Wattson Audio Madison Amplifier

Description

The Madison Amplifier is a compact two-channel power amplifier developed through direct engineering collaboration between Wattson and CH Precision. Wattson says that collaboration shaped the topology, the power strategy, the choice of devices and the overall circuit behaviour. Its output devices are the same bipolar type used in CH Precision’s M10 Reference Amplifier. Wattson builds it in Switzerland, machined from solid aluminium.

It is a low-feedback Class A/B linear design with a fully symmetrical, fully discrete circuit from the input onwards, fed by a regulated external 36V supply. It takes balanced XLR or single-ended RCA inputs. Switches on the rear set the gain (20dB or 26dB) and the impedance range (8, 4 or 2 ohm) to suit the loudspeakers. The case runs warm, so it needs air around it.

Its main feature is that it can be used in three ways. In stereo mode, one amplifier drives a pair of loudspeakers. In mono mode, one amplifier drives a single loudspeaker, so a stereo system uses two, and each has its whole supply behind one channel. In bi-amp mode, one amplifier’s two channels drive separate sections of a loudspeaker with two sets of terminals. That lets the amplifier stay in a system as the loudspeakers change. Rated power is modest at 50W per channel into 8 ohm, so check it against your loudspeakers.