Power Amplifier Reviews

While Steven Stone listened to the Bel Canto eVo2 amps primarily as monoblocks, we made the measurements on the amp's left channel in stereo mode, except as noted.

In single-ended mode, the eVo2's fre-quency response measured –0.10dB at 10Hz, –0.02dB at 20Hz, +0.71dB at 20kHz, and +2.8dB at 50kHz. From the balanced inputs, the response was –0.11dB at 10Hz, –0.02dB at 20Hz, +0.01dB at 20kHz, and –0.62dB at 50kHz. The amplifier's gain measured 24.2dB from either the single-ended or balanced input.

The A-weighted signal/noise at 2.83V into 8ohms was –94.6dB single-ended and –94.4dB balanced. The balanced THD+noise at 2.83V into 8ohms was 0.018% at 20Hz (0.013%, 2.83V into 4ohms), 0.014% at 1kHz (same, into 4ohms), and 0.017% at 20kHz (0.010%, 2.83V into 4ohms).

Into 8ohms, both channels driven in unbridged stereo mode (left channel measured, to the nearest watt), the Bel Canto clipped (1% THD+noise) at 121Wpc at 20Hz (227Wpc into 4ohms) and 122Wpc at 1kHz (224Wpc into 4ohms).

Into 8ohms in bridged monoblock mode, the eVo2 clipped at 468W at 20Hz (734W into 4ohms) and 462W (739W into 4ohms).—Thomas J. Norton