Sonic Impact T Amp 2 Views

Electronics

The Sonic Impact T-amp Sonic Impact makes several products aimed at the portable lifestyle audio market, including compact speakers, backpacks with built-in speakers, and the Sonic T-amp. This tiny amplifier was designed primarily to drive portable high-efficiency speakers. I first discovered it via eBay, where several resellers offer T-amps for prices varying from $25 to $50. Since I love a bargain as much, if not more, than the next audiophile, I bought a T-amp on eBay for $41 including shipping.

First off, any speakers you intend to tether to the T-amp must be hyper efficient. Anything less than 90dB/W/m sensitivity at one watt won't work. Even high efficiency doesn't guarantee sonic success. The T-amp's ideal transducer needs to be not only sensitive, but also capable of performing optimally when supplied with very little current. Since the most robust outboard 12-volt power supply you can safely attach to the T-amp should produce only 5 Amps, you can't expect the T-amp to put out a great deal current. This lack of current capability means the T-amp won't supply anything more than minimal electronic damping. Once a driver is set in motion, the T-amp doesn't do much to stop its motion.

Does the T-amp/SRD-4/SR-30 combo sound as good as a Stax Lambda Pro Nova attached to the Stax SRM-1/MK-2 combination? No. But the sonic advantage is not as lopsided as you might imagine. Sure the Stax Pro's have more tightly controlled and articulated bass and a more extended high end, but the SR-30's nearly match them in midrange purity, inner detail, and overall musicality. When it comes to portability the T-amp/SRD-4/SR-30 combo has a clear advantage since it weighs less than 1.5 lbs and can be run on batteries. For location monitoring, my Stax Pro's may soon be replaced by this lighter, cheaper, and more flexible rig.

The Accuphase E-213 Turning from the Sonic Impact T-amp to the Accuphase E-213 integrated amplifier is a bit like going from a plastic toy Chevy Nova to a real-life Lexus. When Accuphase's first products arrived in the United States during the mid-70's they were often referred to as The Japanese McIntosh. In the intervening 30 years Accuphase has developed such a stellar reputation for quality that many audiophiles now call McIntosh the Korean Accuphase. When it comes to premium-priced fully featured high-end audio gear Accuphase has earned the unique position of having few peers.