ONIX SP3 review

I'm a tube newbie. Last week I received an ONIX SP3 integrated tube amp. The amp has received many glowing (no pun intended) reviews, and I was able to pick one up from AV123 for $550 - it retails for much much more because of a recent purchase of speakers from them as well. The unit is a 2 channel integrated, 35 wpc amp. It is built rock solid and weighs nearly 50 pounds. Sure looks cool atop my rack of Outlaw monoblocks all glowy and stuff.

My first impressions were astonishing. As I get better and better equipment I find myself listening to more jazz, instrumental, and classic type music, as I find hard rock through really nice equipment not much impressive than through AM radio. Saxophone, acoustic guitar, violin, cello - totally diff story. I spent the first day or so with the amp connected through my AVR until I had a chance to connect it up properly. 2 channel SACD and redbook CD are now fully supported directly by the SP3.

Removing the AVR from the equation made a huge difference, as expected.

Listening to the above type music through the SP3 and Stratas is nothing short of incredible. The SP3 adds a completley different dimension to the equation as compared to the Outlaw monoblocks, which I still really like (read on further for more).

Realism, imaging, vocals, and quiet passages are remarkably improved and jaw dropping. It occasionally is hard to believe there is not a person singing in front of me, and appears possible to reach out and touch instruments. I don't know how it is possible to place so many different instruments so realistically. You can hear the reeds moving on saxophones and the artist taking breaths. I could hear Elvis Costello pushing piano pedals on "North"

The SP3 starts to distort with difficult loads at about 3/4 volume. At first I thought there may be something wrong with my speakers, but I reconnected the outlaw monoblocks to verify - distortion at high volume gone. (whew! no speaker troubles) Granted my Stratas are not highly efficient speakers, nor are they made for rock concert types of envrionments, but playing rock at high volumes - the SP3 and Strata combo is just not made for that. However, listening to electric guitar/high feedback content through the combo is very very revealing - electric guitar feedback sounds nearly completely different! I found this startling.

Back to the solid state outlaw monoblocks - they are definitely better for "rocking out", but there are better speaker choices for this, too.

Given the issues, and my preferences for music, I'm sticking with the SP3 for music and the monoblocks for movies.