Photography by Cordero Studios
Collection Gift Guide: Breaking the Musical Sound Barrier
December 1, 2005
Lotus
Housed in vintage-style macassar ebony cases on a matching
platform, the diminutive Lotus stereo amplifier and passive preamplifier are
audio giant-killers in elegant disguise. But their size is not their only
unusual feature. Conspicuously absent from the Lotus gear are power cords—the
little Lotus amplifier ($1,199) is battery-powered. A Tripath Class-T digital
design produces a potent 6 watts into 8 ohms. The enclosed 12-volt lead-acid
battery provides 15 hours of listening between charges, and the amplifier
automatically recharges when switched off. An AC “wallwart” converter refreshes
the battery in an hour.
The matching Lotus passive preamplifier ($799) is a minimalist affair—employing short signal pathways; Cardas-wired RCA connectors and speaker binding posts; and the respected DACT attenuator and selector switch. When paired with speakers that have a sensitivity of 89 dB or greater, the Lotus duo delivers some of the clearest musical realism available. Battery-powered amplification will be a totally new experience to many music lovers, and the benefits become apparent immediately. Notions of quietness, transient speed, and clarity take on new meaning. There is no quieter amplifier available. The lightning-quick transients on percussion or plucked strings are revelatory and emotionally involving, as are the crystal-clear renderings of layers and sonic textures. The Lotus products deliver the entire bandwidth with silky smoothness: Trumpets have natural bite without a hint of stridency or hardness; bass has the grip associated with much bigger power amps. Their liquidity and tonal warmth likely will seduce even the most ardent vacuum tube aficionado. The Lotus platform that beautifully completes the set is priced at $225.
Red Wine Audio, www.redwineaudio.com
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