Integrated Amplifiers

While there is some trickledown from the 5010 monoblocks [HFN Nov '18] there is still a clear connection between the design of the new 3510 and the earlier 3010S2 integrated [tested for HFC Jul '13]. The overall +41.1dB gain and slightly below-average 80.2dB A-wtd S/N ratio are unchanged, but this is a white noise rather than invasive hum, so any subjective impact is likely to be benign. The power output of the new 3510 is also identical to the 3010S2's at 2x135W/ 8ohm and 2x220W/4ohm, both illustrating the very strict PSU regulation that is a feature of all Exposure amps. The figures are also comfortably ahead of their 110W specification, but the 3510 wins out courtesy of its much improved ability to drive low impedance loads. The 3010S2 offered 175W, 330W, 555W and a (protected) 335W into 8, 4, 2 and 1ohm loads under dynamic conditions while the 3510 powers on to totals of 166W, 318W, 546W and 762W [see Graph 1]. This 27.6A maximum current delivery (<1% THD/10msec) is very impressive for a 'mere' 100-watter.

The ~0.01ohm output impedance and HF response shaping observed from the 3510 is, again, almost identical to that measured with the 3010S2, both amplifiers offering a –3dB response reaching from 4Hz-40kHz (–1.0dB/20kHz). Distortion is also closer in level to that achieved by the 3010S2 than the 5010 at 0.006-0.051% (3510) vs. 0.0006-0.005% (5010), all for 20Hz-20kHz/10W. At two-thirds output, distortion increases to 0.025-0.18% [see red trace, Graph 2, below] which is not unreasonable given the stress on an output stage configured with only modest levels of feedback. In a nutshell, the 3510 is a proven, fine-sounding design, now with added 'grunt'! PM