Can these ArgentPur Monoblock power amplifiers possibly bring Class A to its knees in overall sound quality? Let’s take a look at these recently introduced amplifiers!

Gallium nitride FETs are becoming widely preferred in many new products, from low-power, low-cost applications like smart device chargers all the way up to high-power automotive and audio applications. In almost all cases, designers are impressed by the increased efficiency and power density that GaN delivers, which results in these devices having greater power capabilities than their silicon counterparts.

Not surprisingly, high-end audio amplifiers are also now increasingly turning to GaN technology, as the smooth switching characteristics of GaN FETs result in less audible noise being injected into the amplifier. Recently, big-name manufacturers of audio equipment, including Technics (Panasonic), have announced new audio equipment that contains GaN technology. GaN FETs can switch faster than their counterparts with higher efficiency; therefore, equipment size can be minimized.

The fairly new kid in town, ArgentPur, is known for its outstanding silver speaker cables, power cables, and interconnects. They have recently released their first monoblock amplifiers and these Monoblocks are the subject under review here.

The GaN FET ArgentPur Monoblocks, as described above, are much more efficient than silicon, so these little seven-pound amps also run very, very cool. A Clean, pure, exuberantly lush, and accurate sound is the ultimate desire for audiophiles. Accordingly, any audible noise that might be introduced into the amplifier ought to be minimized. Higher switching frequencies typically lead to higher amounts of audible noise and EMI, which is the exact reverse of what audio manufacturers hope to accomplish.

Though you may not know it, almost all Class D amplifiers have excellent dynamics. By slewing faster and spending less time in their “off” state, Gan-FETs get it even better. In reality, there is no smearing or “fattening” of the lowest octave, which may create the impression that there is less bass. It’s what one could call “tighter” and leaner” solid bass.

Although this may not show up with electric bass guitars, acoustic bassists can notice it when their amplified sound lacks the “smeared delay” feature. Decay preservation is a much more challenging problem because it involves noise and distortion masking.

The Monoblocks

The ArgentPur Monoblocks (designed by engineer and musical artist, Ernest Meunier) offer 250w/8ohm (500w/4 ohm) power, using customized Ayzenshtat (Orchard Audio) renowned ULTRA balanced GaN-FET modules. These are powered by a custom 800w SMPS with soft-start and ultra-high frequency switching for extremely low EMI and very high efficiency.

All input, output, and power supply wiring comprises twisted-pair ArgentPur pure silver plated in Teflon air tubes for peerless soundstage detail and holography… the ultimate transparency (without brightness!) that both Gallium Nitride and Pure Silver are renowned for.

Silver-gold-oil Mundorf capacitors are also used in the critical signal path filter to provide even better resolution and soundstage realism compared to other GaN-Fet and Class D designs. The musicality can sometimes equal the best Class A but with an utmost lucidity to the source, along with the ultra-fast bass grip Class D can provide. Additionally, all the Input and Output connectors are also pure silver plated, as well using Mundorf supreme Silver/Gold solder is used to provide a complete silver through-path! Inputs comprise one XLR and one RCA, direct-wired, eliminating any input switching degradation.

Inside ArgentPur Monoblock power amplifiers

To quote Ernest Meunier “NO tube or other input buffers color the purist presentation…thus we have here the proverbial “straight wire with gain.” Used with your favorite preamplifier, cables, and loudspeakers, the ArgentPur monoblocs have been refined by the designer to bring the most astute, high-definition sound quality that your system can bring forth to the listening room.

These compact monoblocks use the renowned Orchard ULTRA balanced module powered by a custom 800w SMPS with a huge 72,000uf capacitive reserve. (Coincidentally, some time ago we reviewed the Orchard Amplifier Starkrimson Stereo Amplifier, which, sounds nothing like these ArgentPur amplifiers.). With the ArgentPur, each high-quality silvered connection is used. The aluminum chassis has been machined and cast, and it includes additional vibration damping on the top and bottom panels as well as Sorbothane footers that absorb vibration.

This pure Ag pathway provides noticeable improvements in soundstage fleshing and detail over other GaN-FET and ordinary Class D designs. It truly can equal, in many ways, some Class A amplifiers I have used in the past with its musicality and a pure, unadulterated bass grip solidity. These power amps profess to cut a swath for a fabulous-sounding audio presentation into any top-class definitive audiophile system currently on the market.

For those who would prefer a single chassis stereo amplifier, Ernest has shown a prototype at this year’s CAF show. These are now formally called THE DUO, being a dual mono stereo amplifier. Listeners seemed to be split on the Monoblocks at $5900 a pair vs. the combined duo at $5300. Electrically they are identical as power was not reduced for the slightly lower price point!

I had initially commented that Ernest’s current monoblocks contain some gorgeous, top-octave “air” that my Pass Labs xa30.8 seemed to slightly lack. (see comparisons below). Ernest responded, “Indeed what I remember when initially comparing the GaN-FET OEM amps even to my OLD Pass Labs monoblocks. I’ve been told that Nelson has just one circuit, tweaking and building on it over the decades. That is a little harsh…but there seems to be something that my Agh wiring brings to the soundstage that Class A by itself does not bear. And the added Mundorf SGO filter cap seems to deepen the soundstage even further.” Quite a bold statement indeed~!

In my current setup, I am using my Mojo Audio Mystique X R2R DAC as well as the fully distinctive (for the money) Musician Pegasus R2R DAC. Also in the mix will be my Pass Labs XP12 preamp, Audio Technica LP7 turntable, and my standard bearing streamer, the Innuous Statement in conjunction with Qobuz. Speakers are the Q Acoustic Concept 500’s which I have been using for close to a year now.

Musical Signature

Because they sound so much clearer and more open than most amplifiers that have entered my system, the Argent Pur Monoblock amps offer a luscious panoramic soundscape with copious amounts of air, transparency, and subtle detail. As they try to mimic some qualities of Class A , their clear, dramatic, and stratified sound quality will undoubtably come without the drawbacks of heat and energy use.

I proceeded to reference the ArgenPur’s with my Pass Labs XA 30.8 Class A amplifier. I could find small differences and, in some instances, a bit more to admire in the Argent Purs. This is a bold statement to make, but I will try to stand by it!

The usual adjectives and more to describe the sound qualities of these amplifiers can be applied; and then some. There is little or no coloration to the sound while the balance is supreme and superb, with no “flavor” to the quality of the sound. You will notice that the better the program sources you use with these amps, the more “natural” and beautiful sounding they will become.

Although most readers will be using a highly accurate and definitive speaker system, these amplifiers will mesh magnificently even with loudspeakers that may “objectively” fall short of ideal in their frequency balance. As they are primarily and virtually “colorless”, the amps will expose most of the shortcomings of the choices made during recording and processing; these being the “flavors” of your source components, and the loudspeakers’ frequency balance. The most systemically “definitive” systems will truly reign supreme and be subject to full exploitation by these monoblock amps!

To quote Ernest again, and quite enthusiastically, I might add: “We have made the careful decision to build a perfect “cake,” without a choice of frosting. No artificial “warmth”, veiling, or “softening”. But partly because GaN-FETs slew so quickly (3-4x that of MOSFETS), transient edges are ultra-clean, and sibilance so natural, that criticisms such as “ruthlessly revealing”, “analytical” and “lean” fall by the wayside”

Further observations about the sound of the ArgentPur’s have shown these amplifiers to portray copious amounts of cohesion on the sound stage width, depth, and a fabulous stereo image quality. In one of my last listening sessions, I was a bit surprised to hear and see such an unattached presentation of the musical width these amplifiers brought to the speakers at hand. While I will acknowledge the fine-width presentation that my Q Acoustics Concept 500 already contains, wonderfully recorded program sources (classical particularly) seemed to bring out the orchestral sound; allowing the music to completely disappear from the speaker enclosures themselves!

Center imaging with the monoblocks was truly superb; you could pinpoint each soloist with your hands and eyes if your system is properly set up with the speakers optimally placed. The designer has potently matched these two monoblocks as to their output sensitivity while naturally, its monoblock design keeps the channels more separated and allows lower crosstalk between the channels; hence making that strong stereo image more apparent.

The depth perspective is also as good as many amplifiers I have heard reaching far back into the center and at the back wall of your listening room. (again if your speakers permit). Once again, they compared extremely well to my Pass Labs XA30.8 as just one reference comparison.

Comparison ~ Pass Labs XA30.8 Class A

Notwithstanding little surprises, it is not unusual to find small (or large) nuances and subtle differences when returning to a particular reference product as compared to the unit under review now.

I could not go any further, of course, without comparing these Class D monoblocks to my reference Pass Labs Class A stereo amplifier, with a bit of anticipation I might add. Having had the Monoblocks in my possession for many months, I had not played my Pass Amp in a while, but in any event, this Class A amplifier demands at least a half-hour warm-up time to get itself into full shape.

Immediately I noticed a stitch of “liveliness” that was noticeable in the Ag monoblocks that was a touch toned down on the Pass Labs; particularly on cymbals within huge orchestral climaxes. (Eg. – Herrmann The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit ) and superbly recorded vocals such as The remastered “ring-a-ding ding album by:
( Sinatra In The Still Of The Night,).

Here the XA-30.8 was found to be initially a cinch more subdued on sibilants, this was very small indeed. Hence, the Ags could sound a bit more “energetic” on the mid-treble response with certain program sources. A superb recording, with minimal equalization, is Ann Murray’s, I’ll Always Love You” (using my vinyl turntable this time). Her voice is slightly but evenly presented up front and delectably balanced. Here, the monoblocks worked well in their sound portrayal, and the neutral balance was superbly adhered to.

Another magnificently recorded album, if you want to hear opera as it should be recorded is Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” with Karl Bohm conducting which has a microphone placement that must be envied by the best recording engineers. The ArgentPurs truly showed off the vocals and orchestra spaced way back and around so perfectly placed on this presentation.

Both amplifiers had fine intricate detail, spatial cohesiveness, and musical nuance. The Argent Pur monoblocks appeared to be a touch “fuller” in the midrange than the XA 30.8, although the latter was a little more “organic” and deeply stable and solidly “CLEAN” in their sound quality. As previously stated, the stereo properties of both units were excellent regarding their imaging and instrumental and vocal placement within the soundstage itself. This is always a great attribute as the phantom images make the music so much more rewarding to listen to.

As we consider each of the amplifiers’ true power ratings, it is obvious that the ArgentPur is a true workhorse and can drive any loudspeaker with almost any impedance numerical to tremendous sound pressure levels and here, the listening results proved it to be true. Huge surges of musical transients were driven to more than enough SPLs with the monoblocks, while its bass grip was tight and supreme at the loudest levels you could (or should) tolerate in almost any given listening environment.

The Pass Labs has a stated 35 watts of class A but Nelson Pass has given us tons of backup headroom power in his amp,(AB) which virtually equals close to 100 watts of usable power. No, the XA30.8 will not give us the exceedingly free pure power as the ArgentPur’s, and here, some program material with a huge dynamic range might occasionally (though rarely) be caught out by the Pass Labs. Audiophiles that play lots of rock and metal music take note of this.

Happily, the Argent Pur monoblocks will oblige us with all the cleanest power you will ever need, while never losing its composure, detailed intricacies, and tight bass! These monoblocks proved to provide a tremendous burst of power when the occasion is called upon.

Difficulties?

I only had one or two issues with my sample of the ArgentPur Monoblocs. They were small but must be mentioned nonetheless. One was that the power on/off switch is well hidden over the power cord receptacle on the back panel and it took a little time to find it. Once known, however, this can be overlooked most completely. There is no pilot light on these amps which I found a bit frustrating on first use. (Ernest has a reason for this as per sound quality,,, i am told). I have been advised that the latest versions of these amps have been upgraded to show their position clearly above the AC outlet that powers the units.

A bit more noticeable was some static that emanated from my left speaker when touching or moving the Ethernet connection from the wifi router (or in my case, the direct wall connection) to the particular music server you may be using. I tried variations of placement of the cable but still found that touch of static before the music started to become engaged. After it is left in place, however, smooth sailing lies ahead… (though I’m not sure exactly what the problem may be??). (Update~~ my latest listening sessions have shown no static at all when all connections are FIRMLY and profusely inserted into all connecting receptacles,,,,,my mistake!)

Windup

There is no denying that the new ArgentPur monoblocks are quite an unusual specimen. Using the new GaN-FET and Class D design application with a variation on its theme, Ernest Meunier has come up with a top-class, high-powered audiophile amplifier. It is silky smooth, extravagantly powered to match any speaker system, and filled with air, ambiance, a lovely textured midrange, and a fine detailed treble response.

At its direct sale price of $5900 a pair, this is an extraordinary value! Class D has never sounded better than with these two units, and at times, can make some great Class A designs cringe in envy. No; I am not yet going to get rid of my standard bearing Pass Labs Class A XA 30.8 stereo unit at the moment, rest assured. But I kid you not; these monoblocks are imbued with a prodigious sound quality in their own right!

Audiophiles and particularly music lovers should test these units out in their music room. Better yet, contact ArgentPur and you may be able to get a pair to try out in your system before making a final purchase! They are a definitive addition to the luxury audiophile amplifier market in which it is quite rare to find quality and value as displayed here. Undoubtedly a best buy as well as an outstanding rating is deserved!

Components used for this evaluation: