A 300wpc integrated amplifier? "Class D" you shrug off. "One more ICEpower job, perhaps nCore. Yawn. Next." Hola, hombre. Steady. Whilst at 215/280wpc into 8/4Ω more powerful than the Job INT we took a look at earlier, the new Goldmund Telos 590 NextGen is still a wide-bandwidth DC-coupled class AB design. Aside from five analog inputs, there's a new DAC with 24/384PCM/DSD128 USB, coax and Toslink; plus remote control via wand or app for iPad/iPhone. That makes it more potent too than the outgoing Telos 390 which it replaces at right; and which it does a +1 for inputs on. But first, back to the beginning; or end as it were. What about that NextGen suffix?


Goldmund had tasked themselves to update their most powerful amplifier ever: the hulking limited-edition 651lbs 1-metre Telos 5000. As the press release explains, the resultant Telos 5500 exceeded their own expectations. Now the decision was made to migrate the same tech over to their best-selling other models both in their preamp and power amp portfolios. Thus the Telos 1000 became the Telos 1000 NextGen, the Telos 2500 and Mimesis 22 the equivalent NextGens. Rather than carry on the previous name with just the new suffix, the numbering of the integrated grew to reflect its power increase. It also grew in physical stature. Then it added visible heat sinks. Of course the gold-plated decal remains. With gold in the company name, some actual aurum belongs. Goldmund are a self-declared luxury house after all. The Telos range is their finest, named after the Greek τέλος for goal. As the final tier above the Metis range, it renders this their statement integrated; their Gryphon Diablo 300; their take on the world's best. Le patron. So bring on the sparkle. Peel off that protective blue skin over the 24-carat plaque. Serve some bubbly. A votre santé!