audio
  • Dynavector
  • Dynavox
  • E&T
  • EC-Designs
  • Echole
  • Elac
  • Electrocompaniet
  • Elijah Audio
  • EMAG
  • EMMLabs
  • Emotiva
  • EMU
  • Enosound
  • Ensemble
  • Esoteric
  • Estelon
  • Euphony
  • Exogal
  • Fadel Art
  • Fezz Audio
  • FIM Gold
  • Final
  • Final Touch Audio
  • Finite Elemente
  • FoilFlex
  • Franco Serblin
  • Furutech
  • Fusion Audio
  • Gauder Akustik
  • Genelec
  • Gigawatt
  • GiK
  • Goldmund
  • Graham Audio
  • Grandinote
  • Grimm Audio
  • Gryphon
  • Gustavson Audio
  • Halcro
  • Hanze Hifi
  • Harman/Kardon
  • Harmonic Resolution Systems
  • Harmonic Technology
  • Harmonix
  • Heaven's Gate
  • Hifi-Tuning
  • HiFi.nl
  • HifiMan
  • High Fidelity Cables
  • Hofa
  • Holo Audio
  • Home Audio Fidelity
  • HRS
  • IeGO
  • Ikigai
  • IMF
  • Isotek
  • Jadis
  • Jay's Audio
  • JCAT
  • Jeff Rowland
  • Jena Labs
  • JMF Audio
  • Jorma Audio
  • Jorma Design
  • Joseph Audio
  • JPLAY
  • JVC
  • Kemp
  • Kharma
  • Kimber
  • KingRex
  • Kinki Studio
  • KlinktBeter
  • Kora
  • Krell
  • Kroma Audio
  • Kupp
  • Laiv Audio
  • Lampizator
  • Lapp
  • LAST
  • Lector
  • Leema
  • Lejonklou
  • LessLoss
  • Line Magnetic
  • Linn
  • Logitech
  • LOK
  • Loudness War
  • Lumin
  • Luxman
  • M2Tech
  • Mad Scientist
  • Magico
  • Magnan
  • Magnepan
  • Mamba Audio
  • Manley Labs
  • Manunta
  • Marantz
  • Mark Levinson
  • Marten
  • Martin Logan
  • Master
  • Matrix
  • MBL
  • McIntosh
  • Melco
  • Melody
  • Meridian
  • Metrum Acoustics
  • Michell
  • MIT
  • MJ Acoustics
  • Modus Audio
  • Mogami
  • Mola-Mola
  • Monitor Audio
  • Monrio
  • Moon
  • Morel Hifi
  • Musical Fidelity
  • Mytek
  • Nagaoka
  • Naim
  • Naiu Laboratory
  • Nakamichi
  • NBS
  • Network Acoustics
  • Niels Setup
  • Nordost
  • NuPrime
  • Ohm Audio
  • Olive
  • Onkyo
  • Onzow
  • Origin Live
  • Ortofon
  • Oyaide
  • Panasonic
  • Paradigm
  • Parasound
  • Pass Labs
  • Philips
  • Pink Faun
  • Pioneer
  • Playback Designs
  • Precision Audio
  • PrimaLuna
  • Proceed
  • PS Audio
  • PUUR AVD
  • PUUR hifidelity
  • Pylon Audio
  • Qln
  • Qobuz
  • Quad
  • R.T.F.S.
  • RAAL Requisite
  • Raidho
  • Reference Sounds
  • Reference Tweaks
  • Rega
  • Rein Audio
  • REL
  • Resonator Stockholm
  • Revel
  • Ricable
  • Roon
  • RTFS
  • SAEQ
  • SAT
  • Schiit
  • Seawave Acoustic
  • Sennheiser
  • Shakti
  • Shuguang
  • Shunyata
  • Shure
  • Signal Projects
  • Silent Angel
  • Siltech
  • SME
  • SolidSteel
  • Solid Tech
  • Sonic Frontiers
  • Sonos
  • Sonus Faber
  • Sony
  • Sooloos
  • SOtM
  • Soulution
  • Sound Anchor
  • Sound Lab
  • Spectral
  • Spotify
  • Stack Audio
  • Stealth
  • Stillpoints
  • Straight Wire
  • SW1X Audio Design
  • Symo
  • Synergistic Research
  • Synology
  • Synthese
  • T+A
  • Taiko Audio
  • Tascam
  • Teac
  • TechDAS
  • Technics
  • The Chord Company
  • Thorens
  • Transparent Audio
  • Trends
  • Tung Sol
  • Unison Research
  • UpTone Audio
  • VAIC
  • van Damme
  • van den Hul
  • van Medevoort
  • Vermeer Audio
  • Vermouth Audio
  • Vibex
  • Vifa
  • Vincent
  • ViRa High End
  • Viva
  • Vivid Audio
  • VTL
  • Wadax
  • Wadia
  • Wattgate
  • Wattson
  • Way Cables
  • Weiss
  • Western Electric
  • WestminsterLab
  • Widealab
  • Wilson Audio
  • Wilson Benesch
  • Winyl
  • Wires 4 Music
  • Wireworld
  • Wolf von Langa
  • Wooden Bull
  • XACT
  • Xavian
  • xFyro
  • Xindak
  • XLO
  • Yamaha
  • Zanden
  • Zesto
  • ZYX

Visit HFA on Social Media

Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube

LEGAL

Privacy Policy

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. All rights reserved © 2021 - hifi-advice.com.
  • Contact
  • Home