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FOCUS
AVSA JUNE 2001
AMPLIFIERS VALVE AUDIO Exclamé 80
Passion Play
PEAKS VERDICT More powerful version of highly-rated Exclamé hybrid amplifier brings greater levels of control and authority to an equation already strong on detail and musical appeal. Value an ultimate virtue, too.
PRICE R6050
C
Year 2001
all me a zealot. Accuse me of partisanship. But when it comes to locally produced audio components, I don’t mind being indicted on such charges. After all, there aren’t too many people courageous enough to make the bold move into home-grown audio component manufacture. Schalk Havenga of Valve Audio is one such person, and as I’ve written intermittently over the past five or more years, his designs display a vital combination of core values: innovation, workmanship, assembly quality and sonic appeal. Regular readers will remember a review of the smaller Valve Audio Exclamé 50 integrated amplifier some months back. The Exclamé 80 is simply a more powerful version of the same, except that it makes such good use of the additional muscle that the overall effect eclipses its already impressive stablemate. To recap, the main feature of the products designed by Havenga under the Valve Audio banner is a hybrid design methodology, which combines valve technology in the control circuitry with latestgeneration, solid state output stages. The rationale behind this approach is that valves are generally able to provide a particularly rich and cohesive palette of tonal hues, as well as greater integration of fine detail and almost tangible staging. But the trade-off, most of the time, is a lack of absolute dynamics, impetus and pace when compared to solid-state designs. Havenga’s attempt to provide the best of both worlds centres around control circuitry that employs a single tube – the famed Sovtek dual-triode in this instance. The Sovtek is known not only for its smooth tonal properties, but also for its ultimate reliability and low noise floor. The power output stages , on the other hand, are a latest-generation Mosfet-based solid state, zero-feedback design. The emphasis here is on minimalist circuitry and signal integrity with as little manipulation as possible. Further design objectives include enhanced power output to increase authority and control, underscored by a high current output. Accuracy and reliability in the pre-amp stage are boosted by its full logic control layout, with audiophile-grade relays instead of conventional switching contacts.
Havenga rates the Exclamé at a conservative 80 watts RMS per channel into an 8 ohm load, with peaks in the 100 watt per channel region. The design is simple and elegant, with the all-metal enclosure featuring a machined stainless steel faceplate and anodised aluminium selector buttons. A red led indicates the active source, with another confirming power-on status. At the rear, a kettle-type power socket allows the use of good-quality mains power leads, while Michel binding posts provide positive loudspeaker cable connection. The gold plated array of four linelevel RCA input sets includes a full tape loop with outputs for recording purposes. It takes about 45 seconds for the Exclamé 80 to go through its initial power-up cycle. From there you need a good hour and a half before the amplifier reaches optimum operating temperature. Even so, the Exclamé sounds superb when first plugged in. It’s the kind of delivery that forces you to sit up and take notice, thanks to the strong emphasis on layered staging, tonal texture and overall cohesion that’s quite apparent from the outset. Those core sonic elements always remain, but are expanded and embroidered upon as the amplifier approaches its optimum operating temperature. Eventually the Exclamé’s sonic dialogue reveals a lavish tonal approach, delivered with a deceptively articulate ease, and underlined by an almost regal authority. While the very high reserves of power, and the associated emphasis on control, would suggest a large, muscular power amplifier, the Exclamé 80’s nimble delivery, its sympathetic treatment of detail and its engaging smoothness provide an ideal sonic counterpoint – and one that provides a nearperfect overall balance. However, too much analysis of the individual traits that make up this amplifier’s musical persona would spoil the broth. Instead, just sitting back and being seduced by the way the Exclamé 80 makes music is really all that counts. That the soundstage is so deep and so open, that the detail is subtle when it needs to be, and that the realism of the delivery is almost tangible, are all aspects that should serve as recommendations to those seeking something special. The Exclamé 80 is undoubtedly a class act, providing levels of muscle and musicality not often found linked in the context of a single unit – and especially not at this price point. Above all, it’s another telling example that we have the local talent to come up with world-beating hi-fi components.
Deon Schoeman
