H2O Owner Survey ?

Maybe there is an owner nearby that will give you a listen. I'm in Sacramento. There are at least half dozen user reviews on the net, too, that might be of interest to you.

I've had my Signature amps for over a half year now, and they still haven't relinquished any wow factor. I don't believe they ever will, because it is the music, they play, that provides the excitement. The H2O amps just let it be.

For several months, I also sat on fence thinking and reading everything I could about the H2O amplifiers. I contacted some of the owners and each told me they were very pleased with the performance of the H2O.

I then decided to purchase the H20 S250 amplifier without having heard it - based mostly upon the trust of the Apogee owners' discussion group. It replaced a Krell KSA-150 amplifier in my setup.

I drove 5 hours to pickup the amplifier from Henry Ho. In person, the H20 is simple, elegant and gorgeous. After spending some time with Henry, I felt very confident the amplifier would work out for me. I did hear the H20 powering the Apogee Diva with Henry and the sound was spendid.

At home, the H2O actually sounded good immediately despite what other owners have mentioned about lengthy break-in periods. It runs cold to the touch and does not require warm-up time. The rather difficult load of the Apogee Duetta Signature speakers is handled with total ease - the H2O never seems to struggle at any time.

I often hear the New York Philharmonic live. When I come back and listen to the H2O, there is a definite link back to Avery Fisher Hall. No artificial bloom or undisplined bass are present at any time. Notes are reproduced as recorded - the attack, tonality, sustain, decay bring the musical event back to life each time an LP is played. This is truely a gentleman's amplifier.

You seldom hear from Henry in the discussion forums and you never see the H2O adverised anywhere. I believe Henry is simple interested in building world-class equipment regardless of financial rewards.

I know the H2O amplifiers will be exhibited at the upcoming Home Entertainment Show here in New York. They will be powering the Apogee-like Analysis Audio speakers from Greece. Also sharing the room will be VPI - an upcoming turntable manufacturer from New Jersey. If you plan to attend the show, make sure you don't miss this room.

I own a pair of the H2o Signature Monoblocks. I have nothing but praise and respect for Henry, and his amplifiers. It has only been a few months for me, however well into the period of time in which any unforseen anomaly appears in a system that went unnoticed at initial purchase. I am extremely pleased with the performance of these amps and have actually written quite a few words on them...

Click on the links by my moniker, I wrote a "music lover first / audiophile second" review, as well as install and break in notes in my system thread.

I also have the S-250. I listened to three different types of speakers (planar, conventional, and single driver), one at a time of course depending on my preference, powered by this amp and all I can say is that "I have found it"!

As the posters above mentioned, Mr. Henry Ho is a no non-sense low key guy. He seldom participate in discussion forums and does not advertised his product. Like Pkaram, I bought mine without hearing it and just took my chances. Almost three months now since I received the amp and so far, I have no complaints on how the amp sound in my set up.

FWIW, the amp has a trial period and a demo unit can be requested (for a week stay in your system) from Mr. Ho. Maybe the best thing is to hear it first in your rig so you can make your decision.

The Man is willing to let you hear his product in your home.

But he's small, and if he decides there's no money or future in his product, repairs, warranty service, and reliability are questionable.

However, since I haven't heard these, they may be the best thing since sliced bread, and you may find them to be the bargain of the century.

He does allow you to hear them first. Try that with a super amp from your local salon owner. Stereophile says: " A good retailer will allow you to try the product in your home" Yeah, most are pressed hard to allow you to audition in there place after hours with no confusion or noise. Huzzah to Henry Ho and the folks at Juicy Music for pushing a new marketing pardigm.

Anyone willing to spend the money and take the damage risk to send you his product for auditon, must be confident in their sound.

My system is in flux, darn new new everything. So once the pre-amp question is answered, I'll settle in and take Herr Ho up on his offer and see. Steep competition he'll have. I have Threshold, Pass, and VTL 350's to challenge him.

So beware the down side, and be brave!

loon