Cavalli Audio Liquid Lightning (~$5000)
The amp reviewed here is the first version of the amp, which is now undergoing a second revision with an expected release in April of 2013. Alex tells me the new amp is largely a cosmetic revision and will be in a machined aluminum case similar to his Liquid Glass amplifier. This is an all solid-state design using MOSFETs as the power output devices. The amp has one each balanced and unbalanced input with a rear panel switch for selection. The Liquid Lightning was, by far, the most difficult amp to get a grip on. Maybe it was because I was always aware of it being the only solid-state amp and I was trying to listen for something "transistory" to its sound...which I never did hear. Or maybe it was because it's so close to neutral that I had a hard time finding any sonic signature to hang my hat on...but there was something there. The Liquid Lightning always seemed warm and expansive to me. Everything was rendered larger than life and the music tended to slow down. Usually very good signs. The Cavalli did a great job of making the SR-009 feel like a bass monster when needed, I really enjoyed this amp with rock, EDM, and contemporary beat driven music. It slowly dawned on me the amp sounded somewhat similar to what I hear with happy, "V" shaped frequency response headphones, but oddly it simultaneously seems like a warm amp with a slightly rolled-off treble.
Once I began to listen to massed strings I did start to hear something a little odd. I think it may be just as much the fault of the SR-009 headphones as the amp, but I was hearing some glare around the strings in the mid-treble. I heard something similar with the A-10, WES, and SRM-007tII as well, which is what makes me think it may be a headphone characteristic. After much more listening, I came to the conclusion that much of the impression of detail with the Liquid Lightning comes from the slight exaggeration in the mid-treble, and other then that, the treble is slightly polite and rolled-off, giving the odd impression of the amp being both quick and a little dull or smeared at the same time. The Liquid Lightning did a dandy job of playing well at higher volume levels, bested in this regard only by the Blue Hawaii in this grouping of amps.
I'll recommend the big, warm sound of the Liquid Lightning to fans of contemporary music of all types. Hard driving bass lines will be delivered with ample thump, complex crunching guitars will come shining through with a little extra sparkle, but without harsh or confusing distortion...even at fairly loud levels. Lovers of acoustic music and absolute purity, however, might feel the amp lacks that last bit of finesse and resolution the SR-009 is capable of delivering.
The amp reviewed here is the first version of the amp, which is now undergoing a second revision with an expected release in April of 2013. Alex tells me the new amp is largely a cosmetic revision and will be in a machined aluminum case similar to his Liquid Glass amplifier. This is an all solid-state design using MOSFETs as the power output devices. The amp has one each balanced and unbalanced input with a rear panel switch for selection. The Liquid Lightning was, by far, the most difficult amp to get a grip on. Maybe it was because I was always aware of it being the only solid-state amp and I was trying to listen for something "transistory" to its sound...which I never did hear. Or maybe it was because it's so close to neutral that I had a hard time finding any sonic signature to hang my hat on...but there was something there. The Liquid Lightning always seemed warm and expansive to me. Everything was rendered larger than life and the music tended to slow down. Usually very good signs. The Cavalli did a great job of making the SR-009 feel like a bass monster when needed, I really enjoyed this amp with rock, EDM, and contemporary beat driven music. It slowly dawned on me the amp sounded somewhat similar to what I hear with happy, "V" shaped frequency response headphones, but oddly it simultaneously seems like a warm amp with a slightly rolled-off treble.
