Customer Feedback

"I really like to write about the Lavardin IS Reference Integrated Amplifier.  I have so much to say, yet I do not know where to begin. Firstly, from the outside, it is a very simple and elegant amp to look at, with a symmetrical facade design, I don't think one would ever complain about it. But I guess being used to the convenience of remote controller, make me complain a little for being forced get up from my comfy chair and adjust the volume level every now and then. But if what you told is true that they are going to release the version with remote control soon, and even give the existing Lavardin owner to retrofit their amp with remote control, cool.   

Just like any other amp, the IS Reference sounds at its best when warmed up.  It has 4 inputs and 1 tape output, all RCA plugs. The first thing you will notice when listening to this amp is, actually nothing. For the first time, you have no intention at all to pin-point certain areas or frequency range of the sound. It is so natural and balanced that you will be easily lost in the music. Musical, yes, very musical. And you can't say much about the highs, the mids, or the lows, or separation or resolution, or even soundstage. But they are all in place, proportionally, and most importantly, they contribute to the music, just beautiful music.

If you're concerned about detail and details, as an amp, it bridges the sources and the speakers very well. Whether it is a few hundred dollar CD-player or a high-end turntable, this amp will suck-up every information fed to it graciously. I don't think I will list down the tracks that I use in listening this amp, but I've been hearing vocals & instruments that my system has never been able to pick-up before. Details that are soft & gentle but you have no hard time listening to them, they are all in the correct amount proportional to the music, not too soft, nor too much.

Another score from Lavardin is the effect on room acoustics. A few nights with this amp is enough prove, that you do not need to crank-up the volume until blasting level. Depends on your listening room size, but generally this amp will fill your room (not in surround sound term) with just a decent, normal listening volume with music. It fills the room in a sense that it creates a soundstage somewhat bigger that your listening room, it surrounds (again, not in HT surround term) you with music.You might be reading this so many times, but the sounds is like emitting from a fixed point source somewhere in space, and it stays there throughout the song. The voice, the vocal is close to holographic effect. I am sure with better room acoustic, the effect could be holographic. The presence is wonderful.

And if you're asking the color of the sound, whether it is tube or solid state sound, I would say none of those. Anyway, once you listen to this amp, you would not try to relate to either tube or solid state amp, it is sounding so natural, you'll forget that you are listening to hifi."

- RS, March 2003, customer