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Review: Denon S1 Integrated Amplifier Amplifier

8-08-06

I thought I would share my experience with some interesting audio equipments and their upgrade by David Schulte of the Upgrade Company. The equipments included, the Denon S1 Integrated Amplifier, Forte 4a amp, Reimyo DAP 777 DAC, and the Sony CVP-CX 777 ES SACD/CD 400 disks Mega changer. I had the Denon S1 & the Reimyo for years and upgraded them about two months ago. I had the Forte and the Sony for about three months. I listen mostly to Jazz and Classical music, sometimes new age and rock.

It started when I ran into an Ad for sale by the Upgrade Company for the Forte 4a amplifier. I heard this amp at audio dealers in the early 1990�s when it was available.
This amp impressed me on several occasions driving Martin Logan and other speakers that I still remember it to this day. I was going to buy it back then when raving reviews in The Absolute Sound described the Brown Electronic Lab amplifier as possibly the best amplifier in the world. I followed the review instead of my ears and bought the BEL 1001 without auditioning it. The BEL was a good amp but turned out to be much less musical than the Forte.

The Forte was discontinued. I later traded the BEL for Joule Electra tube OTL and became for the most part a Tube guy. Joule Electra amp and preamplifiers are among the very best sounding I have heard at audio dealers, shows, and anywhere. Their reliability proved incredible. I still have the Joule Electra equipments in my main system but like many of us I sometimes get the bug to get something else.

Only few (best) types of equipment survive the test of time. I realized I still wanted this Forte amp, so this time I trusted my instincts. I bought it used and upgraded from David Schulte of The Upgrade Company. I was amazed at the sound of the upgraded Forte
4a and understood why it has developed such a cult following. It is very musical, sounds effortless and natural. Despite its 50 Watts class A 8 ohm rating, it sounds big, effortless, and musical. It has a wonderful midrange and treble that is very competitive with the very best amps made today. It has very good bass, however, being only 50watts, it is not enough power on some bass passages.

The Forte was so good by today�s standards, I decided to try to get Dave to upgrade some of my other equipment.

I sent him a Sony CVP-CX 777 ES SACD/CD Mega changer that I bought to use for a second system and as a transport. I did not really care for its sound as a CD player but felt its SACD sound had good potential. Dave�s upgrade was less than he would have liked due to limited space inside the Sony to place the parts he wanted. Still the improvement was very obvious that I now enjoy listening to it especially on SACD. Not very far behind my APL 5910 in fact! In some ways it is better, others lacking.

Then I had Dave upgrade the Reimyo 777 DAC and the rare Denon S1 integrated amplifier. Actually I was about to sell the Denon, but the improvements as a result of the upgrades were so amazing that I am keeping it. The Denon S1 series from the early 1990�s, and were Denon�s statement, cost-is-no-object products. The $40k Denon S1 Monoblocks, the S1 Transport and S1 DAC were reviewed in Stereophile and firmly placed in �Class A Recommended Components�. I do not think I ever saw a Denon ad in Stereophile . The preamp listed out at $17,000. The Denon S1 Series look like pieces of art and were perfectly built. The Denon integrated amp listed for $5000.

So, how to describe the effect of the upgrade? With all the upgraded equipment, lots of air, more depth, more 3-D, more dynamics, really good bass, much smoother and much more musical sound overall. The sound is bigger and clearer, more powerful.

In case of the Sony, in addition to the above the grain and digital hardness were gone.

In case of the Denon S1 it became very smooth, liquid, and crystal clear without any solid state hardness or grain. The highs are extended and silky smooth. The midrange is liquid and sweet. Well how good is the Denon now? It is better that the current Stereophile Class A Unison Unico SE, with the Underwood Hi Fi level 2 upgrade. The Denon is Crystal clear, liquid, and fast. I think the Denon is the most improved component because it had room for Dave to use the parts he wanted.

Dealing with Dave is a pleasant experience. Easy to reach by phone, very fast turnaround time, and is open to uneducated suggestions. I found he can upgrade just about anything audio or even video. Expensive equipments like the Reimyo DAC can be improved with Dave�s upgrade not just the entry level stuff like the Sony SACD/CD 400 discs Mega changer.

The improvement is so dramatic that I am going to have Dave upgrade all the components in my system. Happy listening!

AL

Associated gear
Reimyo DAP 777 DAC, Pioneer Elite transport modified by G&D Transform, APL Denon 3910, Sony CVP-CX 777 ES SACD/CD player, VPI TNT/Graham 2.2 ceramic arm/Koetsu Uruchi, Joule Electra LA 100 full function preamp, Joule Electra Grand Marquis OTL amps, Cary SLP 50a, Cary 2A3 Parallel single ended amps, Forte 4a, Reimer Teton Speakers, Omega Super Hemp single driver no crossover speakers, Era Model 5 speakers, Analysis Plus 8,9,& Gold, JPS Superconductor2, Alpha core Goertz Ag2 silver, Shunyata Hydra 8& power cords, Exact Power voltage stabilizer, Cinepro Balanced power, Harmonix 78, Harmonix Power cords, ASC room treatment

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08-08-06

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