Californian Aesthetix’ valve / tube zero-feedback electronics – “designed to impress you and built to outlast you” – feature in a number of hi-fi reviewers’ reference systems, as well as in The Absolute Sound’s latest annual Editors’ Choice Awards, focusing on higher-end hi-fi crafted for superb performance in larger systems and dedicated listening rooms.
Aesthetix’ new Pallene preamplifier and Dione power amplifier were reviewed in The Absolute Sound’s January issue, and have immediately made it into the Editors’ Choice Awards. The Pallene is “a supremely functional preamp designed to cover pretty much any contemporary music lover’s needs” with a sound offers “crystalline transparency”. Similarly, the Dione “is notably transparent to the nature of each recording. It’s not warm and tubey sounding, nor is it solid-state cool, but manages to hit that sweet spot that sounds just natural.” And, with “superb design, fit and finish”, both of thee amps constitute “a relative bargain in today’s high-end world”.
Aesthetix’ Atlas is a hybrid power amplifier (valve input, solid-state output) that’s available in Standard, Signature and Eclipse versions, and as a stereo amplifier or a monoblock. It’s also a long-standing Editors’ Choice Award winner. The circuits are identical in each of the Atlas’ three editions, but with higher-grade parts in the Signature and Eclipse versions. Whichever version you opt for, the Atlas is “a sheer joy – both sonically and musically – to listen to” with “plenty of clean power coupled with a deep and convincing sense of space, lightning-fast transients and high resolution without sounding analytical.”
In “another home run for Aesthetix”, the valve-based Romulus combines a disc player and DAC (USB, AES/EBU, SPDIF inputs) in “a highly functional and great-sounding component.” The build- and parts-quality are “first-rate”, and “sonically, the Romulus offers an exceptionally natural sound with a great sense of ease and an expansive soundstage”. It also comes with the optional addition of an innovative volume control that allows you to drive a power amplifier directly.
You’ll find the complete list of all Award winners – across all audio categories – in the March 2025 issue of The Absolute Sound.
Find out more about Aesthetix multi-award winning range, and locate your nearest dealer, at www.aesthetix.net
David Denyer PR | The hi-fi specialist 