The Big Sound

We took a Rolling Stones disc to check out these home-grown audio systems and came away impressed.

Sonodyne Audio
What: SP 203R Stereo Pre-amplifier, SPA 202 Stereo 2-channel Amplifier, Avant 345 Speakers. Listening to Sonodyne’s SPA 202 amplifiers through the booming Avant 345 floorstanding speakers is a great experience. The signal from the CD player is channelled through Sonodyne’s SP 203R Stereo Pre-amplifier. The Rolling Stones had never sounded this LOUD.
Price: SP 203R Stereo Pre-amplifier-Rs 7,500, Stereo 2-channel Amplifier-Rs 19,000, Avant 345 Speakers-Rs 60,000
Available at: All Sonodyne dealerships
Contact: www.sonodyne.com

Lyrita Audio
What: Integre Valve Amp Harmony One Speakers. We tried out Lyrita’s stereo valve amplifier—the Integre. The beauty of a tube amp lies in its warm sound, and the listening experience is completely unlike that in power-mongering transistor amps. Like all valve amps, it took a little time to warm up. Listening to “She’s a Rainbow” by The Rolling Stones through this little beauty was all about nuance, and while the interplay between guitars, piano and the rhythm section was captured beautifully, the vocals came out loud and clear.
Price: On request
Available at: By order
Contact: www.lyrita-audio.in

Enbee Audio
What: Stereo Amplifier 705 The venerable Y. M. Nakra’s custom-made systems have been knocking successive generations of audiophiles off their feet for 30 years. The system I was testing was one of Enbee’s two stereo amps— the 705, coupled with its 775 stereo pre-amp. The Stones didn’t fare that badly. The amp boomed the rhythm section to the stars, while Mick Jagger’s voice sparkled on the mid-range. This powerful amp coupled with Nakra’s custom-made speaker section humbled me with its expansive sound.
Price: On request
Available at: By order
Contact: Phone- (95) 120 2510067