HALCRO Amplifiers

Wow.  I thought they went out of business MANY years ago.  I heard the original when it came out and did not like it at all—very clinical and lifeless to me.  It had the kind of sound common to amps that use a lot of feedback to achieve impressive distortion numbers but don’t sound good ( I no idea if it was designed that way; it sounded like that).  When I was at CES in 2001, a manufacturer I know spotted me and insisted that I check out Halcro.  He said it ‘brought tears to his eyes.”  When I saw him later, I told him what I thought and he laughed.  He said those were tears from a powerful wave of nostalgia because the experience reminded him of the first time he heard a Phase Linear amp—he agreed it sounded terrible.

I hope the new model is better.  It does look nice.  A lot can change in a couple of decades.

I believe the Audio salon in Santa Monica California sells Halcro gear

The gear looks fantastic, gets rave reviews, and has measurements almost unmatched. I would be very tempted, but would be concerned about service. I wonder if anybody on this forum has any experience with that.
 

certainly looks like an A+ quality product

It's been over 25 years now, but the new ECLIPSE by far exceeds any of the previous Halcro models. Cheers!

In response to a post....

Delve Audio IS a Halcro dealer (IN New JERSEY) and acquires amps from Halcro directly, through Philip O'Hanlon, the Halcro Distributor. He is the only Halcro distributor in the USA, as far as I know.... Oliver, owner, Delve Audio

Jazzcatlewis-

Kudos to you for your oh-so-delicately-stated opinion. Wouldn't it have been sufficient to say that "it's too rich for my blood?" I wish I had the wherewithal even to consider something like the Halcro. That I don't doesn't give me the right to tee off on those who do.

If you are the "go for the jugular type", you might find things more amusing at audiorview.com. That board abounds in posters who make Genghis Khan look like a diplomat.

I think it,s quite clear who are the true audiophiles on this site.Most of us are into the reproduction of sound and the advise of others,while one may not agree with the other there is no need to call anyone a fool and to ridicule the other for advise sought or given,this is a forum for knowledge not name bashing.Iam getting real tired of seeing these post that bash one another,there is never a stupid question or opinoin.
steve

I heard a pair of Halcro amplifiers driving a pair of the new Quads at Hi-Fi Farm in Moneta, Va. I am an audiophile of 30+ years and I must say that the "system" was stunning in many areas. One of the best I've heard.
Woodrow

I know the guys from Halcro - they are from Adelaide, Australia. I helped them set up a few demos when they first came to the US. The demos were with BAT and Dunlavy gear.
The best sound I ever heard.
It has been tough getting distribution and the amps aren't cheap. This must create a concern for resale and if they can't get more distribution then how long will they be around?
I hope they do well as it is really good stuff. They have cheaper models on the horizon.

There is no NJ dealer.Delve Audio has a pair of the amps he bought for his own system.He aquires the amps direct to customers from Sanibel Sound who is the distributor and retails this product to customers.

Anyone who would spend $20k plus on an amp is a true audiophile and and true fool. Just how much do u think it cost to make it? U would lose $6-8,000 when u walk out the door with it. I would spend the $6-8,000 on some very young ladies and buy a used $12,000 amp. U will have better memories. Ha.

Hi Gleeds, What dealer in NJ did you hear them at? Thanks in advance. Tom

I heard the amps, probably at the same NJ dealer you did. I am cracking open my piggy bank to buy them. Simply the best I have heard. If you can afford them, buy them. Good luck.

I e-mailed the company after reading the review in the current issue of TAS. The closest dealer to me (Tulsa,OK) is in Virginia, so I guess I won't be listening to the amps any time soon. I sure do like their design concepts, though.

The February/March issue of The Absolute Sound has a review of the HALCRO DM85 amp. It is interesting and worth a read. Good Luck, Doug