Professional audio products sometimes have a somewhat strained relationship in the audiophile hobby, but they shouldn’t. The people who actually make the music that we love are some of the best-equipped to design or inspire the best-performing music playback equipment. Historically, audiophile dealers shy away from these high-performance brands, because they don’t offer profit margins as generous as those generated by products that are sold to consumers only. That doesn’t mean that they can’t rock, because they do. I’ve auditioned, reviewed and plunked down the old AMEX Platinum Card for products from Bricasti (still paying that one off), Benchmark Media, and countless other brands over the years.
SPL is a German professional audio company that makes an entire suite of audiophile products that I learned about from a dear audiophile friend of mine. As of 2023, SPL America has been reworking its dealer network and have been steadily adding dealers across the U.S. and Canada over the past year looking to add even more in the coming months. Their customer service was fantastic to work with. Audiophile reviewer, Terry London, used to write for us at my old publication and has now found a home at another very good publication, but we still share trade secrets (even though I refused to read his review of this amp, so as to not be too influenced by his conclusions). One of Terry’s best skills (and he has many) is finding audiophile brands that are perhaps not audiophile household names, but that offer uniquely fantastic performance. Often, these products are great values, too. Terry was an early adopter of Tekton Design (pre-recent owner meltdown over a YouTube.com video review that he didn’t like) and easily a handful of other exciting audiophile brands. Without giving away the conclusion here, SPL is another one of his audiophile finds. Respectfully, I kinda gave up on the brand, as I couldn’t easily communicate with them in Germany, but at the recent AXPONA show in Chicago, I was able to meet with the guys from both the factory and SPL America, and we had review samples in hand mere days later. Boom. I saw them again a few weeks later at the Munich show, where I was able to ask all of my questions about both this amp and their matching stereo preamp, which helped me get this review done in a pretty short period of time.
The SPL Performer S1200 power amp is a $6,499 stereo amp that packs 500-plus watts of high-voltage (sounds better if you say it like you sing for AC-DC … trust me) power, which I will explain a little later, as it reminds me of T+A gear, also from Germany. This is a narrow yet stout stereo amp that is so heavy that it almost bends my non-stock rack shelf, as this amp is about as beefy as any that I’ve had in my system recently. There are a lot of great power amps out there today, especially from the world of new-school Class-D amps, which I have been lucky enough to audition. How does this innovative Class-AB amp design hang with the new kids? I can tell you it looks better than each and every Class-D amp on the market today, but we don’t buy amps because of how they look, do we? Let’s get into what the SPL Performer S1200 power amp can do.
What Makes the SPL Performer S1200 Power Amp Special?
- The SPL Performer S1200 power amp has a ton of power! 520 watts per channel into four ohms and 300 watts into eight ohms is more than enough power in one chassis to power even the most current-hungry speakers.
- The SPL Performer S1200 power amp sounds like a Class-A amp without the heat and energy usage. I know, you think that I am reviewing a Gallium Nitride (GaN) amp or one of the other new-school Class-D amps, but I am simply not. This is a cool-running amp that has the sonic profile of the best Class-A and the newest, most badass Class-D amps. That’s a good combo.
- Staying on the topic of heat – supposedly there are six fans inside of the SPL Performer S1200 power amp, but you would never know it. I’ve got too many components that make fan noise and/or run hot. The SPL Performer S1200 is simply not one of them. If I didn’t read about the six fans on the SPL website, or unless I took the amp apart, I would have never known. However, I have pushed the SPL Performer S1200 power amp hard and tested to see if it was warm to the touch. This amp runs cool, no matter what.
- The SPL Performer S1200 power amp uses a high-voltage design, which roughly speaking is popular with uber-high-end amp brands like T+A (also from Germany), as well as Dan D’Agostino. While I am not an amp designer, or have a degree in Electrical Engineering from a university with a name that ends in “Institute of Technology,” I can tell you that the SPL take on this design is called VOLTAiR, and it is based around the internal voltage of the amp – not what it draws from the wall, which could easily be confusing. While OP amps are looked down upon in some audiophile amp designer circles, the ones used here are needed to keep an amp performing at its best in such a high-voltage internal situation. SPL reports that their internal DC voltage delivers significantly more dynamic range and low THD (distortion), thus low noise, plus more headroom. For me, this explains how the SPL Performer S1200 power amp has so much of that Class-A sound without the drawbacks of heat and power consumption.
- The SPL Performer S1200 power amp comes in red, silver and black, which is rare in any audiophile electronics. I remember when my industry friend and golf buddy Bill (who now runs D’Agostino), who was the President of Krell years ago, decided to make only one color option, and it revolutionized their inventory and manufacturing, but customers liked having more options. SPL is a rare bird in the audiophile world, as they offer multiple gorgeous finishes. An SPL amp aesthetically would be right at home parked next to a CH Precision, Soulution or a Vinnie Rossi – they are that gorgeous-looking. The magnetic colored front plates are also a genius idea, which allows the consumer to customize the look of his or her amp without the use of any tools.
- There is trim on the output stages of the SPL Performer S1200 power amp, which also rare. I don’t need to attenuate my sound at the amp, thus this feature wasn’t of any specific use to me, but it was certainly unique. When I played with the knobs, they worked, and I couldn’t hear any deleterious effects, so seemingly this is a no-harm, no-foul feature on the SPL Performer S1200 power amp.
- I love that the SPL Performer S1200 power amp has the labeling written upside-down, as well as right-side-up on the back of the amp. Somebody is really thinking about the user experience at SPL, and it is quite worthy of praise. If you are putting your SPL Performer S1200 power amp into a rack, you might need to lean over to see the connections, or input options, or trim. If so, you can easily read what is what, no matter which way you look at it. Sometimes the simple things done right are the most elegant. Every amp company could learn from this smart little design detail.
- There are both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) inputs on the SPL Performer S1200 power amp. Believe it or not, this isn’t always the case on amps in this price class, but the SPL Performer S1200 power amp has you covered.
- There is a protection circuit in the SPL Performer S1200 power amp, which is a nice insurance policy. Respectfully, at 520 watts, neither the Stenheim Alumine Two.Five speakers from Switzerland (93 dB sensitivity), nor my reference Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4 speakers (90 dB sensitivity), could put any meaningful demands on the SPL Performer S1200 power amp, so I am glad to report that I couldn’t test this thoughtful feature.
Why Should You Care About the SPL Performer S1200 Amplifier?
The audiophile who is looking at the SPL Performer S1200 power amp is one who has tastes for literally the best, most colorless, most powerful amps in the world, but might not have $20,000, $50,000 or more to spend on one. He or she isn’t caught up on brand-name vanity, but appreciates advanced German design and manufacturing, delivered at a very fair price for a top-performing audiophile amp.
Some Things You May Not Like About the SPL Performer S1200 Power Amp
- While I can’t think of any modern speakers that dip below two ohms in terms of impedance, SPL warns not to connect such a speaker to the SPL Performer S1200 power amp. I think this is a fair warning, but possibly irrelevant, unless you have a pair of, say, 1982 Acoustat electrostatic speakers or some nasty-old THIEL CS5i towers. Respectfully, there just aren’t that many speakers that dip that low in terms of impedance.
- I feel like I am losing this battle, but I value audiophile products that measure a full 17 inches wide. The SPL Performer S1200 power amp and its matching Director preamp are not half-width audiophile products, so you can’t have two components share a rack shelf, as I do with my Benchmark DAC3 B and my BlueSound Node. If you want a sexy, finished-looking rack, you will need custom rack faceplates to make SPL products look good in a professionally-done equipment rack, which is an additional cost and requires some effort that I think is well worth the time and money.
- Many amp reviews talk about heat and weight. Heat is simply not a problem with the SPL Performer S1200. Weight is something to consider. If the SPL Performer S1200 power amp is staying, I will need a better (possibly back-braced) rack shelf, as the size of the component focuses the amp’s significant weight to the middle of the rack shelf. Again, this isn’t the end of the world, but it is something to note for an amp weighing over 55 pounds.
Listening to the SPL Performer S1200 Power Amp …
From the MTV era, perhaps no album resonates with me more than Peter Gabriel’s SO. While not recorded in a way that makes it an all-time audiophile classic like, say, Steely Dan’s Aja or Lyle Lovett’s Joshua Judges Ruth, it is a recording that comes with a lot of the early sonic effects that are found on digital recordings. That’s specifically why I point to the iconic “Sledgehammer” as a demo track to show where the SPL Performer S1200 shines. From the early moments of the song, Tony Levin’s Chapman Stick create a low and engaging foundation for the pop track that had such great control on the Bowers & Wilkins 802 D4s, as well as the Stenheim Two.Five speakers – $28,000 and $23,500 per pair, world-class speakers. On the higher frequencies, the synth-generated horn sounds had a little less of that digital hash that I’ve heard on other amps in this price range. I found the same result listening to some digitally recorded/edited 1980s hair metal from Whitesnake. The SPL Performer S1200 power amp just delivered more music with a more open (think: headroom) sound that didn’t change the sound of the recording, as much as deliver the sound that is on the actual recording, which in this case isn’t pristine, but is musically important to people like me, who grew up watching this video and playing this Compact Disc on early audiophile systems.
After driving this AMG Mercedes-like amp around on 70 octane gas, it was time to fuel this sucker up a few gallons of that $20 a gallon 110 octane gas that comes from only the best gas stations. Beyonce’s new Cowboy Carter country album is one of the best-sounding modern recordings that you will find, regardless of genre. Beyonce is the female artist of our generation, and she’s got the balls to do not just a Beatles cover but a challenging one in “Blackbird.” I’ve gotten effusive about how the massively layered (overdubbed) recording sounds on a good audiophile system. The track sounded at its absolute best with the SPL Performer S1200 power amp in my audio chain. The sonic details were delicate and open-sounding. The layers of sound had definition that on other amps can sound more folded-down or congested. If you are looking to WOW non-audiophiles with your audiophile system, this might just be the two minutes of audio that you need. You might also need an SPL Performer S1200 power amp. That’s up to you, but man, does this track sound good with the SPL S1200 in the mix.
Does the SPL Performer S1200 Amplifier Have Any Resale Value?
Hmmm … SPL is a relatively new player in the audiophile world, thus they don’t have that call brand type of appeal, but the fact that it is a professional audio marquee makes it have out-of-the-hobby appeal.
I haven’t seen much SPL gear on the used market in my research, so the sample size for resale isn’t that strong, but the performance is. As time passes, I expect SPL to gain popularity and grow into a very sought-after item on the used market. For now, I just can’t see how you can get hurt too badly here, as the asking price is so very fair at the retail level.
What is the Competition for the SPL Performer S1200 Audiophile Amp?
The Boulder 861 amp at $9,250 spent some time on the exact same rack shelf. I liked the metalwork better on the Boulder amp, but the power output is nowhere close to what you get from the SPL Performer S1200 power amp at a much lower retail price. Boulder makes some of the absolute finest amps money can buy (hint: bring a lot of money if you are shopping for Boulder), and that amp was a jaw-dropper in my system, which makes the SPL Performer S1200 power amp a jaw-dropper, too, but with more power and for less money.
The Classe’ Delta Stereo amplifier at $12,999 is another amp that I’ve had in my rack that is bigger physically, but is more comparable in terms of overall power. Classe’ has suffered under its current ownership, which is a shame, and here’s hoping that somebody buys the brand from the medical services company that has so grossly mismanaged it, including closing their Montreal factory and firing all of the designers. With that said, the Classe Delta Stereo amp runs for the first few watts in Class-A (as many amps in this price range do, and then convert into Class-AB like the SPL), which sonically reminds me of the SPL Performer S1200. Both amps have a firm grip on the control of your speakers, as well as delivering that open, airy sound on song after song. So, in the real world where audiophile consumers have to pick one amp … I would pick the SPL over the Classe’ Delta Stereo amp every time, and that’s before I considered that the SPL is literally half the price of the Classe’. The SPL Performer S1200 power amp is just that good a value, despite it not being inexpensive at all. It is basically a giant killer.
Earlier, I mentioned some new-school Class-D amps, and that is a fair comparison, as those looking for maximum performance as well as value must look there. Orchard Audio’s Starkrimson Premium Mono Amps ($2,700 per pair) were a value that is hard to comprehend, and will appeal to the audience who might not be able to pop for a $5,999 amp but would like to. Closer in price to the SPL Performer S1200 is the AMPED 2400 Pascal-chipped Class-D amp at $5,000, which compares to the high power output of the SPL Performer S1200 with about 400 watts per channel. All of the amps run cool. All of them are easy on your power bill. All of the amps have that Class-A type open sound, with fantastic control over the bass drivers.
Final Thoughts on the SPL Performer S1200 power amp …
Supposedly, the SPL Director DAC/Preamp at $4,100 is the darling of the product lineup, and I will get into that in an upcoming review. However, the SPL Performer S1200 amp is simply a fantastic power amp at any audiophile level and at any price. The German design is forward-thinking, creative and quite mindful. The performance of the SPL Performer S1200 is tight, powerful and reserved. It sounds open in the high frequencies, but never, ever harsh. It resolves sonic details in ways that get you close to the recording.
The SPL Performer S1200 power amp can drive any speaker that I can think of (or have tried) and should likely be compared to amps costing many times more money. I would love to hear what this amp sounds like in North Carolina, sitting next to Paul Wilson’s $20,000-plus T+A A 3000 amp, which is one of the best amps that I’ve ever experienced. I then want to put it next to Jim Swantko’s new $57,000 CH Precision M1.1 stereo amp. I’ve already compared the SPL Performer S1200 to Boulder, so I think you are picking up what I am putting down in that this audiophile amplifier is beyond capable. The SPL Performer S1200 is simply a world-class audiophile amplifier, regardless of price.
I actually prefer amps that are narrower than they are deep. But I put them on the floor between my speakers with my component rack to one side. I just don’t like having components between the speakers except for the amps. With short speaker cables, I might add.
I obviously don’t know much about stand-alone power amps (I have an integrated), but what functions/benefits do the trim controls provide? Thank you.
None that I can think of. But it does add another volume control in the circuit that equals more distortion.
If you have an unusually high gain preamp or if you simply don’t want to use the full 500 watts, like as in the case with high-sensitivity speakers. One can also tailor the exact output to their needs, again based on their individual system.
Not sure if the trim controls / attenuators add noise. Theoretically perhaps. I’m sure those aren’t cheap parts used in that key placement. The faceplates are removable and swappable. Brilliant design across the board.
Most any attenuator will add distortion unless it is a high bit digital version. Just like a balance knob, they aren’t needed.
I heard this line before (the lower priced S800) and Jerry is exactly right. The Voltair system is just brilliant by using much higher voltages. I liken it to just so much more volume and a bigger ‘magnifying glass’ into recordings.
An example I can use personally without owning it, is my Benchmark HPA4 using its XLR connections into a single ended Belles power amp. With Cardas phase-splitter RCA adapters, the output is 2-3x louder/more gain that of the single ended RCA outputs from the HPA4. There is no going back to RCA ‘s simply because of the much greater, clean gain. Needless to say there are other gains from using XLR’s, like massive hum or noise reduction.