Stellavox IDEM Amplifier: Initial Review and Listening Impressions

[Mike Lavigne]

Having lived with various Soulution components for over a year - including the 511 stereo amplifier and the flagship 727 and 757 preamplifiers, I have a solid grasp of the Soulution house sound. I agree with the consensus of reviews: Soulution delivers lifelike detail, exceptional speed, and transparency with a musical realism.

The new Soulution 717 stereo amplifier not only maintains this signature but also dramatically elevates the performance in one crucial area, addressing the only minor criticism one could level at the older designs. The sole reservation one might have about previous Soulution amplifiers was a feeling of being ever so slightly 'lite' in the lower registers. The 717 has unequivocally changed this perception.

Immediately, there is undeniable sense of new weight, body, substance, and power at the low-end. This new foundation complements the amplifier’s existing speed and resolution. The resulting sonic character is distinct: the 717 presents a "bottom-up" sound. This is not a criticism, but a description of its enhanced authority. The bass and mid-bass are now richly textured and substantial, providing a deep, organic anchor that supports the upper registers.

The comparison of the 717 to the IDEM is interesting

• The 717s deliver a highly detailed, controlled, and authoritative sound. It is unequivocally solid-state in its ability to grip the speakers and reveal micro-dynamics with speed yet is one of the most musically compelling solid-state amplifiers. Is character is clearly “Bottom up”
• IDEM: Provides a more natural, relaxed, and organic listening experience, embodying an extreme neutrality with a transparency often likened to that of a SET or tube amplifier. The IDEM's signature is truly one of "little to no character."

To be perfectly honest, if I had never experienced the unique transparency of the Stellavox, the Soulution 717 would undoubtedly be my amplifier of choice for the rest of my life. However, I did hear the Stellavox and I am hooked.

Mike,

many thanks for these further insights into the Stellavox, and especially to highlight the differences between the Soulution 717 and the Stellavox IDEM. of course, i've not heard the 717, but your description of it is very positive. it's tempting to try and look at the technology of each amplifier and try and connect dots. i will leave that to others. the 'why' is just not that important to me to worry about it. my personal amplifier sonic priorities match the attributes you describe with the IDEM.

• IDEM: Provides a more natural, relaxed, and organic listening experience, embodying an extreme neutrality with a transparency often likened to that of a SET or tube amplifier. The IDEM's signature is truly one of "little to no character."

i am very much excited to hear the Stellavox in my system with your words just echoing my conversation with Gideon.

 

[LL21]

Mike,

many thanks for these further insights into the Stellavox, and especially to highlight the differences between the Soulution 717 and the Stellavox IDEM. of course, i've not heard the 717, but your description of it is very positive. it's tempting to try and look at the technology of each amplifier and try and connect dots. i will leave that to others. the 'why' is just not that important to me to worry about it. my personal amplifier sonic priorities match the attributes you describe with the IDEM.

• IDEM: Provides a more natural, relaxed, and organic listening experience, embodying an extreme neutrality with a transparency often likened to that of a SET or tube amplifier. The IDEM's signature is truly one of "little to no character."

i am very much excited to hear the Stellavox in my system with your words just echoing my conversation with Gideon.

Intriguing...

 

[microstrip]

(...)

The comparison of the 717 to the IDEM is interesting

• The 717s deliver a highly detailed, controlled, and authoritative sound. It is unequivocally solid-state in its ability to grip the speakers and reveal micro-dynamics with speed yet is one of the most musically compelling solid-state amplifiers. Is character is clearly “Bottom up”
• IDEM: Provides a more natural, relaxed, and organic listening experience, embodying an extreme neutrality with a transparency often likened to that of a SET or tube amplifier. The IDEM's signature is truly one of "little to no character."

To be perfectly honest, if I had never experienced the unique transparency of the Stellavox, the Soulution 717 would undoubtedly be my amplifier of choice for the rest of my life. However, I did hear the Stellavox and I am hooked.

Thanks for the detailed answer. It surely triggers my curiosity, but I should remember that I have read similar comments on my VTL Siegfried II versus the Lamm ML3 and I preferred the Siegfried's in the long term.

Unfortunately it seems that audiophiles from the european community are not a priority for the IDEM, we will have to wait.

 

[microstrip]

Mike,
(...) my personal amplifier sonic priorities match the attributes you describe with the IDEM.

• IDEM: Provides a more natural, relaxed, and organic listening experience, embodying an extreme neutrality with a transparency often likened to that of a SET or tube amplifier. The IDEM's signature is truly one of "little to no character."

i am very much excited to hear the Stellavox in my system with your words just echoing my conversation with Gideon.

IMO the Dartzeel's are not SET or tube sounding at all, and you clearly preferred the Dartzeels to these amps in past. Why do you expect something approaching their sound to please you better? I am really curious to read about your listening experience - particularly with your Wadax ...

 

[Mike Lavigne]

IMO the Dartzeel's are not SET or tube sounding at all, and you clearly preferred the Dartzeels to these amps in past. Why do you expect something approaching their sound to please you better? I am really curious to read about your listening experience - particularly with your Wadax ...

i have my own opinion about how the darTZeel 468's sound or don't sound in my system. and Mike's perspective about how the IDEM's sound is his. and you have your own perspective on the darTZeel models you have had in your system.

the 468's are different from other darts. @vinyl_mike has a dart 108 model two sitting there in his room between the two IDEM's so when i spoke to him on the phone that subject came up. we are both curious about how the IDEM/468 compare in my room might go.

i've owned the Tenor 75 watt OTL and the Lamm ML3's and had other tube amps in my system and, compared to other solid state, i do view the dart's as tube-like in aspects of their presentation. just my opinion. we will have to see about how the IDEM fits into that. in what ways does the IDEM resemble tubes, and it what ways does it not resemble tubes? will the 468's have more bloom? will the 468's be more liquid? will the 468's be as pure and not there? both amplifiers have zero global feedback. the 468's have minimal pieces in the signal path and minimal protection circuits for ultimate purity. how does the IDEM do those things? don't know.

should be fun.

 

[KeithR]

Reads very Swiss in nature.