Perreaux Prisma –
Excellence through Evolution
Good things take time. We’ve been continuously involved in selling Perreaux amplifiers for over 18 years. Over that time Perreaux have been through many changes and designed many models. We’ve watched them evolve and refine the proven concepts established with the first Perreaux designs. Todays new Prisma models are the product of heritage, experiance and fresh thinking. Above all they offer you the best possible sound and build quality, whatever level you choose to aspire to.
The Prisma amplifier range of separate pre and power combinations based on the SM6 control amplifier through to some of the most powerful domestic amplifiers on the planet – the 750 monos.
Because of our long and close association with Perreaux, we are able to provide a unique perspective on the strong points of each particular design and make an accurate assessment of exactly which model best suits your needs and will prove to be the ideal match for your chosen source components and speakers. You’ll be able to draw upon our expertise in order to make the most of your new Perreaux with carefully matched cables and power supplies.
To understand why Perreaux amplifiers perform so well and last so long, you need to understand their key design features – the combination of which makes Perreaux unique.
High Power
It’s all about control and quality. Low power systems limit your choice and strain your ears. When we talk about power, we are not just specifying wattage. There is a world of difference between an overated figures trumpted by some and real Perreaux power. Real power protects the audio signal and delivers consistent sound quality regardless of speaker load or source type.
Engineering for quality and long life
There is a simple principle in audio (that too many people forget) – the better your build something, the better it will sound and the longer it will last. This is not a cheap approach. Perreaux amplifiers are big because that’s the way they have to be – to allow internal componetry to be optimally laid out, to accomadate no-compromise power supplies and to allow efficent cooling which has a direct influence of the lifespan of any electrical product.
MOSfet outputs
All Perreaux power amplifiers utilise MOSfet output devices. In their latest form, this type of device is best suited to high power amplications. They are reliable, fast and require less support circuitry to deliver fidelity. In a correctly implemented design, MOSfets deliver sound quality akin to the best tube designs with superior power output, and much lower noise. The high switching speed of MOSfets provide a crucial advantage over bi-polar designs, allowing effective Class A performance without the huge heat output and consequent reliabilty issues of Class A bipolar based power amplifiers.
Perreaux is unique among New Zealand HiFi companies in that they have the strongest heritage yet have drawn expertise from the broadest range of engineers and desgners. All these people have built upon Peter Perreaux’s original vision, making individual models progressively better in performance, consistency and flexibilty. Evolution is the key.
Rather than constantly cycling models, with name and specification changes, Perrreaux choose to follow a logical path, responding to client feedback and research. Models enjoy considerable longevity with minimal outward change which preserves value for owners. Yet gradually all aspects of performance and build quality improve. Todays Perreaux draws on 30 years of history, and countless many more if you combine the experiance of everyone who has contributed to the company.
So you will understand when we use the word ‘new’, we mean the latest and most highly evolved iteration of a refined and proven product. Let’s look at the 3 core models within the Prisma range...
SM6MkII Control Amplifier
To improve on the sound quality of the 200I Integrated requires a significantly more advanced topology – hence the SM6 control (or pre) amplifier. This is Peter Perreaux’s penultimate design and has been continuously refined since inception. The new MkII is the result of intense revision and offers even lower noise levels and dynamics. Pure Class A, fully balanced, controlled by remote and solid state switching for a lifetime of consistent performance. Never underestimate the improvement a quality preamplifier can make to any system. We contend that you will hear a greater improvement per dollar spent by selection the SM6 than by any other route involving amplification. The SM6MKII will literally make any amplifier punch above its weight – more dynamics, detail and space. A lot more. And a marked reduction in background noise enhancing the resolution of fine detail. You’ll be surprised. Download the pdf SM6mkII Fact Sheet.
350 Power Amplifier
Perreaux’s heavyweight champion, the 350 stereo power amplifier packs its punch in a velvet glove. As we said at the outset, real power is about both control and finess. To deliver this at higher power levels, Perreaux have chosen a different MOSfet than that used in the 200. While markedly more expensive it’s charateristics allow for a reduction in accompanying components and hence better pieces can be used – a simpler signal path is the result. You can instantly hear this as an increase in air and ease in the music. Stereo imaging is significantly increased in scale and the already low noise floor drops still further. The 350 is not a barrier to music – it’s a very big open window. The prodigous power supply delivers subterrantean bass as and when required – and accounts for a large proprtion of this amplifiers 35kg.
From these you can follow a logical path to two power amplifiers for special applications
6160 six channel power amplifier
A uniquely flexible home cinema solution. Think of it as three 200 power amplifiers combined in one chassis, with extra protection circuitry and useful features. Including the ability to bridge pairs of channnels in any configuration required – delivering a potent 425 watt per bridged channel.
750 mono amplifiers
These are for the most demanding users. Dubbed the ‘great controllers’ by one owner, they are each the same size and weight as the 350 stereo amplifier but feature even more refined circuitry. Extravagant at the outset but perhaps the best value proposition in the world of seriously capable amplifiers, these will simply last a lifetime and become your companions through many system changes. There are no speakers they can’t take to their potential. And the better the source componetry, the better the performance you’ll enjoy.
Matching Perreaux
Every speaker system is different. Your choosen amplifier should perform consistently and sound great, regardless of speaker, cable, room or source material. We know from experiance that the better the speakers you match with a Perreaux, the better the end sound. You can opt for small high quality options such as Sonus faber, demanding Americans like Thiel or, if in New Zealand, follow a logical path to the better models within our own Image range. We have satisfied owners (including oursleves) pairing Perreaux with esoteric designs such as Shahinian and a bevy of European loudspeakers. To date we don’t actually know of a speaker that won’t work well with Perreaux – the key is to match the right model in order to attain the level of performance appropriate for a specific speaker. This is where experiance becomes rather handy. Just ask us.
In turn we often get questions regarding the most appropriate match in source components. First thing to note is that new high performance digital formats such as SACD and DVD-Audio are ably handled by all Perreaux models. Perreaux amplifiers are wide bandwidth designs so the extended high frequency response is just as smooth as the ruler flat response over the conventional audio range. In order to capitalise on any Perreaux’s capabilies you really need have good source components. You may be able to make a low cost hybrid CD/DVD player sound as good as it is ever able to but the reality is that should you invest in a better quality player, the improvement will be immediately obvious. Our best reccomendation for a low cost CD player would presently be the Rotel RC1072 at around NZ$1500. Above that you have plenty of choice. Quad and Meridian are popular options that we know work well.
You may consider other preamp options. However, unless you are absolutely confident that these will outperform the SM6, or have specific features you require, we’d still suggest the SM6 is going to build on all the strengths of the power amplifiers. Given that the Perreaux power amplifiers have a characteristically warm sound, you need not compensate with tube preamps unless considering the better designs such as Audio Research for which we have great respect. With the SM6 and balanced connections you are assured of very low background noise levels – this is critical in order to reproduce fine detail and everything builds from this.
All Perreaux models demand high quality power. But we don’t reccomend mains filters or conditioners as many can restrict or slow actual amplifier performance. You can however make worthwhile improvements with better quality mains cables which enhance power delivery into the amplifiers. We have found significant benefits with the Eichmann eXpress mains power leads. We suggest you investigate this avenue for upgrade either in tandem with your purchase or at any later stage. The performance gain can be considerably more than that avaible by any other means.
The final link will be audio signal cables, from source components, between pre and power amplifiers and speaker cables. Given the benign nature of the Perreaux ‘sound’ we are able to confidently reccomend pure silver cables in this setting – the New Zealand made Slinkylinks being our first choice – especially given their obviously high performance/price ratio. Silver is fast and clean, with better detail than comparable copper cables and in combination with the Perreaux amplifiers, will provide what we see as the best of all worlds. That said, high quality copper or hybrid cables from reputable designers will present no problems. Perreaux amplifiers are absolutely stable into any cable or loudspeaker load. We strongly reccomend balanced cables between the SM6 and any of the power amplifiers in order to gain the most benefit from the preamps fully balanced topology. The 200, 350 and 750 power amplifiers all feature dual binding posts to facilitate bi-wring. You are able to also use bi-wired cables with the 200Integrated and 6160 for better sound quality should your speakers allow this.
Making it happen
We understand that you’ll want to get the best sound you can at a level you can afford. Perreaux makes this possible by drawing on heritage and experiance combined with solid design and manufacturing practices. It’s not a flashy approach. In turn we don’t have to hype Perreaux up. Everything we say about these amplifiers is based on many years of our own experiance and the feedback we get from clients. We never stop listening to other products, yet have not found a comparably priced amplifier that outperforms Perreaux. It may never happen as the costs of developing any new product continue to spiral and the fundementals of good design and sound really don’t change that much.
So if an honest approach to amplification appeals to you, we should talk more. Contact us by calling our New Zealand tollfree number 0800 909 101 or e-mail us for more information on which Perreaux may be best for you and find out how we can make Perreaux happen for you.
