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I
well remember samples of the breed from Bel Canto and NAD. Similar to the Auralics they weighed in with a very pleasant nearly subliminal clarity as that great calmness or blackness of the sonic backdrop. They also had good plasticity and in the treble were more fluid and civilized than crisp or fresh. Even the small KingRex specimens in our reserve follow this brief. If my memory doesn't fail me, the Meraks played it even closer to dead neutral but in the bass had more snap and contour which made for the comparatively more exciting and rocking presentation.
Teamwork. Swapping out the Funk MTX for the Taurus Pre affected the sound in ways the above already predicted. LF extension increased. Above it remained the attractively colorful midband and fleshed-out instrumental bodies. Simultaneously the overall character relaxed and forward charge diminished. The soundstage perspective felt less inviting or forward-leaning and the treble became more chilled and silken than excited.
I believe many listeners would gravitate toward this calmer more organic presentation particularly with very fast overly analytical speakers. The personal kicker though was the combo of Funk MTX and Meraks. Whilst bass reach lightened up some as did the color-intense density of the midband, I gained more propulsion or drive. This overall mix of virtues would hold up very well to twice-priced combos. Even my costlier and dearly loved Audionet amps would feel flustered.
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Conclusion. Class A? Oh yeah. Class D? Oy veh. This could be the expectation of audiophiles keen on calm undistorted natural sound. Skipping such clichés, especially listeners of such makeup will be tickled pink with the Auralic trio. Though heavies of 'merely' €4.600 stature, I count Auralic's Meraks amongst the most impressive power amps I've yet hosted. In recent memory I only recall the fairaudio favourite awarded Sauermann Amp as being endowed with equal timbre, lack of fussy airs and such a broad multi-purpose appeal.
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Obviously tastes and ancillary contexts differ. To counteract system-specific tendencies or to pursue extrovert sensationalist sonics is not what the (in the very best sense of the word!) unspectacular Meraks are about.
But I must stress now that even those with twice the allocated budget for power amps should include these babies in their final round. They throw lower back, energy and space savings in for free. Optimal partners will be neutral well-resolved speakers which are quick and decisive on the uptake. For that extra kick to spit-polish microdynamically or tonally reserved boxes these amps then would not be my first choice.
And the Taurus Pre? I confess that this review gave prime attention to the Meraks which in hindsight seems somewhat unfair. The preamp hits a similar sonic mark after all and weighs in with an astonishingly high value-for-dollar margin. |
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But were it me I'd focus the first audition on the power amps and then apply final seasoning with a preamp which most suited my needs. If you fancy your treble softer rather than pronounced, don't desire overly grand forward-shifted images but love a deeply extended well-structured bass and timbre purity, Auralic's Taurus Pre should fit you to a 't'.
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Psych profile of the Taurus Pre/Merak combo...
• An obviously distortion-free pure and well-balanced sonic show where individual performers play against famously black backgrounds to create high plasticity and deep color contrast.
• A well-extended and articulated bass range which segues seamlessly into a very organic tonally perfectly even midband.
• A long-term happy treble without shading which by tendency (this is more specific to the Taurus Pre) leans toward the fluid and light rather than the fresh and analytical. Those wishing to up the amps' overall microdynamic scope, air or energy can readily season to taste with a different preamp.
• A well-sorted and focused soundstage which particularly with the Pre isn't overly generous or forward projected.
• Flawless very accurate finishing. Volume gradations with the Taurus Pre seem somewhat coarse and especially with high-efficiency speakers one needs to remember that even fully counter clockwise the preamp still leaks sound.
• Great energy efficiency and very low thermal output.
Facts.
Auralic Taurus Pre.
Category: Line stage
Dimensions and weight: 33 x 23 x 6.5cm (WxDxH), 4.8kg
Finish: Silver
Socketry: 1 x XLR and 3 x RCA in, 1 x RCA/XLR out, 2 x 6.3mm headphone out
Idle consumption: 11 watts
Other: Remote control
Warranty: 3 years
Auralic Merak
Category: Monaural power amps
Dimensions and weight: 33 x 33 x 7cm (WxDxH), 8.5kg/ea.
Finish: silver
Socketry: 1 x XLR in, 1 x inverted XLR out for briding, Cardas binding posts
Power output: 200 watts into 8 ohmd
Power consumption: 6 watts in standby, 12 watts at idle
Warranty: 3 years |
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redaktion @ fairaudio.de
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