Posted by Tan
Have you been looking to audition Dan D’Agostino amplifiers in Malaysia but never could? Now you have a dedicated place to go to.
Hifi
Creations is now a dealer for the prestigious brand. To mark this
addition to their portfolio, owner Victor Pheh has assembled a reference-level
system with the Dan D’Agostino Progression power amplifier as its centrepiece.
At 350w per side and with its output power doubling all the
way down to 2 ohms (@1400w), the Progression S350 is a beast of an amplifier,
but it comes with a jewel-like construction, the build quality was exquisite
with all rounded-edges, and the beautiful display meter in front simply adds to
the overall high-end vibe of the piece.
Victor invited me to visit his new showroom set-up, I spent
an afternoon listening and enjoying the newly curated system. The demo system
consisted of the following top of the range components from the brands HiFi
Creations carries:
- Streamer:
Pink Faun 2.16 Ultra (RM 160,000)
- DAC/Preamp:
Playback Designs MPD-8 (RM 135,000)
- Power
Amplifier: Dan D’Agostino Progression S350 (RM 145,000)
- Loudspeakers:
Qualio IQ30 Semi-Open Baffle (RM 70,000)
In the current configuration, the Playback Designs DAC drove
the Dan D’Agostino power amplifier directly without a dedicated standalone
preamplifier. Victor said that a matching Dan D’Agostino preamplifier will be brought
in in the near future to complete the system.
While evaluating an unfamiliar combination of components presented
a challenge for me in identifying the contribution of individual component, the
collective performance of this setup was immediately apparent. The presentation
was remarkably large, open, and unconstrained. This expansive soundstage, I believe,
can be attributed to the inherent characteristics of the Qualio loudspeakers' open baffle
design, combined with the substantial power and control exerted on them by the Dan
D’Agostino amplifier.
The system excelled in rendering an airy, atmospheric top end. The Progression S350 amplifier demonstrated a vice-like grip over the loudspeakers. Complex dynamic passages never flustered the system, which handled large-scale orchestral crescendos with absolute composure.
During the audition, Victor utilized a wide selection of
piano recordings to show off the system's capabilities. Piano is widely
regarded as one of the most difficult instruments for a HiFi system to
reproduce accurately. Achieving a convincing piano presentation requires an
exceptionally even tonal balance across the entire frequency spectrum to ensure
the instrument sounds cohesive from the lowest to the highest registers, such that the notes are produced from the same piano. Additionally, a system must possess high
resolution to untangle complex harmonic structures, and also be able to handle
the wide dynamic range necessary to transition effortlessly from subtle
pianissimo to explosive fortissimo passages.
The HiFi Creations system successfully met these demands, rendering piano notes with impressive realism and technical accuracy. Victor was obviously very pleased with this set-up’s performance in this regard, and I very much agreed.
The Progression S350 proved highly capable across
multiple musical genres. It delivered the speed and impact required for high-octane
tracks, yet easily turned around to deliver the intimacy and nuance of y
female vocals.
The overriding impression of the Dan D’Agostino Progression
S350 was one of boldness, expansive soundstaging and powerful dynamics. It avoided a
sterile, analytical presentation in favor of a tonally rich and engaging
character that prevented listener boredom. While it was more than competent at
handling delicate details, the amplifier is at its most confident when
delivering scale, authority, and musical presence.
Victor has set up a top notch demo system with the Dan D’Agostino Progress power amp at its core. Interested in a Dan D’Agostino experience? Call Victor 012-296 2799 and arrange an audition at HiFi Creations.
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