Product Review - Aragon 8008BB Power
Amplifier - October, 1997
John E. Johnson, Jr.
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Aragon 8008BB Power Amplifier; Two channel power amplifier; 200 watts rms/ch into 8
Ohms, both channels driven, 5 Hz - 20 kHz; 400 watts rms/ch into 4 Ohms; Input impedance
22 kOhms (44 kOhms balanced); Sensitivity 0.12V rms for 1 watt output into 8 Ohms; THD
0.06%; S/N 110 dB; Damping factor 500; Size 6 1/2"H x 19"W x 14"D; Weight
77 pounds; Black sheet metal chassis; $2,500; Mondial Designs, Ltd., 20 Livingstone
Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522; Phone 914-693-8008; Fax 914-693-7199; E-Mail MondialLTD@aol.com; Web site http://www.mondialdesigns.com.
It has been said that a power amplifier can be measured by its weight, meaning the power
supply. If that is true, then Aragon certainly meets the qualifications. The 8008BB weighs
in at 77 pounds, for a two channel, 200 w/ch amplifier. Its cousin, the 8008ST is rated
the same, even to the doubling of power into 4 Ohms, but the power supply is different.
The BB has two toroidal transformers instead of one, each rated at 1.1 kVa, and there is
twice the power supply capacitance as the ST. The ST's single toroid is 2 kVa, which is
not a lot of difference, but having twice the capacitance is a BIG difference. Each
channel has two power supply capacitors, rated at 35,000 µ, with a ± 70 V rail. This
represents 171.5 Joules of energy storage per channel (that's a lot!) The BB has 12
bipolar output devices per channel. So, why do the two amplifiers have the same output
rating? Impulse power. The BB will deliver a lot more than 200 watts/ch on a short term
basis. In our listening tests, it sounded more like a 500 watt/ch amplifier. The BB and ST
both double their output from 8 Ohms to 4 Ohms, another indicator of massive power
supplies.
The inside of the BB looks like one huge power supply, with the two toroids sitting one on
top of the other [click here to see inside of
amp]. The amplifier stages are at the other end of the chassis from the power supply. The
front panel has a toggle on/off, and the rear has five-way speaker binding posts as well
as the single-ended (unbalanced) and balanced input jacks. One unusual feature of the
chassis is the V-shaped notch along the top. This allows heat to escape from the heat
sinks even if something were sitting on top of the amp, but it also adds elegance to the
appearance.
We tested the Aragon 8008BB using our McCormack CD transport and DAC, Balanced Audio VK-5i
preamplifier, and various speakers, including Carver Mark IV Platinums. Nordost SPM
Reference balanced interconnects and speaker cables were used throughout. Music included
numerous classical and popular CDs. We used the balanced inputs on the 8008, and as a
result, there was absolute silence during pause mode. Also, the amount of detail that
could be heard increased due to the lower noise floor. So, even though the amplifier is
not fully balanced (balanced from input to output), the availability of the balanced
inputs made a nice difference.
One of the most noticeable characteristics of the 8008BB is its tremendous capability of
delivering high power when the music demands it. The CD I use to separate the "I
am" from the "I wanna be" amps and speakers is the Telarc version of
Copland's Fanfare to the Common Man. The opening bass drum thuds practically took the roof
off the listening lab, with no audible distortion. The Mark IVs have four 12" low
frequency drivers per channel, and they are difficult loads, but the Aragon handled them
with ease. We have some 750 w/ch monoblocks in the lab, and the Aragon approached them,
not in continuous output, but in impulse capability. That's what a monster power supply
can do. When we turned the Aragon up even more, then of course, we could hear the clipping
with the brass instruments in the Telarc recording, but only at SPL that a person
shouldn't be listening to anyway.
With popular recordings, electronic music, and classical chamber music, the Aragon just
sailed. The sound of this amplifier is characterized by detailed highs, full bodied
mid-range, and thundering, tight bass. It reminds me of the Bryston sound, meaning that
careful matching to the rest of the system is very important. Otherwise, the amplifier
accuracy [click here to see 10 kHz, ± 10 V
square wave response] could be mistaken for an overly "bright" sound. The 8008BB
also has a very wide power bandwidth of 550 kHz (one of the widest we have ever measured).
The VK-5i tube preamp was a very nice partner to the 8008BB, but the Mark IV ribbons
showed any edginess present in some of the CDs. I would consider cone speakers with,
perhaps, silk dome tweeters to be the appropriate speakers for this amplifier, unless you
have a CD player with a very laid back high end.
In summary, had I looked inside the amplifier chassis before I listened to the Aragon
8008BB, I would not have been surprised at the tremendous power that this product has, and
all with detail and clarity. As it was, the amplifier literally blew us away (I hate
platitudes, but this one applies). I have said before that there is no substitute for raw
power, and the designers have gone all out to make the 8008BB one extraordinary component.
Highly recommended for an audition.
John E. Johnson, Jr.
© Copyright 1997 Secrets of Home Theater & High
Fidelity
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