Perreaux Eloquence 255i integrated amplifier/DAC Lab Report

Like the 250i [HFN Aug '12], this latest '250W' Eloquence 255i integrated will, in fact, deliver far closer to 2x435W/8ohm and 2x680W/4ohm with a thundering 600W and 1137W, respectively, under dynamic conditions. This is fractionally higher than that achieved by the 250i (545W/8ohm and 1010W/4ohm) although the profile of Perreaux's protection regime has also been 'tweaked' so that a higher 1438W is available into 2ohm but a reduced 610W (from 810W) is permissible into 1ohm [see Graph 1]. PSU noise was higher in this sample of the 255i than the 250i measured six years ago (–68dBV to –60dBV), with the A-wtd S/N now reduced to 76.5dB from 81.5dB (re. 0dBW). This PSU noise also impacted the jitter/intermodulation performance of the new DAC module, accounting for most of the 1315psec (48kHz) and 790psec (96kHz) that was measured.

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Dynamic power output versus distortion into 8ohm (black trace), 4ohm (red), 2ohm (blue) and 1ohm (green) speaker loads. Max. current is 26.7A

418perr.lab2.jpg

Distortion versus 24-bit digital signal level over a 120dB range at 1kHz (black) and 20kHz (blue)

That aside, the 255i has fractionally higher (but not 'high') distortion at ~0.0025% versus ~0.0019% through the midrange over its full 1-250W rated bandwidth, but with the same impressively consistent ~0.01% THD up to 20kHz. The low 0.013ohm output impedance, increasing to 0.06ohm at 20kHz and 0.33ohm at 100kHz is unchanged as is the response – still flat from 1Hz up to 20kHz (–0.05dB) and 100kHz (–1.3dB) with very little drop-off into low impedances (just –0.55dB/20kHz into 1ohm). The digital board, based on an ESS9038 DAC with minimum phase filter selected by Perreaux, offers very low distortion of just 0.0003-0.0017% (20Hz-20kHz, 0dBFs), with a minimum of 0.0002% [see Graph 2] and with response limits of –0.02dB/20kHz, –0.2dB/45kHz and –0.6dB/90kHz with 48kHz, 96kHz and 192kHz media, respectively. PM

Continuous power (<1% THD, 8/4ohm): 435W / 680W
Dynamic power (<1% THD, 8/4/2/1ohm): 600W / 1137W / 1438W / 610W
Output impedance (20Hz–20kHz): 0.013–0.065ohm (210ohm, pre)
Freq. resp. (20Hz–20kHz/100kHz): +0.0 to –0.1dB/–1.3dB
Digital jitter (S/PDIF at 48kHz/96kHz): 1315psec / 790psec
A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBW/0dBFs): 76.5dB (Analogue) / 100.1dB (Dig)
Dist. (20Hz-20kHz; 0dBW/–20dBFs): 0.0027–0.009%/0.0003–0.0017%
Power consumption (idle/rated o/p): 84W / 1030W (1W standby)
Dimensions (WHD) / Weight: 426x149x344mm / 25kg
Price: £6895-£8820

COMPANY INFO
Perreaux Industries Ltd
New Zealand
Supplied by: Elite Audio (Distribution) Ltd, London
0203 397 1119
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