AURIS AUDIO FORTE 150 MONO POWER AMPLIFIERS REVIEW

“The meaning of song goes deep. Who in logical words can explain the effect music has on us? A kind of inarticulate, unfathomable speech, which leads us to the edge of the infinite, and lets us for a moment gaze into that.” Thomas Carlyle
These are the wise words that greet you at the Auris Audio webpage; words that represent more than just quality, but also an ethereal listening experience. Mr. Milomir Trosic, CEO and founder of Auris Audio, wanted to take a different approach from the start with a focus on customer satisfaction being of utmost importance. 

Formed in 2013, Auris Audio managed to make their impact on the market in a very short time. They’ve presented their products during some of the most prestigious high-end audio shows, making a noticeable impact with their impressive lineup. As it seems, they don’t plan on stopping any time soon with an array of new products set to come out.

FORTE 150

“Based on experience in design amplifiers and other electronic devices, Auris Audio’s philosophy is rooted in Superior design, natural materials and skills of making, which give us the right to claim that our products are handcrafted with soul.”

Auris Audio has become recognizable on the market due to its unique product design. A lack of sensitive speakers offered on the market demanded the design of amplifiers with greater power than has been available from traditional ones. 
Following these demands from the modern market, Auris Audio developed their first amplifier model, the KT 150, with push-pull configuration.
At the Munich high-end audio show, Auris Audio presented the TITAN 150 mono amplifiers which proved that, aesthetically speaking, Auris’ design is special, unique, and unusual.
“As manufacturers and audiophiles, we are always seeking perfection in sound and appearance and we know high-end does not allow compromises.”
Before starting the Forte project, Auris Audio came to the realization that the KT150 tube amplifiers were mostly based on design upgrades of KT88 and KT120 circuits. To allow audiophiles to experience their favorite music in otherworldly dimensions, Auris decided to create a completely new amplifier. After one year of hard work and development, the Forte power amplifiers were born.

Quality and Power = FORTE

The Forte 150 is the result of younger energy at work in Auris. With the help of the experienced Milomir Trosic, engineer Darko Savic infused his signature design into the Forte 150 with its modern approach in SMPS in heating.
Development teams that stand behind these projects combine both youth and experience:
Milomir Trošić – aesthetic design
Darko Savić – electronic design
Mileta Sindjelić – 3D and mechanics
Ivan Stanković – prototyping and testing
Tijana Marjanović – product manager

This is only a part of the Auris brand team and responsibility for the complete success the company has achieved lies in the entire personnel of HCP Company which has over 60 employees. This unique environment gives Auris Audio great advantage in producing and manufacturing competitive and innovative products.

DESIGN AND HEART OF THE MATTER

Infinity is untouchable and these days audiophiles are seeking out an endless, un-compromised design. With this approach, Auris’ Team deigned the front and back plates of the new line mono amplifiers that started with Forte 150. The contours of the infinity sign are the basis of this instantly recognizable design while quality and a large VU meter are icing on the cake. 

Mundorf capacitors and WBT silver connectors as well as silver wiring for the signal path manifest Auris’ exact aspirations towards providing the best possible sound without compromise.

Fine bias adjustment is positioned logically to provide the user a good overview at any moment. The output transformer on a double C-core sized for 200W enables signal linearity of 15Hz – 50kHz, offering plenty of power.

The tube covers are made of temperature resistant tempered glass, allowing for protection and easy maintenance.

“The Forte 150 was designed with one goal in mind: to provide full enjoyment to the most demanding audiophiles. The wish of the Auris team was to offer affordable prices with supreme quality. This was managed thanks to a complete “in-house” undertaking with designing, manufacturing, and sales all in Europe.”



“Transformers are the essence of quality, and therefore products of Auris Audio contain only manually wound transformers on a double C-core. Every single transformer is manufactured in compliance with strictly defined requirements, thus providing almost a linear characteristic in the whole acoustic/sound range.”

MUSIC

I was surprised when I played the first few songs through the Auris Audio Forte 150 power amplifiers. The absence of archaic, warmish, and saturated sound imprints proved to be a refreshingly-positive experience. I’m always enliven when the audio designer chooses the so called 21st century sound orientation. We have more then enough slowish, mellow, saturated and warm tube amplifier on the market!

Songs such as “Land of the Midnight Sun” by Al Di Meola and Jeff Beck’s “Air Blower” and “You Know What I Mean” might appear as standard yet, when played over the balanced system, are of mammoth quality and they were great “show” opener for the Auris Audio monoblocks.

By passing this entry point with I’ve moved further to broad selection of musical material. Here are few of the albums used during the Forte 150 evaluation…

Itzak Perlman – Paganini 24 Caprices

Its a never-ending discussion when it comes to rendition of the Paganini’s 24 Caprices. Some swear to Michael Rabin, others to Midori etc. Itzak Perlman’s tone and execution works correlate with me at certain plane. Its an album, that is both pleasurable to listen as it plausible sonic wise.

There is no reserve mode when it comes to the articulation and speed of Perlman playing. Especially with keeping the tone so vibrant.

In ultimate sense, if amplifier is not able to handle the music flow and articulation. The Forte 150 power amplifiers followed jingoistic utterance subordinate to the tone rather then raw sound mechanics. The other hard pressed reality check with this record is speed handling. Forte 150 followed the tempi with sense of an authority and without varying within the pace domain, where it matters the most.

Tigerlily – Natalie Merchant

There’s that universal saying; how can something so simple, be so right and good! This is exactly how Tigerlily’s San Adreas Fault album’s opening track feels alike.

Expertly mixed and mastered album (also on Tidal) allows Natalie’s voice to be project with the fullest bloom of hers unique melancholy aura.

All the instruments and Natalie’s voice are equalized, and tracked with utmost attention and know how, where each resides at its own place across the frequency range without introducing, overall masking effect.

When amplifier’s innards are of proper strategical order, this album can sound really, really good. No fanfares of glorification, just straight musical, great sounding intake.

Auris Audio Forte 150 managed to cut thought the layers of aural matrix, usually covered with thick, two and three dimensional virtual panels, that are not only slowing down the flow of the music, but also introduce the shading phenomena, intimately related with the lifeless musical reproduction.

Mika Sasaki – Obsidian

Perhaps too much to digest for everyone after the opening track. Still… Mika daring, forwarding and non forgiving playing combined with great sonic capturing represent quite a stretch for the system and amplifier(s).

Deciphering the needed amount of information with this album represent another challenge of its own. Forte 150’s never felt, like they’ve crawled through the chords and tones with tons of massive burden slowing them down. Notes formation needs certain ordnance to resonate on the believability scale and 150’s succeeded to keep the firm ground and sonic structural objectivity.

Fleetwood Mac – Rumors 

An audiophile or music lover album? No matter what kind of label people are trying to pin to this iconic album, Rumors is a timeless example of a true artistry. Both songs and sound are a prime example of things done right. This is how studio album should and can sound! No crazy compression, no exciting limiting. Just all the right moves being made by experts mated with stand out musician performing their part spot on.

The complete album is emotional and sonic tour de force. It will sound good even on mediocre system. But… To cut through few more layers and getting closer to the true story unfolding, much more potency is needed.

Its not only about PRAT and typical audiophile jargon word riddling. When everything is aligned and leveled, the hidden mechanics of the music starts to operate is a hidden, subtle way.

I’ve heard this album on many systems over the years, yet its not an instant lock and load. Auris’ Forte 150 in combination with Robert Koda K-10 brought more then just a healthier portion of belivable illusion. Forte 150 monoblocks pushed things quite few steps further. “Dreams”, second album’s track flourished with the right amount of details and emotional engagement to whit-stand the critical mass of audiophile check outs, safely positioning Forte 150 beyond a mere hi-fi attributing.

Joe Pass – Virtuosso

Straight no chasers. For many, arguable Virtuosso is Joe Pass’ most accomplished album. I can concur. It resembles Joe’s wizardry and artistry in most involving and vibrant way.

As non complex as it might be seen, this is the musical material, that will push amplifier into a “make it or brake it” mode.

Proper reconstruction of harmonic tone overlays demand a certain, right design choices under the hood of high-end audio amplifier.

Forte 150 power amplifiers operate at the level where the smallest parts and particles, fundamental at the reconstruction of the atmosphere, tone, timbre, acoustics etc. comes together as something more meaningful that just sum of the parts. This is the momentum where so called “magic” happens and Auris Audio serves quite a portion!

CONCLUSION

It’s evident that Auris Audio team wanted to push the envelope with the Forte 150. Attention to detail and the ability to make all the important steps in-house gave them a controlled process in which they have refined each and every step.

The Forte 150 didn’t force itself with the sonic self-imprint often associated with most pedestrian power tube amplifiers. It rather explored the exhilarating, yet natural side of high-end audio reproduction.

With so many products on the market, one doesn’t really know what to expect when certain products arrive for review, but its always encouraging to discover new, and potent performers.

The Auris Forte 150 has shown syntactical elements being rendered along with elegance and great authority of fundamental micro and macro structure. They are not exploring the epicurean audio world view, but follow vivacious musical presentation, without crossing into the lush and saturated realms.

At the end of the day, there is only one valid question; what do you want and expect from your system/power amplifiers? If energetic, transparent sound, that daringly lurks on the solid state side of affairs for the speed and power, but keeps the harmonic, non over overblown richness of the tube world as raison d’être, then Auris Audio Forte 150 tube monoblocks might light your sensory green lights.

 
Forte 150 brings more refined power to the table then expected and in an absence of precognition attributes. As with everything in high-end audio, you mileage may vary, but the these monoblocks are brining much more then too often expected blithesome experience. The involving factor, usually reserved at very different price is one of the Auris Audio Forte 150 stand outs.

For the first product coming to Mono & Stereo for evaluation from the Auris Audio, the Forte 150 power amplifiers were a positive surprise.

In the era where the transparency is to often masked in a fake emperor’s cloth of artificial brightness, Auris Audio tube monoblocks, are not following the path of accenting nature, where something as basic as tone is overemphasized. Their inner core rather follows the traits of the music. The raw epicenter…

Matej Isak

PRICE

12.990€ + VAT

TECHNICAL

100W RMS/150W music
Class operation A/AB
Configuration Push – Pull
Vacuum tubes 2 x KT150, 2 x 6SN7
Inputs sensitivity  2, 3Vrms
Input impedance 47kΩ
Outputs 4 & 8Ω
Frequency response  15Hz – 50kHz
S/N less then 91dB
THD % 1kHz / 1W=0,08% / Pmax=3.3%
Power supply 230VAC
Power consumption 250VA
Dimensions W x L x H 510 X 350 X 340
Weight per piece  27,5kg

CONTACT

Auris Audio
Milomir Trosic
Mike Stojanovica 11
37000 KRUSEVAC
Serbia
Tel: 00 381 63 259 259
Email: info@aurisaudio.rs