Power Amplifier Reviews

Day two consisted of my theater performance review. I gathered together all my favorite DVDs and prepared my system for a workout with the Cinénova. First, I dropped in Armageddon and listened intently. My Mirage HDTs beat as though they had undergone a triple bypass—I've never heard them sound so good. DVD after DVD, scene after scene, the Cinénova Grande ripped through complex material effortlessly and with absolutely no sign of fatigue. All the while, I kept remembering that $4,000 price tag.

My Mirage speakers love power, so I decided to push the envelope a little further than usual and drove the volume even higher. Watching the helicopter-crash scene from The Matrix, I was certain I'd hear some signs of clipping or fatigue, but the amp waded through the material with seemingly little effort. If I had pushed it any harder, I would've surely impaired my hearing.

An amplifier like the Cinénova Grande is the kind of component that other manufacturers fear, neighbors dread, and men lust after. Every one of us has that friend, spouse, or relative who doesn't understand our hobby and the fact that we go out and spend the money we do on our A/V systems. But remember the first time you heard something sound so right, so wonderful, and so magnificent that it made you appreciate music in an entirely different light? Staring at this amp, I wondered how many lives it would have that sort of effect on.

Just when I thought I had heard it all, the Earthquake Cinénova Grande came along, picked me up, cleaned out my ears, and begged for a listen. This amp brings new meaning to the phrase "gentle giant." The only drawback I can foresee to buying this amplifier is perhaps having to cut the roof off your house and rent a crane to lower it into your theater.

Highlights
• Unmatched output
• Exceptional sound quality
• Unbelievable performance for the price

HT Labs Measures: Earthquake Cinénova Grande Amp
The above measurement shows that the Grande's left amplifier channel, with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, began clipping at 0.0037% distortion and 245.3 watts. The amp reaches 0.1% distortion at 294.4 watts and 1% distortion at 328.9 watts, as shown above. Into 4 ohms, the amp began clipping at 0.0082% distortion and 478.6 watts and reaches 0.1% distortion at 604.4 watts and 1% distortion at 661.1 watts. The amplifier's frequency response was +0.06 /-0.19 decibels from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The response rose to +0.1 dB at 10 Hz and to -0.78 dB at 50 kHz. THD+N from the amplifier was less than 0.013% at 1 kHz, with 2.8 volts output.—CW