Exposure 5010 Pre/Monos pre/power amplifier Lab Report

While the 5010 mono blocks look traditional, the circuit design, with cascode input and line gain stages, offers reduced noise and distortion over earlier Exposure amps. Specifically, the A-wtd S/N is a wide 98dB (re. 0dBW) – a great result bearing in mind the proximity of that huge 800VA toroid [see inside picture, Page One of this review] – and distortion very low at just 0.0003%/1W, 0.0006%/10W and 0.003%/100W through bass and midrange frequencies. Distortion increases to 0.003%/10kHz and 0.005%/20kHz but this is marginal [see red trace, Graph 2]. The matching 5010 preamp offers even lower noise and lower distortion, the former enabling a 95dB A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBV) with THD as low as 0.0001% through the midrange and 0.00024% at 20kHz [black trace, Graph 2]. The preamp’s response is slightly more tailored than that of the 5010 monoblocks, however, with a subsonic boost of +0.5Hz from 10Hz down to 1Hz (an issue with the DC servo, I’d suspect) coupled with a gentle HF roll-off of –0.12dB/10kHz, –0.45dB/20kHz and –7.1dB/100kHz. The power amp is flat to within ±0.1dB from 1Hz-12kHz into 8ohm, rolling off to –0.3dB/20kHz and –5.8dB/100kHz.

1118exposure.lab1.jpg

Dynamic power output versus distortion into 8ohm (black trace), 4ohm (red), 2ohm (blue) and 1ohm (green) speaker loads. Max. current is 34.9A

1118exposure.lab2.jpg

THD vs. extended freq for 5010 preamp (1V out, black trace) vs. 5010 mono (10W/8ohm, red)

But what of the 5010’s speaker-driving ability? In short, excellent, with a solid 2x213W/8ohm increasing to 2x415W/4ohm (this amp has a very tightly regulated power supply) and 220W, 428W, 804W and 1.22kW available into 8, 4, 2 and 1ohm loads under dynamic conditions [see Graph 1]. The maximum 35A current is limited by protection but this still represents an uncommonly high headroom for a ‘200W’ amplifier, ensuring the 5010 monoblocks will drive any likely partnering loudspeaker with consummate ease. PM

Continuous power (<1% THD, 8/4ohm): 213W / 415W
Dynamic power (<1% THD, 8/4/2/1ohm): 220W / 428W / 804W / 1.22kW
Output imp. (20Hz–20kHz, pre/power): 46ohm / 0.011–0.018ohm
Freq. resp. (20Hz–100kHz, pre/power): +0.0 to –7.2dB / +0.0 to –5.8dB
Input sensitivity (for 0dBV/0dBW): 190mV (pre) / 179mV (power)
A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBV/0dBW): 94.6dB (pre) / 98.2dB (power)
Distortion (20Hz-20kHz, 1V/10W): 0.0001–0.0003%/0.0006–0.005%
Power consump. (pre/idle/rated o/p): 10W / 45W/330W (mono)
Dimensions (WHD, Pre/Pow)/Weight: 440x90(115)x300mm/6kg (14kg)
Prices (pre/power amp): £2000/£4550 (pair)

COMPANY INFO
Exposure Electronics
Lancing, UK
Supplied by: Exposure Electronics
01273 423877
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