Pre/Power Amplifiers

When Australia’s Halcro was resurrected by new ownership, it launched with a power amplifier that was itself a clear reimagination of the company’s original dm series [HFN Apr ’02]. Standing 790mm tall, the Eclipse Stereo (and its Mono version) again suspends PSU and amplification stages between two outer ‘limbs’ – on hand-carved wooden feet – that incorporate both cabling and heatsinking. The result is one of the most distinctive solid-state amplifiers on the market [HFN May ’23], and a good deal less ‘conventional’ than the rack-friendly Equinox preamp.

The lower section of the Eclipse Stereo contains its two-stage switchmode PSU (with PFC), while the upper section contains the dual-mono FET-based amplification, its components arranged on six-layer PCBs. Power is rated at 2x180W/8ohm and 350W/4ohm, figures our Lab Report revealed to be marginally conservative – the amp delivered 210W/8ohm and 370W/4ohm. There is no increase in power under dynamic conditions, however, although this is all part of Halcro’s proprietary design concept that delivers exceptionally low distortion and noise. Of the latter, said PM, ‘the Eclipse is, to all intents and purposes, completely silent’.