The Audiolab M-PWR power amp makes perfect sense for Audiolab. The company also makes two DACs – the Q-DAC and M-DAC – and a CD player/preamp, all with variable outputs, so the addition of a stand-alone power amplifier at a sensible price provides an obvious partner.
But don’t discount the M-PWR if you don’t have an Audiolab system: it’s quite happy working with a wide range of preamps and partnering kit.
Audiolab M-PWR: design
The M-PWR is a 40W-per-channel chunky half-width design, which visually matches the two DACs perfectly. It has both balanced and single-ended inputs, and works well through both.
Build quality is solid enough for the money, but there’s not quite the slickness of finish that we’ve found in Audiolab’s M-DAC, integrated amps or CD players.
Audiolab M-PWR: performance
We used the M-PWR with both its natural Audiolab partners and our Bryston BP26 preamp with good results.
Despite a modest power rating this is a powerful sounding amplifier. Using our reference ATC SCM50 speakers along with KEF’s LS50 stand-mounters the amplifier had no trouble delivering high volume levels.
It coped with the dynamic swings of John Williams’ Theme from Jurassic Park with ease, delivering crisp detail and clean, punchy transients. The amplifier’s stereo imaging is pleasingly stable too, even as volume levels rise, and the M-PWR’s bass is delivered with pleasing authority.
On the downside, the sonic delivery sounds a little mechanical, and Audiolab doesn’t charge along with quite the rhythmic determination we’d like either. This dulls the impact of hard-driving tracks such as The Dead Weather’s 60 Feet Tall.
Audiolab M-PWR: verdict
This is a good, clean-sounding and detailed amplifier: it might not be the last word in entertainment, but the Audiolab M-PWR is capable all the same.
