John Darko
DDMAS? That’s Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems, led by the former CEO of Krell. After first teasing a prototype at Munich High-End 2024 last May, the Arizona-based manufacturer has formally announced a more accessibly priced integrated amplifier.
The Pendulum is a Class A/B design rated at 120wpc into 8 Ohms and 240wpc into 4 Ohms. The amplifier’s output stage is backed by a 750VA toroidal transformer and a 25,000 μF capacitor bank. The internal circuitry reportedly filters RF noise from the AC power line and tackles asymmetric power waveforms and DC on the AC mains.
However, this amplifier isn’t all guts and glory. According to the press release, “at the heart of the Pendulum Integrated Amplifier lies ingeniously re-engineered JFET input circuit topology, derived from the acclaimed Momentum HD Preamplifier.”
On the back panel, we note the presence of three balanced XLR analogue inputs, one single-ended RCA set, a quarter-inch headphone socket and a balanced XLR pre-amplifier output.
The single-ended RCA input can be converted to an MC phono stage by adding the Pendulum’s optional 60 dB-capable phono board. Future-Fi credentials come via an optional streaming DAC board that adds Wi-Fi, Ethernet, TOSLINK and HDMI eARC plus Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect. Roon Ready certification is on the roadmap. Qobuz users will need to stream via DDMAS’s in-house-coded streaming app.
The Pendulum sports an LCD display whose analogue signal meters are styled like a Swiss watch and are mirrored on the two-way Bluetooth remote control’s own LCD display. Very fancy.
For the curious, the Pendulum weighs in at a Hernia-safe 16kg and measures 43cm x 12cm x 36cm. Black and silver finishes are available, with custom colour jobs available upon request.
The Pendulum is shipping now and will sell for US$16,000. The optional phono and streaming DAC boards sell for US$1000 and US$2500 respectively.
Further information: Dan D’Agostino
