Sanders Sound Systems Magtech Power Amplifier

Anyone wishing to take a deeper dive into Sanders’ design philosophy should check out the highly detailed technical white paper found on the Sanders Sound Systems website (http://www.sanderssound.com/technical-white-papers/161-the-magtech-regulated-power-supply-wp).

Installing the Magtech into my reference system meant disconnecting a pair of highly regarded Class AB monoblock amplifiers. I have enjoyed these amps for many years, and they have always provided excellent grip on my 87dB efficient Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT’s. The Magtech certainly took up a lot less floor space as the mono’s each weighed nearly twice what the Magtech does. I was more than happy to reduce the mass I had to move around the room. Given the disparity in size I was very intrigued to see how the Magtech would perform. As it turned out I should not have worried about the Magtech. It held up just fine.

Queueing up the title track to the new James Bond movie, No Time to Die by Billie Eilish [Interscope 2020] via my Cary DMS-700 DAC/Streamer and my Luxman CL-38uC Preamp I was hoping for a nice surprise. This would be a great song even if it was not a movie title. The sweeping orchestral sound and soft vocals provides a good test for an amplifier’s dynamics and range. The Magtech/Vandersteen pairing was terrific as the sub sonics even at low levels provided a solid backdrop to the delicate beginnings of the song. As the energy builds the power and space became filled with precise soundstage positioning. Billie’s almost ghostly vocals took on a near three-dimensional quality floating in the centre of the presentation. The experience was exceptional and gave an early indication of why a regulated power supply can be a secret weapon in high quality audio. Staying with the Bond theme I moved on to Skyfall [Columbia 2012] sung by Adele. Again, the consistency of the presentation quality across a wide dynamic range was thrilling. I cranked the volume louder than I had ever done on the Vandersteen’s and the sonics were consistently clear and musical. When the brass came in during the chorus the power of the French horns and Baritones was gripping as Adele’s pure voiced soared over the orchestra. A truly auspicious start.

Moving on to some Donald Fagen, ‘Slinky Thing’ from Sunken Condos [Reprise 2012] has a funky bass line and a strong yet understated pacing that keeps the song moving. Bells and chimes rang around the space creating a sense of dimension. What kept creeping into my consciousness was the sense of foundation and solidity. Regardless of the volume I used or the pianissimo to fortissimo being offered you could feel the support flowing through the music. It was something I greatly appreciated and never realised I was missing. It was truly an epiphany. I had never noticed this regardless of the type or price of amplifier I had listened to previously. Quite a feat for a mid-priced solid-state amplifier.

I occasionally enjoy some opera. Pavarotti’s Donizetti: Una Furtiva Lagrima [Deutche Grammophon 2009] shows the Maestro in great form with his beautiful voice taking command of this stunning aria. The Magtech provided a strong stage for his performance. As his voice transitioned from soft to strong it was always delivered from a place of solidity. Focus and nuance were delivered as I would expect from a live performance. It was moving as I would expect and should insist on.

What had become obvious is this amplifier was exceptional in its ability to present and support any music presented to it. Power was clean and always available regardless of the sonic demands being placed on it. Yet the Magtech also delivered nuance and musicality. It was an amp that would clearly satisfy the audiophile, yet it would also satisfy the engineer in its specifications and output measurements. One of the accepted realities from my more subjectivist view (if it sounds good to me, I generally am not concerned by the numbers) was that tubes and class A can be a sonic holy grail. I still am a big fan of a great low power SET amplifier yet none of them I have experienced provided underlying substance to the music the way the Magtech did. Not to say I would stop listening to them as they are a different flavour of presentation. Yet I will know something is missing.