Well, I'm going to admit, I had no idea I would be carrying something from Mexico, not because I have anything at all against Mexico, I simply had no idea there was a hifi market there, or rather a great manufacturer producing audio products- high end audio products at that. The Margules family has been busy for years, and with a few forays into the US market earlier by direct sales, have now found a new US distributor, AV Luxury Group, and a new rep, and lo and behold, yours truly, your local dealer.
So what does it sound like? Oh, sorry, we're specifically talking about their all tube I 240 integrated, that's an i, not a 1, for integrated. The i 240 sports 4 El34's and 4 12AU7's, 3 inputs- no griping here, 3 is enough- and full function remote. In short, looks like your typical EL34 amp. It does, however, have some rather unique tricks up its sleeve, patent pending on some, all that. That's for later. What I want to talk about, yell about, and jump around about is the music making of this box. Glorious! In recent days I've had two of my all time favs going, the Sugden IA4 and Jadis DA50S, driving the Reynaud Abscisses speakers. The IA4, a delightful solid state champ, all around solid performer, the DA50, treated correctly mind you, a darling of the tube camp around here. Enter this south of the border contender. The eye 240, sorry, the I thing is starting to annoy, comes smack dab in the middle of the two. It has loads of drive for its mere 25 watts, like the Sugdens, it's quick, very tactile, then gives you this richness like the DA50 that carries one off like the best tube amps. Other than that, it's very hard to explain. If I could only copy Willa Cather and describe the colors of the clarinet, the feel of the orchestra how the 240 captures it, then I could go on for pages. Nope, you have lil me. More veils are lifted between you and the music, more bass extension than you thought possible, more palpability to the voicing area that has to be there to suck me into the performance. In short, there's more!
So, we'll see what happens as time goes on. This to me could be that golden nugget that's been laying about in plain sight, or slightly hidden, however you see fit to call it. I'm calling it delightful!
You can read up for yourself about designer Julian Margules's technical achievements. You know how all that technical jargon and writing bores....all I need to know is how it works in systems or that system. Or if it works at all. I've been hearing a lot of less inspired goods these days out there, yet it sells. Bleh. I say above how something works in a system. That's really the biggest thing out there these days. Something could be great, yet not work together with another great piece. Most of you are not getting that and get a big fail. Dealers don't always get it right, myself included, at least at first. This I 240 will get a thorough test, see which speakers it likes to drive and doesn't. Julian thinks it will drive most, through an internal adjustable output impedance. We'll see.
As for now, let's just say it's a doozy! And I simply can't believe it's here. All for six grand. Stay cool.
So what does it sound like? Oh, sorry, we're specifically talking about their all tube I 240 integrated, that's an i, not a 1, for integrated. The i 240 sports 4 El34's and 4 12AU7's, 3 inputs- no griping here, 3 is enough- and full function remote. In short, looks like your typical EL34 amp. It does, however, have some rather unique tricks up its sleeve, patent pending on some, all that. That's for later. What I want to talk about, yell about, and jump around about is the music making of this box. Glorious! In recent days I've had two of my all time favs going, the Sugden IA4 and Jadis DA50S, driving the Reynaud Abscisses speakers. The IA4, a delightful solid state champ, all around solid performer, the DA50, treated correctly mind you, a darling of the tube camp around here. Enter this south of the border contender. The eye 240, sorry, the I thing is starting to annoy, comes smack dab in the middle of the two. It has loads of drive for its mere 25 watts, like the Sugdens, it's quick, very tactile, then gives you this richness like the DA50 that carries one off like the best tube amps. Other than that, it's very hard to explain. If I could only copy Willa Cather and describe the colors of the clarinet, the feel of the orchestra how the 240 captures it, then I could go on for pages. Nope, you have lil me. More veils are lifted between you and the music, more bass extension than you thought possible, more palpability to the voicing area that has to be there to suck me into the performance. In short, there's more!
So, we'll see what happens as time goes on. This to me could be that golden nugget that's been laying about in plain sight, or slightly hidden, however you see fit to call it. I'm calling it delightful!
You can read up for yourself about designer Julian Margules's technical achievements. You know how all that technical jargon and writing bores....all I need to know is how it works in systems or that system. Or if it works at all. I've been hearing a lot of less inspired goods these days out there, yet it sells. Bleh. I say above how something works in a system. That's really the biggest thing out there these days. Something could be great, yet not work together with another great piece. Most of you are not getting that and get a big fail. Dealers don't always get it right, myself included, at least at first. This I 240 will get a thorough test, see which speakers it likes to drive and doesn't. Julian thinks it will drive most, through an internal adjustable output impedance. We'll see.
As for now, let's just say it's a doozy! And I simply can't believe it's here. All for six grand. Stay cool.
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