As far as a) is concerned, I wouldn't worry BUT send the card particulars by FAX -- not e-mail. b) Can't say -- sales tax + s/thing surely
As to sound: I only heard one model and I can't tell which one -- 501 or 1001 -- by looking at their site. I just powered some Maggie 3,6 /alternatively a pair of Genesis Vs with them, and listened. The Gen are biamped, the AR powered the top, the Maggies ran full range with stock x-over.
Energy-wise it was all right (so I was listening to 1001 maybe), I had a flattening effect w/ Maggies during loud classical passages (Mahler2- Klemperer). The GenV faired OK too, the sound being thinner than with my normal gear (BTW, the top part plays down to ~100Hz).
I made absolutely no measurements -- suffice it say that the GenV in my room with my normal gear play within a 10db window except for a drop after 16-17kHz and a suckout around 75-50Hz (but that's the subwoof amp's territory, anyway).
Normal amp is a class A ss (traditional design). Note that I used a TVC as well as a pre and, contrary to expectations, the TVC was fine. I/C was a 0,6m (Nordost). The normal amp faired far better in musical presentation, coherence, and, strangely, "speed" -- but at absolutely no price comparison whatsoever.
I remember thinking that at the price it would be an advantageous product for multiamping... I was considering Crown for subwoof duties but the AR is my prime contender now.
Sorry I don't have much to offer; I wasn't really into critical listening -- just having fun. Under this perspective I found this amp excellent considering the price.
Are planning to use this full-range or split?
As to sound: I only heard one model and I can't tell which one -- 501 or 1001 -- by looking at their site. I just powered some Maggie 3,6 /alternatively a pair of Genesis Vs with them, and listened. The Gen are biamped, the AR powered the top, the Maggies ran full range with stock x-over.
Energy-wise it was all right (so I was listening to 1001 maybe), I had a flattening effect w/ Maggies during loud classical passages (Mahler2- Klemperer). The GenV faired OK too, the sound being thinner than with my normal gear (BTW, the top part plays down to ~100Hz).
I made absolutely no measurements -- suffice it say that the GenV in my room with my normal gear play within a 10db window except for a drop after 16-17kHz and a suckout around 75-50Hz (but that's the subwoof amp's territory, anyway).
Normal amp is a class A ss (traditional design). Note that I used a TVC as well as a pre and, contrary to expectations, the TVC was fine. I/C was a 0,6m (Nordost). The normal amp faired far better in musical presentation, coherence, and, strangely, "speed" -- but at absolutely no price comparison whatsoever.
I remember thinking that at the price it would be an advantageous product for multiamping... I was considering Crown for subwoof duties but the AR is my prime contender now.
Sorry I don't have much to offer; I wasn't really into critical listening -- just having fun. Under this perspective I found this amp excellent considering the price.
Are planning to use this full-range or split?