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Model: | Bronte |
Category: | Integrated Amplifier (SS) |
Suggested Retail Price: | $2300 |
Description: | Sonneteer Bronte Integrated Amplifier Review |
Manufacturer URL: | Sonneteer |
Model Picture: | View |
Review by parkwest007 on February 20, 2015 at 14:51:17 IP Address: 12.9.194.180 | Add Your Review for the Bronte |
I have heard of this Sonneteer Bronte amp as one of the high-end models in Class D category. My only experience with a Class D design was a very small amp called Trends Audio TA-10.1 (paid $120 for it). It sounded ok for the price but there was simply no bass whatsoever. Thankfully I was able to sell it easily because it was pretty popular at that time (and it's feather light).
Sonneteer Bronte integrated is in an entirely different price category (retail $2300). I bought it used for about two thirds of that money (not a scratch!). The original owner said it took him a LONG time to burn it in. Not relevant to me as he did all the work for me.
During the next several weeks I sat down as often as possible and listened to various songs on it. Songs with rich and complex arrangement were definitely made for this map. I could not help but marvel at the sheer holographic imagery of the Bronte on this type of songs. The ample low bass was tight and nicely defined with just a tad bit of roundness. The denser the song got, the more I marveled at the resolving power that the Bronte was displaying.
The acoustic guitar was nicely defined and richly conveyed without any added coloration. The harmonica had just the right amount of bite without any strain or metallic quality that is common on lesser systems. And the vocal... It sounded inviting and tonally rich. A real treat to the ears and certainly not at all something I would have expected from an integrated amplifier.
Overall I am very happy with this amp. Unlike some other units I had in the past, Sonneteer Bronte make the old recordings sound wonderful... with tape hiss and all :-)
Product Weakness: | Won't work for you if you intend to add warmth to bright sounding speakers |
Product Strengths: | Clarity, Transparency, and Rich Details |
Amplifier: | Sonneteer Bronte |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | None |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Arcam CDP |
Speakers: | Revel Performa3 F208 |
Cables/Interconnects: | Audioquest |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Classic Rock, New Age, and Folk |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 15 x 15 x 12 |
Room Comments/Treatments: | None |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | 1 year |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | None |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Your System (if other than home audition): | _ |
Congratulations on your new integrated amp!
But why am I reminded of The Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights?
:)
I can't comment on Sonneteer but owning a Trends TA10.1 I would like to comment that in my case, used as power amp with a good preamp and with high sensitivity speakers, there was no lack of bass.
It is now driving mids and high horns in a bi-amped system and, ease of use taken into account, I wouldn't want anything else at ten times the price - but mine is modded (resistors, caps, volume pot, speaker posts) and I never heard the stock version. I do own a SMSL SA50 and, while it sounds very good considering it's 60euro price tag (!) the modded Trends wipes the floor with it in overall smoothness, detail, and transparency.
I would love to once hear a powerful class D amp, but with 104dB speakers, it's not going to happen anytime soon.
Many years ago I was a Sonneteer Dealer,May Audio was the importer when Nizaar was alive.
Very good electronics and very well made, I think former Naim guys started the line.
The line is not very popular in the US as it is not marketed very well, however as I said it is very well made and sounds great.
I didn't know there was a Sonneteer importer? Did you buy this from a dealer, manufacturer direct, ... ?
And Trends is tripath, not class d.
If someone more knowledgeable than me on the difference would care to explain those differences that would be nice.
"We are all in God's hands... and God is a malign thug."
-Mark Twain
The current Sonneteer distributor for North America is Arcadia Audio of
Elora Ontario. From looking at the Sonneteer web page it doesn't look like the Bronte is still in manufacture except for the CD player of that range.
When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it. ~ Bernard Bailey
The Trends audio amp was both class-D and tripath. That's what I read in a few review/forum pages.
I didn't buy it from a dealer but from a private party. Not sure where he bought it. I still have the amp and it sounds even more wonderful. Don't miss it if you ever see it used.
Edits: 02/06/17
.
Tripath "Class T" is just one of the flavors of Class D. There are a number of different one.
_
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