KWA 150 Amplifier

The KWA 150 provides the strengths of both tube and solid state products: 3-D sound-staging, holographic imaging, and a beautiful midrange of tubes, combined with sparkling highs, low distortion, bass resolution, and control of solid state.

The heart of the KWA 150 Amplifier is a single voltage gain stage called the “Solid State Music Stage.” The circuit was developed by Alan Kimmel, creator of the exceptional vacuum tube “Mu” stage.

Features include: high-low bias switch, stereo/bridge-mono switch and true balanced floating inputs, accepting balanced and unbalanced inputs. The design incorporates a regulated power supply for the input stage, Cardas’ best connectors and oversized heat sinks. The first watts operate in pure Class A.

The KWA 150 uses no global feedback, is direct-coupled, fully differential, dual-mono, bridgeable, and designed and built in the USA.

Design Specifications of the KWA 150:

  • Fully dual-mono internal design, including separate power transformers, power supplies and input and output stages for ideal separation and exceptional soundstage.
  • Chassis design and internal layout optimized for lowest possible noise floor, providing greater micro-detail and micro-dynamics for a natural and organics sonic presentation.
  • Fully discrete ‘Solid State Music Stage’ design by Alan Kimmel, offering midrange of tubes as well as muscle and speed of solid state design.
  • Zero global Negative feedback.
  • (24) High Current ‘Thermatltrak’ Bi-Polar output devices for extreme linearity and speed.
  • Over 180,000uf total power supply capacitance reserves for deep and tuneful bass.
  • Lundahl Input Transformer coupled floating ground design, preventing ground loops and isolation from ground mains, for exceptionally low noise floor.
  • RCA and XLR inputs transformer coupled to fully balanced circuitry.
  • Proprietary protection circuitry operating completely outside of signal path, protecting both amplifier and associated system components with ZERO impact on sonics.
  • DC input and output protection
  • Over-current protection.
  • Output short-circuit protection.
  • Thermal overload protection.
  • Proprietary ‘RFB’ circuit to protect amp in case of single rail fuse failure
  • Class A-AB operation.
  • Bias optimized for low distortion, heat and sonics, allowing for lower operating temperatures, and ideal sonic presentation.
  • Pure copper pcb traces, offering the lowest possible impedance.
  • Extremely short signal paths and highest quality MWI capacitors and audio grade signal path components for sonic purity.

Technical Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 17″Wx17″Dx9″H; Weight 84lb packed.
  • Power: 150W @ 8ohms; 250W @ 4 ohms; 450W @ 8 ohms bridged mono; 650W @ 4 ohms bridged mono. ALL power ratings at .05% THD!
  • Noise Floor: -100dB (Unweighted)
  • Bandwidth: 10Hz – 100Khz (+0, -1dB)