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Review: Acoustat Trans Nova Twin 200 Amplifier

Category: Amplifiers

Lived in S. Florida during the time Acoustat was in business there and knew many of the principals there. Talk about a bunch of fanatics dedicated to high end audio,would be a gross understatement. The folks at Acoustat lived,breathed,slept,and played as hard as anyone in audio.It was truly their whole reason for being. The products they brought out were astounding and have truly stood the test of time.

One such product was their first power amp, the Acoustat Trans Nova Twin 200,also known as the TNT 200. For several years they auditioned practicaly every amp out there. Knowing full well that the amp would have to be exceptional in order to drive properly their range of electrostatic speakers,with their widely varying ohm load. Frustration after frustration ensued with each amp they auditioned. Those that could drive them just did not have the sonic signature the speakers needed. Consequently those that did have the signature they were seeking just did not have the current to do the job.

Face with this dillema,the only recourse was to build their own amp. Armed with the things learned in the auditioning the other amps,they now had a focus on what to do. The Acoustat TNT 200 was to be a fully MOSFET amplifier from input stage to output stage. Probably the first to use this type of topolgy. No one knew their speakers better than they did,so the amp was built knowing it drive the Acoustat line of speakers.

The first review of this Amp came from "The Sensible Sound" #17 Spring 83 issue. In the comparison it was matched against the Van Alstine Transcendance 400.

While I will not to into excessive detail here,the review on the Acoustat was most favorable. The TNT 200 has a more discernable sound than the Transcedance. Percussion has a seductive silkiness that is very pleasing.The mid range the amp excels with great detailing,with a very wide sound stage.While the top end frequencies,have a clarity and depth not often found.

I have used many different amplifiers with different Acoustat speakers. None of them for me really filled the promise. Finally located a TNT 200 and had a friend of mine who use to work for Acoustat rebuild the amp and add all of the updates.

Once you hear this amp driving a pair of Acoustats,you will then know why all other amps pale in comparison. This amp has the muscle,transparency,sonic signature,depth,and clarity that Acoustat Speakers need. And at prices in the secondary market are a true steal.

So if you have Acoustats or any electrostatic planar speaker here is your amp. The search is over. As far as conventional speakers go this amp will drive them with a verve that will astound you.

At the very least this amp will make you want to listen to every album or CD you own. A true glorious delight.

Associated gear
Acoustat MRP Pre Amp. Acoustat Model 2 Speakers.Denon DP 61 F Turntable,and Denon DCM 370 CD Player

Similar products
Threshold,Forte,Audio Research,Citation,Adcom,etc

ferrari
lou_3rd
74 posts
 
Hi,

Were you able to get your TNT 200 repaired? If not, your local TV repair shop ought to be able to do this for you. I suspect your output devices may have gone bad. These are slightly difficult to locate. If your repair person cannot find them, let me know. While you are at it though, you should consider having the bridge rectifiers changed out with Ixys Fred's from Percy Audio. Doing this will reduce the midrange glair of this amp. I know, you were not aware there was a midrange glare. :-) Been there, done that, but once you have the new soft recovery (meaning electroniclly quiet) rectifiers in there, you'll hear the difference.

http://www.rsvlonline.net/vintageamp/s500.html

With the bridge rectifier mods, the TNT 200 can smoke the much more expensive Threshold S/500 amp. I have a Stasis 2 with heavy mods, it sounds better than the stock S/500 as well. I bought a TNT 200 for my youngest son, did the bridge rectifier mods, and now you cannot tell the difference in these 2 amps. The S/500 is no pig, so bettering it is really something IMO.

Best Regards,

Lou
lou_3rd
74 posts
 
Hi Tom,

Zobels are what you are talking about. I ALWAYS use them. Check out:

http://passlabs.com/articles.htm

Download and read the speaker cable article. I do not think this is your problem though, contact Jon Soderberg;

http://www.rsvlonline.net/vintageamp/

Not only do I think he can help, but he can toss in some Fred soft recovery diodes that will make your amp state of the art in sound. No kidding, the TNT's with soft recover diodes rock. You may want to have him change out the coupling caps with SoniCaps as well. I like Auricaps, but they do not pass bass well, so Jon should use SoniCaps instead.

Best Regards,

Lou
lou_3rd
74 posts
 
Hi Tom,

BTW, if you are thinking, after talking to Jon, that you could buy new for less, trust me, you would have to spend at least 5 times what Jon would charge to get an amp off the shelf that sounds as good as a moded TNT.

Best Regards,

Lou
3381882356-421f
1 posts
 
My name is Angelo,and I have a pair of ACOUSTAT
MODEL TWO . I live in Sicily, near Palermo, and I have never had a proper amplifier for my Acoustat, some years ago I buyed one valve amplifier :Art Audio Maestro,
with eight El 34 for channel, but I am not satisfied.
Do you think is yet possible to found a TNT 200 amplifier ?
If is possible I would like to receive a letter, because I can't receive E-mail in my computer(it belongs to a pubbic office). My address is :
Angelo Raspante Via Sac. Sammarco, 31
90011 Bagheria ( Pa) Italy
Greeting,
Angelo
magobei1
1 posts
 
I Bought one of these delicious monsters used, for $700, maybe 8 or 9 years back. It still works great, but it lets out one hell of a scary WHUMP-PP! when turned on. I always made a ritual of turning on the Acoustat, then the Pre-Amp, then the source, and it never hurt a speaker, but once I turned on the PreAmp first and blew the fuses on some small B&W speakers when I powered up the TNT- I used to always keep extra fuses around after that, but it never caused any damage, except costing me a Dollar or so for a pack of fuses at Radio Shack! I assume the turn-on thump can be fixed... as the amp sounded so great and it never caused any other problems, I was too lazy to bother with the repair shop. Now I'm only selling it because it's just too big, too powerful for the second room system I'm using it for, I plan to scale down and put a vintage receiver in this den/studio, away from the 7-channel A/V system in the front of the house...Hello from John, an Audiogon Newbie!
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