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  • The Relentless pursuit of Dan D’Agostino

The Relentless pursuit of Dan D’Agostino

May 12, 2018 Leave a Comment Written by The Editor

RELENTLESS… that’s the name of the new monoblock amplifier from Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems. The Relentless mono delivers 1,500 watts into eight ohms… when connected to a 220-volt outlet, it doubles its output to 3,000 watts into four ohms and 6,000 watts into two ohms. Certainly not a power shirker! On board, there’s a 5.5KW power supply feeding roughly 100 output devices.

“With the Relentless Monoblock, we focused on creating an amplifier without any limits,” says D’Agostino, company founder and chief engineer.

“We incorporated elements of the Momentum series and new circuit concepts to create an amplifier that maintains its harmonic integrity and expansive soundstage from zero watts to 1,500 watts. An amplifier so powerful it can drive any speaker to its best possible performance, no matter how demanding the load it may present.

“It is the best amplifier I have ever created.”

According to the literature, the amplifier has “an all-new, fully complementary topology based around a precision input stage that maintains an essentially perfect balance between the positive and negative components of the signal. Any distortion artifacts that appear on one half of the signal will also appear on the other half, and thus cancel each other. Gain circuits operate in the current domain, assuring that performance does not fluctuate no matter what the demands. Global negative feedback is not employed, nor is it required as the amplifier’s open-loop linearity eliminates the need for this performance-robbing technique.

“The core of the power supply is a transformer that uses multiple sections running in concert, all potted and encased in a metal shield. This design reduces transformer noise to near zero and protects the audio circuitry from the transformer’s magnetic field. The transformer feeds a custom-designed rectifier circuit and a 600,000-microfarad/100-volt capacitor bank. A special holder mechanically grounds each capacitor so it won’t vibrate. A slow-start circuit activates the power supply in stages, eliminating concerns about capacitive inrush tripping household circuit breakers.

Dan D’Agostino’s exclusive Super Rail concept makes maximum use of the incredible resources of this power supply. Super Rail employs higher voltage rails in the sections prior to the output stage, effectively “turbocharging” the amplifier and exploiting the full capability of the output voltage rails—which improves dynamics, lowers distortion, and tightens the amplifier’s electrical grip on the speaker.

The unique heat sink combines copper and aluminium in a thermal engine that wicks away heat from the connected devices. Thermal, short circuit, and DC protection are included in a non-invasive but comprehensive defense against any external system faults.”

The entire chassis of the Relentless is machined from solid aluminium for superior shielding, thermal stability and vibration damping. High-precision milling allows the entire chassis to fit together solidly with no visible fasteners.

It has a single XLR balanced input, and speaker connections are made using massive binding posts made from gold-plated brass.

Each unit weights a back-breaking 220kg and we hear a pair will retail at a wallet-breaking US$250,000.

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