This review page is supported in part by the sponsors whose ad banners are displayed below
Technical data (according to manufacturer):
Supported formats: CD, CD-R, CD-Text
Analog output: 2.5V eff/22Ω
Frequency response: 2 Hz-20 kHz
THD: < 0.001%
SNR: 109dB
Channel separation: 106dB
Switchable analog filter: 3rd-order phase-linear Bessel 60 kHz or 100 kHz
Dimensions:120 x 440 x 390mm HxWxD
Weight: 9.5kg

The Power Plant MkII amplifier is quite big but barely runs warm. On the front panel we have from right to left a mini headphone socket, volume knob and small retractable knobs for tone control and balance. Then there are buttons for tone control and loudness bypass accompanied by red LEDs. Further to the left is a row of buttons and red LEDs for input selection and finally a standby switch with green LED. On the back the gold-plated RCA inputs are soldered directly to the PCB. We get four line inputs, one line input with fixed rec-out and a variable pre-out. Input A1/PH can be converted to phono by installing the optional MM/MC board. Next we have two pairs of gold-plated plastic terminals probably of Chinese origin. Then there are RS-232, E-Link and IEC sockets. Above the latter sits the mechanical power mains switch.

In the price list downloadable from the Polish T+A distributor’s website, the Dynamax Power Plant MkII is referred to as an integrated switch-mode amplifier. At first I did not notice this when I just listened to the piece before opening it up. Frankly, class D operation as such wasn’t audible even if after the fact certain but not all performance aspects could be attributed to it. This spoke volumes about the German engineers.


The circuitry is divided into five boards, four for amplification, one for control logic. The preamplification PCB only carries a few Omron relays and two BB OPA2134 opamps, one per channel. Next to them are nice Wima and Ero-Vishay caps. From here the signal proceeds via ribbon cable to a board that’s bolted to the front panel. Here we find the motorized black Alps pot and active tone controls using the same ICs as the preamplifier. The passive parts are high-class components and the controllers small Alps potentiometers as usually seen in car audio.


The signal then returns to the first PCB with the same ribbon cable. From here another short cable proceeds to the output stage. I mentioned the separate headphone circuit already. There seems to be a full-fledged headphone amp on the tone-control PCB. The output stage runs in class D to explain the lack of a heat sink. T+A designed this stage from scratch.

The inputs are two socketed Analog Devices AD829. The signal then goes to International Rectifier PWM IRS20955S modulators which control bridged Mosfets bolted to the bottom plate. I could not identify those devices. Ar the output we have the mandatory low pass filters built of inductors and Wima capacitors. Usually this is the Achilles heel of such circuits and T+A uses filters almost identical to the B&O ICEPower modules as used for example in the Audiomatus AS500.


The linear power supply is very substantial and not an SMPS like Bang & Olufsen. It is based on a big toroidal Noratel transformer with secondaries for the pre- and power amp sections and plenty of stabilization and voltage regulation. The side panels are grated and covered with Bitumen mats. All T+A components arrive with their own QC cards signed by a few people in assembly and testing. This is splendid execution and the polar opposite of a garage outfit.

Technical data (according to manufacturer):
RMS output power: 2 x 240W (4Ω), 2 x 140W (8Ω)
Frequency response (+/- 3dB): 1Hz-60kHz
THD: < 0.005%
Intermodulation distortion: < 0.005%
Channel separation: > 80dB
Inputs: 5 x line, 250mV/20kΩ
Headphone output: > 50Ω
Tape output: 250mV
Dimensions:120 x 440 x 390mm HxWxD
Weight: 13kg
Website

opinia @ highfidelity.pl