Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Sidebar 2: Associated equipment

The Hafler was auditioned with a variety of loudspeakers, but I spent most of my listening time with it in the company of the Vandersteen 2Ces. The preamp was the Rowland Consummate. Comparison amplifiers included the Aragon 4004 Mk.II, Sonic Frontiers SFS-80, and Krell KSA-250.

The CD transport was either the belt-drive C.E.C. imported by Parasound or the Pioneer Elite PD-65 used as a transport (the latter used primarily when the Wilson WATT/Puppies or the Apogee Stages were in the system), used to drive a PS Audio Ultralink via Kimber AGDL. The processor-to-preamp link was TARA Labs RSC Master, and the preamp-to-power-amp link was Cardas Hexlink. Symo loudspeaker cables were used except with the WATT/Puppies, where RSC Master loudspeaker cable was used (but with an MIT Puppytail connecting the WATTs and Puppies). Program material was primarily CD.—Thomas J. Norton