Review: CM Labs 914 Amplifier


Category: Amplifiers

Long before Levinson,Krell,Threshold,and others there was CM Labs of Danbury,CT. This little high end company produced some of the most musical solid state power amps.The build quality is robust,and is a total mil-spec amp. The 914 is one of the first,if not the first of the high speed power amps. The power output is 125 Watts RMS into 8 ohms,with less than 0.1 percent THD,at any freqency from 20 to 20,000 Hz. 175 watts RMS into 4 ohm. IM Distortin less than o.1 percent up to rated power.Frequency response +- 0.1 dB from 20 to 20,000 Hz at full power.Damping factor better than 500 at 8 ohms!!Circuitry is fully differential,full complementary common-emitter output.Is built to MIL spec A8625C,Type 2.More important than all the above impressive specs,is the sound quality. This is without doubt one of the finest and most musical power amps I have owned. Clearly in the same league as Threshold,Levinson,and others in the high end spectrum.Seldom seen in for sale or auction. People that have then just dont get rid of them--Thats how good they really are in the real world of high end audio. But if you ever get a chance to acquire one,Grab it fast

Associated gear
Acoustat Speakers,HK T-60 TT,Threshold Preamp

Similar products
Bryston,Adcom,Van Alstine
ferrari

Showing 8 responses by ferrari

Congrats to the last respondent of this thread. You have one great amplifier and the rest of you system looks very good as well. I started this review and the above specs listed was all that CM Labs ever released. That were not much on specifications, but decided that the music mattered more than meaningless hype in numbers. Enjoy it is special indeed.
Swampwalker the CM Labs you had was a 912. Extremely rare new and very hard to find today. Only amp they made with VU meters on the amp. Damn - wish I could find one of those thats operational. The 912 was special order only.
The CM Labs 920 is very rare indeed. Have never seen an actual one, only a brochure on one. Most likely unless damaged will last till the sun goes out, like most of the CM Labs gear. Way overbuilt to a standard hardly found today.
The only CM Labs I know of that had power meters was the 912. Dials on the front? Just not sure.

E mail me a pic and I will do some research. Does it actually say 914 on the amp. A very few of these were built for concert hall application, which you may have.
Many thanks to pvanrook for posting pic of the CM Labs 920 power amp. Appears to be a higher powered version of the 914C power amp,front panel almost the same. These were used mostly for commercial application such as studios and concert hall application, although work extremely well in a home system.

Many thanks
The amplifier that is pictured in this review has such rear panel connections, Some of the 914a and 914c have this connection as well. If you can find one of these amps then your set.
You might try a post on the www.diyaudio.com site. I have found that site useful in getting hard to find information.
The 915 was a pro amplifier designed primairly for musicians and for recording studio use. These were special order only if memory serves me correct. Very ruggedly built. This one is about 150 WRMS per channel and about 250 WRMS into 4 ohms. The 915 can drive very difficult loads. Sholud be fine in a home installation. Peter at Soundsmith is very knowledgeable on the CM Labs units and worked with their designer. Nice amp, very musical and has the muscle when needed.