POWERb Stereo
Karan Acoustics’ high-current stereo power amplifier: 450 watts per channel into 8 ohms, fully balanced circuitry and substantial power reserves for authoritative loudspeaker control. Hand-assembled in Europe.
Key Features
- High-current two-channel power amplifier
- 450 watts per channel into 8 ohms
- 800 watts per channel into 4 ohms
- 1,350 watts per channel into 2 ohms
- Peak output of 600 watts per channel into 8 ohms
- Fully symmetrical, truly differential and balanced circuit architecture
- Active Class A voltage-amplification stages
- No global feedback
- DC-coupled signal path without capacitors in the audio-signal route
- Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs
- Two 1,500 VA low-noise toroidal transformers
- 180,000 µF custom capacitor bank
- Ultra-wide bandwidth extending to 300 kHz
- Slew rate of 1,500 V/µs through the amplification stages
- Cardas Audio pure-copper internal wiring
- Critical Mass Systems isolation feet
- Massive aluminium chassis designed to reduce vibration, RF and electromagnetic interference
- Five-year parts-and-labour warranty
- Hand-assembled from individually selected and tested components
Design & Build
POWERb STEREO uses Karan’s fully complementary, symmetrical and differential signal architecture with no global feedback. Its amplification stages are DC-coupled, avoiding capacitors in the direct audio path, while proprietary servo circuits maintain safe and stable DC conditions.
Two independent 1,500 VA low-noise toroidal transformers and a 180,000 µF custom capacitor bank provide the current reserves required for fast musical transients and loudspeakers with difficult impedance curves. Dedicated filtration and regulation stages isolate the audio, protection and control circuits.
The substantial aluminium chassis provides mechanical stability, heat dissipation and shielding from radio-frequency and electromagnetic interference. Cardas Audio pure-copper internal wiring and Critical Mass Systems isolation feet are fitted as standard.
System Pairing
With output increasing from 450 watts per channel into 8 ohms to 1,350 watts per channel into 2 ohms, POWERb STEREO can drive a wide range of high-performance loudspeakers, including designs with low sensitivity or significant impedance variations.
Balanced XLR connection is recommended for a fully differential system and provides the natural pairing with Karan’s LINEa or LINEb preamplifiers. Unbalanced RCA sources can also be used with the supplied XLR shorting plugs installed as directed.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Fully balanced stereo power amplifier |
| Circuit topology | Fully symmetrical and differential; no global feedback; DC-coupled |
| Inputs | 2 × balanced XLR; 2 × unbalanced RCA |
| Input impedance | 30 kilohms, balanced or unbalanced |
| Input sensitivity | 2 V RMS for maximum output |
| Gain | +30 dB |
| XLR pin configuration | Pin 1: ground; Pin 2: positive; Pin 3: negative |
| RCA operation | Requires XLR shorting plugs |
| Power output into 8 ohms | 2 × 450 W |
| Power output into 4 ohms | 2 × 800 W |
| Power output into 2 ohms | 2 × 1,350 W |
| Peak power output | 2 × 600 W into 8 ohms |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0 dB; DC–300 kHz, –3 dB |
| THD | 0.03% |
| IMD | 0.03% |
| Rise and settling time | Less than 450 ns |
| Slew rate | 1,500 V/µs through the amplification stages |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | Greater than 120 dB, unweighted |
| Power transformers | 2 × 1,500 VA low-noise toroidal transformers |
| Capacitor bank | 180,000 µF, custom-made |
| Internal wiring | Cardas Audio pure-copper chassis wire |
| Isolation feet | Critical Mass Systems isolation/support feet |
| AC voltage | 115 V or 230 V nominal |
| AC voltage tolerance | ±10% from nominal voltage |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 504 × 292 × 521 mm |
| Weight | 81 kg |
| Warranty | Five years, parts and labour |
