Over 35-years young, this Aurex pre/power system offers a performance that matches or exceeds contemporary mini/micro-systems. Rated at 40W/8ohm and 50W/4ohm, the SC-M15 delivers closer to 2x50W and 2x60W into 8/4ohm loads with a limited headroom permitting 58W and 66W, respectively, under dynamic conditions. The amplifier’s electronic protection kicks-in at 57W/2ohm and 12W/1ohm, equivalent to just 5.3A, so the SC-M15 is no powerhouse and best suited to sensitive, 8ohm loudspeakers [see Graph 1, below]. Distortion, however, is very low with Aurex having engineered a consistent 0.0013% from 1-40W/8ohm through the midrange (and 0.0005% through bass frequencies), increasing to 0.023% at 20kHz [blue trace, Graph 2 below].
The matching SY-C15 preamp offers even lower distortion – an incredible 0.00007-0.0008% re. 0dBV [black trace, Graph 2]. Noise is also very low through…