HOLTON AUDIO EX NIHILO

Holton Audio has released its Ex Nihilo monobloc power amplifier, rated as being able to deliver 275-watts continuously into an 8 load and 900-watts continuously into 4 . Holton Audio amplifiers are built in Tasmania by Anthony E. Holton, who says the Ex Nihilo was the result of more than 20 years of research and product development. ‘ Our new flagship, the Ex Nihilo, is the first member of a new product line integrating the most recent technological advances, conceived from an idea to produce a no-compromise power amplifier that could drive any hi-fi loudspeaker in the known world’ he said. The Ex Nihilo is a Class A/B design that has a fully-shielded and encapsulated 2.5kVA toroidal transformer, placed on its own patented double-isolated mezzanine mounting system that Holton says ‘ cancels all acoustic noise’. This transformer feeds two high-current bridge rectifiers that in turn feed dual banks of low-ESR filter capacitors with a total capacitance of 225,000 F that provide power for the output stage, which comprises twelve 250-watt rated dual-die lateral MOSFETs.The gold-plated printed circuit boards are all 2mm thick with 2-ounce copper tracks. The Ex Nihilo is a true direct-coupled power amplifier with no capacitors anywhere in the signal path including the feedback network—a sophisticated d.c. servo network maintains d.c. offset at zero. A smart power controller ensures noiseless power-up/power-down as well as additional amplifier protection. Holton puts the frequency response of the Ex Nihilo at 1.5Hz – 200kHz –3dB and the signal-to-noise ratio at 110dB unweighted. The casing of the Ex Nihilo is constructed from 10mm-thick aerospace-grade aluminium alloy and can be ordered in silver or black (or silver and black) finishes, and the standard connectors that are fitted (ETI Research, Neutrik, Schaffner and ESO) can be customised to suit specific requirements. Available now, the Holton Audio Ex Nihilo monobloc power amplifiers retail for $29,000 per mirror-imaged pair.