Audiophiles know Dan D’Agostino as the worlds most skilled and passionate designer of audio electronics, and the first to champion the use of high-powered solid-state amplifiers at this level. With the Momentum monoblock amplifier, he begins anew with revolutionary concepts, innovative materials and a fresh-slate design. Efficient cooling is achieved with venturi-equipped copper heat sinks. The Momentum draws less than I watt of power at idle despite an impressive output of 300 watts into 8 ohms. It is stable at high frequencies into the lowest-impedance speakers. And true to Dan’s obsession with detail, the Momentum establishes a new benchmark for build quality in the high-end arena.
The Momentum Monoblock Amplifier Achieving what was once thought impossible: incredible power and incomparable finesse in a compact chassis. Creating an amplifier that could meet all the demands of today's audiophiles required two things: one of the world's most talented and experienced designers, and a clean slate. The Momentum is the first amplifier offered by Dan D'Agostino under his own name. As, cofounder and former Chief Engineer of Krell Industries, D'Agostino has earned a reputation for building the world's best high-end amplifiers. With the Momentum, he begins anew, using all the experience he gained in 40 years of designing amplifiers but starting entirely fresh, with no need to adhere to past concepts. No other amplifier looks like the Momentum. No other amplifier sounds like the Momentum. Revolutionary Cooling The Momentum is the first production amplifier to use copper for its heat sinks. The thermal conductivity of copper is 91% greater than that of aluminum, allowing the Momentum to use a much smaller heat sink. To further enhance cooling capacity, the heat sink uses venturis instead of fins. The mouths of the venturis measure 0.75 in / 1.9 cm, and they narrow to 0.5 in / 1.2 cm in the middle. As the air in the top of the venturi heats and expands, the shape of the venturi forces it to the top and draws more air in from the bottom. The venturi-equipped copper heat sinks make the Momentum's compact, 4-inch-high chassis possible. High-Speed Transistors The 28 output transistors used on the Momentum are among the fastest high-output transistors available. They run at a blistering 69 MHz, permitting D'Agostino to achieve incredible bandwidth. Each transistor mounts with two stainless steel fasteners—a rarity among flat-package transistors—for maximum thermal transfer to the copper heat sinks. A capacitor/resistor network connected to the base of each transistor ensures stability even at high frequencies and with low-impedance speakers. Extremely high-quality construction Every Momentum is hand-built and hand-tested in the United States. Momentum's chassis is machined from solid aluminum billet, not stamped from sheet metal, so it is non-resonant and provides superior shielding from radio-frequency and electromagnetic interference (RFI/EMI). The circuit board is assembled using through-hole construction, which resists heat (and stands the test of time) far better than the usual surface-mount boards can. Using through-hole construction also allows the use of higher-quality capacitors in the circuit. All resistors are 1% metal-film units. There are no capacitors in the signal path—the amplifier is DC-coupled from input to output. Distinctive Design The Momentum stands out in today's field of look-alike high-end amplifiers. The warm glow of its polished copper heat sinks complements the visual focus of the amp: Its illuminated front power meter, which is based on the design of a Breguet watch face and features Dan D'Agostino's signature. Inspired by the clean, no-fasteners look of the iPhone and iPad, the entire amplifier is assembled from the bottom, so there are no visible screws on the sides, top, and front.
