D'Agostino Master Power Classic Stereo

摘要

Rarely do the words 'affordable' and 'Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems' occur in the same sentence. If, however, we add 'relatively', then the 300W Classic Stereo at £13,498 is 'affordable' in the sense that it costs less than half the price of a 200W D'Agostino Momentum Stereo in black [HFN Aug "12]. One might ask where the other £ 18k goes: not least is the change from the Momentum's 'functional sculpture' to a not-quite-prosaic cubist box. But cheap it ain't. Before going anywhere near the details, one statistic tells you more about the Classic Stereo than any other, especially if you possess a touch of the tyre-kicker -which all audiophiles do, if truth be told. Bluntly put, this amplifier weighs 50kg, or 110lbs in old money. It is so damn heavy that I had to enlist help in unpacking it, which I didn't require for the not-that-much-lighter Momentum (though PM unpacked it, tested and packed it solo). The difference is that the Classic Stereo is also massive at 483x292x508mm, whereas the Momentum is dense but compact, as if you sliced the Classic horizontally in two.