Happily the SA1 didn't invoke the typical bathtub profile of the 80s with plenty of bass and treble but little in the middle. Whilst I'd not call its midrange mega transparent, I viewed it as fundamentally correct and on definition and vocal timbre tracking every bit the Pro-Ject's equal. Extreme lucidity in the presence range simply wasn't its thing but that pays long-term dividends with lack of fatigue. For this price range I was particularly impressed by how the upper-bass/lower-mid attacks from a snare drum for example came off quick, with gusto and no blur or reluctance. In my book such a voicing in this class is far more practical than pseudo high-end analytical excess.
Up to 10'000Hz, the Argon doesn't even attempt any artificial highlights which shoppers in this realm shouldn't expect in the first place. In trade it plays commendably clean, not nervy and undistorted to become definitive strengths. The upper treble gets a tad mellow but given typical speaker mates, that won't be an issue.
Stabilomatic? A standout quality of our small amp surely is stability across various SPL. Its earthy temperament already kicks in at low levels and floats a stage which, while somewhat compact and just between the speakers, is very well sorted. Only by contrast to far costlier amps like the Hegel does one notice a fine veil. Still, individual actors on stage are well focused if with a bit less edge definition than the 8 x costlier Norwegian. Enter Thor's hammer for today, the price/performance surprise of Argon's Forte A5.
As indicated, my desktop monitors for quite some time have been Nubert's €570/pr nuPro A100. Pushed directly against a wall, these small German actives are a perfect near-field solution if one needs no integrated Bluetooth or MM phono. In larger rooms or with more wall distance, their small 10cm mid/woofers simply struggle to reproduce sufficient bass. Even their bass tone control soon hits upon amplifier and driver excursion limits. Call out the Argon's first advantage whose 15cm drivers clearly move more air and dig deeper. Aided and abetted by DSP, Argon rate their reach to 40Hz.
A cross check against Yello's "Kiss the cloud" from Toy suggested good cause by fully hitting the second-lowest band. Below it the Forte A5 then seemed to drop like a stone because the ~30Hz synth bass of "Frautonium" was entirely missing in action. That even the Danes can't cheat physics becomes clear with equivalent drivers in competing compacts against which the Argon exhibits somewhat lower tolerance for extreme SPL. Above conversation-impossible levels, things get a tad gooey. And I'd not park these directly against a wall for which they're simply too bass endowed.
