Apollo

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (4GHz quad-core with Turbo boost, 32GB RAM, 3TB FusionDrive, OSX Yosemite. iTunes 14.4), PureMusic 3.02, Audirvana 3, Qobuz Hifi, Tidal Hifi, Denafrips Terminator, Soundaware D300Ref SD transport & USB bridge; Preamplifier: Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature with WE VT52/300B or Elrog 50/300B; Power amplifiers: LinnenberG Audio Liszt monos; Headphone amp: Kinki Studio; Headphones: Final D8000; Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Codex; Cube Audio Nenuphar; Aurai Audio M1 [on loan]; Cables: Complete loom of Allnic Audio ZL3000; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps, LessLoss C-MARC Entropic cords between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc Krion and glass amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators; Room: 4 x 6m with high gabled beam ceiling opening into 4 x 8m kitchen and 5 x 8m living room, hence no wall behind the listening chairs
Second system: Source: Soundaware D100Pro SD transport; DAC/pre: COS Engineering D1; Amplifier: Bakoon AMP-13R; Loudspeakers: Acelec Model One w. Franck Tchang magnesium 360° super tweeters, Zu Submission subwoofer, LessLoss Firewall for Loudspeakers; Power delivery: Puritan Audio Lab PSM-156; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Room: ~4x6m
Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win7/64; USB bridge: Audiobyte Hydra X+; Headphone amp: COS Engineering H1; Headphones: Audeze LCD-XC; Powered speakers: Fram Audio Midi 150
Upstairs headfi system: Source: Soundaware A280 SD transport; DAC: Auralic Vega; Integrated amplifier: Schiit Jotunheim R; Headphones: Raal-Requisite SR1a
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; DAC: Kinki Studio; Preamp: Wyred4Sound STP-SE II; Power amp: Pass Labs XA-30.8; Loudspeakers: German Physiks HRS-120; Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: ~€3'100 or S$4'998 [Singapore currency]

From the moon landing to the eponymous butterfly to the ancient Greek god, Apollo got around. By early 2021, he'd made it to the Denafrips assembly line where he is a 55kg stereo amplifier. That packs 225wpc of class AB push/pull power with 16 pairs of bipolar junction transistors per channel, a 2'000VA shielded power transformer, XLR-only inputs and black/silver finish options. 4Ω power still doubles to 450wpc and for a relative song and dance—that's ~3'100 in foot-tapping euros—Apollo could be your huckleberry.

A celestial name demands shiny specs to go with and…

… Denafrips present us with input Ω of 22k, input sensitivity of 1.8Vrms, voltage gain of 30dB, -2.2dB bandwidth of 10Hz-50kHz, THD of 0.02%, S/NR of 118dB, dynamic range better than 121dB and crosstalk of -110dB. Auto-adaptive AC supports 100-240VAC 50/60Hz whilst power consumption at idle is a stout 500 watts which still quadruples at full operational tilt. Hello utility company. The chassis measures 43 x 47 x 24cm WxDxH and warranty is 3 years. In the Denafrips firmament of amplifier stars, Hyperion burns at 80wpc, Thallo at 120wpc and now Apollo brightest at still twice that.

This is a heav(enl)y proposition for those who demand big power not in class D without agreeing to pay anywhere near five figures. Given the company's track record in our archives, Apollo promised to be another strong value/performance hitter. As always, the only way to be sure is to try. My back of course had creaky doubts. 121lbs aren't to be taken lightly. Apollo would be a real chunk of hardware.

… to be continued…