Reliabilty/performance of PROTON D1200 amp??
Vivek Mehra
I am looking at purchasing a PROTON D1200 power amp (100 Watts RMS, 6dB
headroom). This is the amp with the big power meters. I'd like to hear
opinions on the reliability of this amp and the meters.
Also has anyone done an A/B test of the PROTON with the ADCOM 545
or the B&K?
On the subjects of preamps, the PROTON pre-amp (AP1000, 1000) have
one of the best specifications and a reasonable price. Does any of the
netters have any recommedations ( yes, I am aware of the B&K and the ADCOM
and Hafler DH110 preamps). How is the ROTEL (RC850??)? It did have a
lower SNR than the other ones.
vivek
Andrew Bettison
>I am looking at purchasing a PROTON D1200 power amp (100 Watts RMS, 6dB
>headroom). This is the amp with the big power meters. I'd like to hear
>opinions on the reliability of this amp and the meters.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "reliability".
I've had a D1200 for a year now, and it hasn't just sat at the bottom of
my hi-fi during that time. I've carted it around to use for monitoring
classical recordings (Rogers Studio 1a monitors), driven 300W EV stage
wedges (bridged), and generally run it quite hard plenty of times.
Comments:
I've never invoked the 'protection' circuit, but then I've
always been careful not to run the input levels up to the point
where the meters are hard over to the right. I've had the cute
little 'dpd' +3dB and +6dB lights lighting up plenty of times.
The meters don't read peak levels, but somewhere below. They
are hard to read at a distance, because the orange needles are
not lit, and they get swallowed up in front of the green
backlighting. I suspect the little 'dpd' lights don't light on
very brief transients above 100W. The meters seem to indicate
the average power level, more or less.
I opened the amp up and looked inside. It's pretty well
constructed, so I'm not worried about small drops and bumps.
Response seems to roll off below about 10 Hz, which I think is
deliberate; there is probably a high-pass filter in there somewhere.
>Also has anyone done an A/B test of the PROTON with the ADCOM 545
>or the B&K?
Not me. But I've used Perreaux and Murray amps for monitoring, and the
Proton compares well. My particular problem has always been
reproducing the dynamic peaks of a capella choral music in large,
reverberant halls. High soprano notes can sometimes ring and make
levels leap by 10 dB. When monitoring at high levels, this is
sometimes too much for 100W amps. The extra headroom of the D1200
handles this situation quite nicely, which is why I purchased it.
At home I use a Hafler DH110 pre-amp that gives me no trouble except
for low-level mains buzz on the phono inputs, but that is probably more
due to the Rega 2 than the Hafler.
(The above are personal opinions only.)
--
Andrew Bettison - Softway Pty Ltd
Phone +61-2-698-2322 Internet and...@softway.sw.oz.au
Fax +61-2-699-9174 UUCP uunet!softway.sw.oz.au!andrewb
The Friend
>
>>Also has anyone done an A/B test of the PROTON with the ADCOM 545
>>or the B&K?
>
>Not me. But I've used Perreaux and Murray amps for monitoring, and the
>Proton compares well. My particular problem has always been
>reproducing the dynamic peaks of a capella choral music in large,
>reverberant halls. High soprano notes can sometimes ring and make
>levels leap by 10 dB. When monitoring at high levels, this is
>sometimes too much for 100W amps. The extra headroom of the D1200
>handles this situation quite nicely, which is why I purchased it.
I'll complement that as well - I've got the Proton AA-1150 (smaller
version of the D1200, with 50 watts/ch, 300 peak). Of everything I play
(rock, classical, etc.), its all come through without any problems from
the amp not having power (I rarely need more then 12 watts anyhow, but
the extra wattage is great). I've played Bach's Organ Works, and by
far you can reach definite near-realism with a set of KlipschHorns & a
good subwoofer (both running off Protons).
I've done the Adcom side-by-side test, with the GFA-545 against
the above. Frankly the 545 didn't have the headroom to keep up with "realistic
volume levels" like the AA1150 did. Yes the AA1150 is 50w/ch continous, but
the dynamic headroom on it works efficently enough to keep up with even
the 545 (I didn't have a 535 on hand to test with, and besides which,
it didn't have near the same power output).
I'm not nocking Adcom, they do sound sweet & clean at average volume
levels - but don't have the bass like Proton. My overall test showed the
Adcom as good at mid-bass and above for decent power levels, but didn't
have deep bass like Proton. I guess bass lovers must spend the extra dough
for the full-blown GFA-555, but given the cost of the entire Proton line,
by far you can get similar results at less cost (the AA1150 runs typically
$50 less then the 535, yet has the 545's power. The D1200 on the other
hand is favored the massive 555, yet costs $150 less).