Amphion has introduced a like minded, less expensive brother to its highly touted Argon 1 ($1900pr). We now have Amphion definition and musicality for not a lot over a grand.
Helium 510: $1400 Per Pair (Black or White) $1500 Per Pair Walnut
(12.44h, 6.3w, 10.43d, 13 lbs, 86 dB, 8 ohms)
Helium 510 is the same size as Argon 1. It runs less money because it uses a pulp fiber bass mid driver while Argon 1 uses a linear-piston aluminum driver. While Helium 510 can’t achieve the stunning clarity that Argon 1 does, it IS competitive and charts new territory for $1400 pr.
If you haven’t heard Amphion’s open spacious sound, you’re in for quite the experience. Literally everything else in this price range is a cloudy sounding box from China.
The mass market knows that fat bass and a bright top end grab your attention. Those characteristics do indeed sell. But of course the muddy bass and grainy high end will wear you out in short order.
Enter Helium 510. Helium 510 has been made for accuracy, just like its bigger brothers. Helium 510 uses the same Titanium tweeter within Wave Guide as Argon 1. It shares the same open, airy character of sound without being bright or harsh. What a treat- to hear acoustic music without zip and zing.
Amphion is always for portraying great space and a broad/deep soundstage. They always pursue these characteristics before adding more bass. Like Argon 1, Helium 510 has no sins of commission. Its bass is leaner than chunkier. It reveals bass definition and textures. It doesn’t have an upper mid-bass hump in frequency response to try to fool you into thinking there is deep bass.
You can always add a sub if you want more bass. But if your R&L speakers sound foggy, they’re not much fun on vocals especially.
NAD C-389 Integrated Amp $1500 (130×2)
C389 is an imminent, versatile integrated. First, let’s talk about NAD power.
C389’s power rating is 130×2, 20-20k, at 8 ohms, with THD of .03%. In other words, at FULL POWER, distortion is only .03%.
NAD’s competitors claim their wattage ratings at 1% THD, commonly known as CLIPPING. Further, many competitors claim their power at 1k, not 20-20. They often claim 6 ohms instead of 8.
The sneaky characters are cheating. Their power ratings are claimed when the amp is running ragged- not under control. NAD is still cool and unflappable at its full power rating.
Now, you might ask NAD (as I have), why don’t YOU claim your specs just like your competitors do? Instead of 130×2, C389 would CLIP at 200×2. Wouldn’t you be more likely to sell more units if you claimed 200×2 instead of 130×2? Of course you would.
But NAD says, nay nay.
NAD is playing the long game, trying to educate the market that the other guys do cheat. NAD is being honest and wants to expose the tricksters- by pulling the curtain away from devious sales tactics.
C389 uses NAD’s lauded UcD amplifier design. There are no traditional mismatched output transistors in use! C389 has a 32b DAC on board (2 OPT and 2 Coax). It has MM phono and two additional high level inputs. It has pre outs and sub outs. It has HDMI Arc. It has Bluetooth.
For the record, NAD’s C399 runs $2k and DOES have a superior amplifier design. If you can afford $2k, buy C399. But of course, C389 runs a good chunk less dinero.
Beethoven For Three
Beethoven wrote his symphonies for a full orchestra. How do they sound with 3 pieces-piano, violin and cello? Count me WON OVER! This stunning recording of #6 by Sony features Emanuel Ax, Yo Yo Ma and Leonidas Kavakos. Give it a test drive on Tidal.