By The folks at Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems make some of the baddest integrated amps anywhere and, yes, your friends will be green with envy should you be lucky enough to own one. I recently saw none other than Sting himself on TikTok playing a Police record on a Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems Momentum MxV, the top of the line integrated into his home. That’s a vote of confidence for an audiophile legend’s gear from a rock and roll legend, which is not a bad place to start.
Integrated amplifiers bring a lot of value and make a lot of sense. The preamplifier and amplifier are designed together by the same team, so they are optimized for each other. Mixing and matching components may sound exciting, until you choose the wrong combination, get less than stellar results and have to climb onto the upgrade merry-go-round. There is only a single chassis with an integrated, so it takes up very little room. There are also no costly interconnect cables, unless of course you have external sources you want to use.
The Pendulum reviewed here is the most affordable integrated from Dan D’Agostino, which is like saying this is the most affordable car in the Rolls Royce lineup and, yes, the gear is that luxurious. While the casework is not quite as intricate as on the Momentum MxV, the Pendulum shares the same DNA and comes from one of the most respected designers and engineers in audiophile history. Let’s see what they have packed into the Pendulum.
What Makes the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier So Special?
- Dan D’Agostino products sit at or near the apex of the audiophile electronics world. Everything that Dan D’Agostino produces is built to an ultra-high level of quality with design that stands out in a world of me-too boxes. No cost is spared. No corner is cut. You pay for it and you get what you pay for – not just in a pretty exterior, but under the hood too.
- The Dan D’Agostino Pendulum integrated amplifier has the muscle to drive nearly any loudspeaker. Producing 120 watts into eight ohms and doubling to 240 watts into four ohms shows the Pendulum was designed to drive difficult speakers. Many standalone amplifiers fail to double power into lower impedances. To do this requires a massive power supply, and the Pendulum has one rated at a meaningful 750VA. It also packs an additional 25,000 micro-Farads of capacitance when instantaneous juice is needed.
- The Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated is highly customizable with optional modules. The Digital Streaming Module (DSM) adds an internal DAC, as well as a host of connectivity options (my unit was without a DAC card). These include Ethernet/RJ45, optical Toslink, and Wi-Fi. There is also an HDMI input that offers eARC functionality for TV support. The DSM offers access to streaming services, such as Tidal, Qobuz, and Spotify. Local files from a DLNA server or drive can be played through the Pendulum. Analog fans will also love the optional moving-coil phone module. The module supports 47k Ω, 1k Ω, 500 Ω, 250 Ω, 100 Ω and 50 Ω cartridges.
- The Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated also has a headphone jack on the rear panel for late-night listening sessions without waking the kids.
- Three XLR inputs and one RCA input, which becomes the phono input with the optional phono module, provide a lot of flexibility for a high-performance system.
- XLR preamplifier outputs are also provided in case you feel the need to add external amplifiers or drive subwoofers.
- Build quality of the Pendulum Integrated is typical Dan D’Agostino, which is to say next level. Very few, if any, competing manufacturers have the casework and design flair that Dan D’Agostino products offer. While the Pendulum doesn’t take casework as far as the Momentum or Relentless lines, it still stands out among its peers. The machining of the surfaces is exceptional.
- The industrial design of the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum styling is bold. You either love its steampunk vibe or you don’t. For those who want something that makes a statement and draws attention, the Pendulum is for you. Their steampunk design language is one that I personally love. The center display is designed to mimic a high-end timepiece and does so perfectly, in my opinion.
- The Dan D’Agostino Pendulum has the best remote control I’ve ever used, full stop. The remote control is a chunky block of Delrin, a high-performance polymer. The remote has the same OLED display as the main chassis. Volume is controlled by a ring that circles the display. It’s very intuitive and wonderful to hold. The display of the remote is synched with the display on the chassis via Bluetooth and has zero lag, compared to the main display. The remote is rechargeable with a USB-C cable. Coolness factor is off the charts with this remote and it might be the best in the audiophile business, up there with the Devaliet Astra integrated amp.
Why Should You Care About the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier?
The Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated is not a product for everyone, but might be lusted for by nearly every audiophile for reasons that should be obvious. Prospective Pendulum owners want the simplicity of a single component, without an audiophile performance compromise. This consumer appreciates the exceptional build quality, relentless engineering and craftsmanship, and values the styling and coolness factor that the bold design offers. This sexy audiophile component is designed to be on display like an object of art, to be a conversation piece. Available in either silver or black, the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum looks stunning in either. It sounds equally good, too, which I will get to later in the review.
Some Things You Might Not Like About the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier
- There is no main power switch on the back of the unit. Lately, there have been lots of storms in my area, and I always power off my equipment before unplugging the power cords. The Dan D’Agostino Pendulum stays in standby mode when you power it off and it just feels wrong to unplug it while the display is still on. I’m sure it does no harm, but I’d like a switch around back.
- The feet of the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum do not have a rubber surface on them, so the unit slid around on my stand. I don’t know if the feet were designed this way to minimize vibration or for some other reason, but I prefer something with a little grip on the bottom.
Listening to The Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier …
Setup couldn’t have been easier, as all I had to do was connect the Wattson Madison DAC (read my review) using Wireworld series 10 XLR cables and speaker cables. One quibble I had was that I wish the speaker cable posts were a little further apart. I always get nervous when posts are close enough together for a possible short. With that, I powered it up and set to listening.
“Cocaine,” most famous as performed by Eric Clapton, was actually written by J.J. Cale; so was “After Midnight,” another Clapton hit. I prefer the Cale version from his Troubadour album. It’s more stripped-down and, while not acoustic, it has that overall feel. Through the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum, I heard a solid bass foundation that was well-defined and textured. There is a short guitar riff that is played throughout the track that jumps out in space and has a nice percussive punch to it. It’s clear and well-defined, with an open and extended treble. The main riff is loaded with rich harmonics and reverb, which were well-preserved by the Pendulum. Vocals were smooth, but the grit and rasp of Cale’s voice came through clearly. Soundstage was wide, but not quite as deep as I’m used to with my reference equipment. Vocal staging was slightly behind the rest of the instruments. Images were well-defined and solidly anchored. Even at higher volumes, the Pendulum maintained composure, never getting edgy.
Looking for more of a test of the power of the Pendulum, I tried “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica (Qobuz). The critically acclaimed heavy metal track with mainstream appeal opens with a lone guitar, which sounded beautiful. I heard it precisely located on the left of the soundstage. It was clear with great attack and the same top end extension I heard previously. The sweetness of the guitar is shattered by Lars Ulrich when his drums come thundering in. The kick drum is deep, taut and detailed. As with the previous track, the soundstage was well-defined and solid, with each instrument occupying its own place. James Hetfield’s guitar solo was a good test of the quality of the Pendulum’s power, as it must balance the vast current demands of kick drums while preserving the subtle layers of purposeful distortion and reverb of the guitar. It had no problems passing this test. The guitar maintained its tone, location and isolation throughout the passage. As to be expected, I cranked Metallica and the Pendulum did not disappoint. Lesser amplifiers will start to let you know sonically when they are struggling. Sonic images will start to smear together, high frequencies will get shrill, and you start turning the volume down. The Pendulum did none of those things and clearly has the power to rock, while also being able to deliver delicate passages.
Will the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier Hold Its Value?
This is a resounding … yes. Dan D’Agostino’s reputation as one of the greatest designers and engineers of high-performance audiophile electronica is well-earned. Consumers know that products he builds are done without shortcuts, offering excellent performance and longevity. When you include the wow factor of the casework and beautiful timepiece display, you end up with a product that lots of people aspire to own. I would not expect a pre-owned sample to last very long on the market.
What is the Competition for the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier?
The Gryphon Diablo 333 (read the review) is an integrated that would likely be compared with the Pendulum. It’s more expensive than the Pendulum at roughly $25,000, but it offers significantly more reported power at 333 watts at eight ohms, doubling to an evil 666 watts at four ohms. The Gryphon Diablo provides 10 watts of Class-A power while the Pendulum does not, which is a key difference in design philosophies. Like the Pendulum, the Diablo has the ability to add DAC and Phonostage modules. The Gryphon weighs in at a healthy 112 pounds, making the Pendulum downright svelte at a mere 35 pounds.
The T+A elektroakustik PA 3100 HV Integrated Amplifier (read the review) is another high-end integrated that competes well in the same space as the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum. Like the Gryphon Diablo 333, the T+A PA 3100 HV is priced at nearly $25,000. Rated at 300 watts at eight ohms and 500 watts at four ohms, the T+A also makes significantly more power than the Pendulum’s 120 watts at eight ohms. The T+A also offers around 10 watts of Class-A power before transitioning to Class-AB. A downside of the T+A is that there are no additional modules for a DAC or phonostage. I would suspect most shopping at this price point would opt for an external component, but that detracts slightly from the simplicity of the all-in-one nature of the Gryphon and the Pendulum.
Finally, there is the CH Precision I1 Universal Integrated Amplifier (read the review), which is more expensive than all of the other competitors, coming in at $38,000. For the extra money, the CH Precision I1 comes with a digital module, which accepts the proprietary CH-Link HD protocol, as well as standard AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and Toslink connections. Additional modules include an asynchronous USB audio input, additional digital input board, and Ethernet streaming HD board, as well as a clock sync board to be used with the CH Precision TA reference clock. Power is rated at 100 watts at eight ohms and 175 watts into four ohms.
Final Thoughts on the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier …
The Dan D’Agostino Pendulum integrated amplifier was a delight to have in my system. Integrated amplifiers can sometimes be a compromise, as one audiophile component is asked to do so many tasks. Sometimes they end up doing nothing very well. Make no mistake, the Dan D’Agostino Pendulum integrated amplifier does everything well. Performance was what one would expect from Dan D’Agostino in a package that is easy to live with. It was simple to operate and what I would consider a near-perfect lifestyle system. Add a module for a streaming DAC, and another for a phonostage. Audiophile pride of ownership was off the charts, even my wife thought it looked great in comparison to my stack of CH Precision components, which are far more costly.
Sound quality was great and should please all but the most demanding audiophile. For the majority of people considering an integrated, they will be thrilled with the Pendulum. To my ears, the Pendulum favors musicality over all else. This component sounds fast and punchy and dynamic, but with a very welcome touch of warmth in the midrange that just makes it a joy to listen to and difficult to turn off.
Read more about distortion and how it affects an audiophile system from FutureAudiophile.com editor, Paul Wilson.
