While claiming to be the most powerful integrated amplifier in the world seems a bit much given the specs, this certainly is an impressive piece of machinery. Not that amplifiers normally stream much except for the odd electron, this amp stands out thanks to an unusual approach to modularity allowing you to extend it with not only a RIAA module but also letting you add a 24bit/192KHz DAC with 5 inputs, including USB. In other words: It really does earn a place on this blog.
On the standard connectivity side there are balanced XLR inputs and the ever present iPod connector on the front; actually this is simply a 3.5mm analogue jack which accepts anything that can be squeezed in there. Nothing unusual there.
A bold statement from the land of the hobbits and one to watch at that.
CD drive
Wifi
Flac audio
Digital IO
Ogg-Vorbis
uPnP support
Video
On the face of it the 250i may not seem that powerful, but when you consider the practical performance of the 250i it sheds a little light.
See the measurements taken in this review of the 250i: http://www.perreaux.com/assets/file/perreaux_review_250i_integrated_amplifier_-_stereo_prestige_&_image_%5Bfrench%5D.pdf.
The chart on the last page shows the power into 8 Ohms measured at 298W with only 1dB increase in distortion.
Further down the page shows that it measured at 2 x 375W into 8 Ohms at 0.4 THD+N.
It’s not until you look under the hood of the 250i that it’s full potential is realised…