2. amps-preamps
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Battery powered amps

Anybody have experience with battery powered amps? I am specifically intrigued by the Red Wine Audio products. They have a pair of 70 watt mono blocks that run totally on battery power. Six Moons has reviewed these (and RWA's 30 watters) very favorably. At 70 watts, they should be capable of driving a fairly wide range of speakers and in reading up on the technology they seem to be fairly low maintenance. Of course, recharging is an issue, but it looks like these amps will go 6-12 hours on a single charge. That would satisfy 95% of my listening requirements. Considering how much time, effort and expense that we audiophiles spend trying to tame the AC powering our equipment, battery power is very intriguing since it removes that evil altogether. It looks like RWA also has a tubed battery powered pre-amp/DAC in the works as well. Cool stuff, but I would be interested in real world experiences.
cruz123
9 responses Add your response
steuspeed's avatar
steuspeed
501 posts
 
Battery power can deliver instant current and like you say is isolated from the power grid nasties. I have had experience with N.E.W. DCA66 battery amp. It was very fast and clean sounding. The only drawbacks being charging, battery replacement and run time. Remember car amps are battery amps. Their problem is isolation from the car alternator.
happynick's avatar
happynick
58 posts
 
altmann has a very interesting battery amp do a search on Altmann BYOB amp.Nick
pardales
652 posts
 
I've had experience with both Altmann BYOB amp and Red Wine Audio SIG 30. Both are outstanding. The RWA SIG 30 is now the 30.2 and includes a really nice automatic charging feature -- you can read all about both pieces and link to reviews at their websites.
hchi
43 posts
 
I have been TRL SS mono amps with battery power, M250 (250W) and M500(500W) for over a year. The huge ~200 lb battery chassis ensures the instant, ample, and sufficient current can be supplied on demand, especially while playing back a dynamic piece of large scale orchestral work. The amps enable the system to playback with the transparency, transient, weight, density, and dynamic that surpass my previous amps such as Krell KAS2 and Pass x250, and many other top amps owned by and heard at friends. To my knowledge, the battery pack serves as a current reservoir/buffer, therefore the batteries are being recharged while in use. Because of that, there is no usage limitation. I often have the system on for two or three days during the weekend. I usually just leave the amps on and only turn them off and back on when I need to turn on my tube pre.
hchi
43 posts
 
I have been the owner of TRL SS mono amps with battery power, M250 (250W) and M500(500W) for over a year. The huge ~200 lb battery chassis ensures the instant, ample, and sufficient current can be supplied on demand, especially while playing back a dynamic piece of large scale orchestral work. The amps enable the system to playback with the transparency, transient, weight, density, and dynamic that surpass my previous amps such as Krell KAS2 and Pass x250, and many other top amps owned by and heard at friends. To my knowledge, the battery pack serves as a current reservoir/buffer, therefore the batteries are being recharged while in use. Because of that, there is no usage limitation. I often have the system on for two or three days during the weekend. I usually just leave the amps on and only turn them off and back on when I need to turn on my tube pre.
mystang
74 posts
 
Hchi could you tell me who TRL is and how to contact them? Thanks
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,838 posts
 
I have the Sig 30 and plan on upgrading to the 30.2. Having gotten that out of the way, you'll not regret going 'off the grid'. They have current aplenty and can drive less efficient speakers than what their wattage implies. Like Pardales says, go to the website and read up on all the reviews and by the way, they can longer than 12 hours on a single charge.
They are exquisite amps, to say the least. Its rather uncanny the way the music emerges from a totally black background.
hchi
43 posts
 
TRL stands for Tube or Transistor Research Labs. The website is tuberesearchlabs.com .
clio09
3,355 posts
 
TRL is Tube Research Labs. They make custom built tube and solid state amps/preamps, as well as modify audio components, especially digital gear. You can contact Paul Weitzel at 509-787-5405.

As a point of reference I own the D-225 amp and Pre-1.5 battery powered preamp they built for me, as well as a DAC they modified. I've also got some power cords and speaker cables they made as well, which used to be sold under the FIM, then later CRL brand (not to be confused with the new CRL brand being sold).
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