Bricasti Design M30 Monoblock Amplifier
Built for speakers that demand absolute control, the M30 delivers explosive dynamics, startling low-level detail and a deeply three-dimensional soundstage. Michael Zisserson found its high-current authority effortlessly preserved instrumental texture, vocal nuance and bass definition even during complex, high-volume passages. This is a seriously engineered monoblock for systems seeking clean power without sacrificing musical realism.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
96/100
Build Quality
95/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Delivers effortless, high-current control and remains composed with demanding loudspeaker loads.
Combines explosive dynamics with finely resolved instrumental texture, vocal nuance and controlled bass.
Creates a stable, deeply three-dimensional soundstage with strong separation between layers.
Exceptionally robust build, with billet-aluminum chassis construction and carefully engineered low-noise components.
Cons
Each monoblock is exceptionally large and heavy, requiring a substantial rack and effectively a two-person lift.
Standby power consumption is substantial at 60W per amplifier.
Small rear-panel labeling can make installation more difficult, particularly in a tight rack.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 96/100
The available review describes an exceptionally clean, immediate and fully dimensional presentation, combining finely resolved texture with unusually natural instrumental and vocal expression. It also portrays the M30 as unflappable with demanding loudspeakers, preserving separation, scale and control at very high levels.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
Michael Zisserson calls out natural harmonic energy and instrumental texture he had "never heard elsewhere, at any price." He also reports remarkable preservation of detail in complex music and convincingly resolved trumpet texture, suggesting unusually high clarity without apparent strain.
Tonal Balance Musicality
96/100
The review repeatedly emphasizes natural harmonic energy, realistic instrumental texture and controlled bass timbre. Fine vocal inflections and word formation are said to emerge with a lifelike quality that deepens the emotional meaning of the performance.
Dynamics
97/100
Dynamics are described as "uncapped," with remarkable speed and no loss of composure even as music becomes complex or volumes become extreme. The M30 reportedly explodes music into the room, delivers chest-impacting drum hits, and feels as though it is merely idling regardless of loudspeaker load.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
The reviewer hears clearly separated layers placed properly within a completely three-dimensional stage. He also praises stable matching between the monoblocks, avoiding the image drift sometimes associated with separate amplifiers, and describes a tangible violin image with convincing listener perspective.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
The review describes painstaking execution, including transformer-field alignment intended to reduce noise, a solid billet-aluminum chassis and anti-vibration feet. Its monoblock, fully differential layout, substantial capacitor storage, balanced and unbalanced inputs, trigger input and selectable input trim support the impression of a thoroughly engineered amplifier.
Value for Money
85/100
At $15,000 each, the M30 occupies a serious high-end price class. The review calls it an amplifier to be coveted by listeners seeking dynamic range, low noise and three-dimensional imaging, but it does not directly compare its price or value with competing amplifiers.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
No reviews found yet
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Total Harmonic Distortion
- THD+N less than 0.005% 20hz-20kHz at full rated power into 8, 4 and 2 ohms.
- Power
- 200W into 8 ohms, 400W into 4 ohms, 800W into 2 ohms.
- Frequency response
- 10hz-150kHz, within 0.5db.
- Signal to Noise
- greater than 95db at full rated.
- Power Topology
- Fully Differential, bi polar.
- Balanced Input
- XLR connector 200k ohm impedance.
- Unbalanced Input
- RCA connector 100k ohm impedance.
- Weight
- 105 lbs.
- Shipping Weight
- 123 lbs.
- Finish
- Anodized Aluminum.
- Mains Voltage set at factory
- 100, 120, 220, 230, 240 VAC, 50 Hz - 60 Hz.
- Trigger In
- TRS connector for 5V external trigger.
- Input Trim
- 0db, -6db, -12db, -18db of attenuation.
- Power consumption
- 60W standby, 2W idle.
Manufacturer's Description — Bricasti Design
The Bricasti Design
Model 30 Monoblock Amplifier
The M30 monoblock amplifier is the latest iteration of the powerful M28 monoblock amplifier in a more rack-friendly form factor. For those who desire the benefits of monoblocks amps in a more compact size, the M30 boasts the exceptional performance of the M28's with a chassis height of only 10.5 inches and a width of 17 inches.
Performance
The M30 integrates the same superb current delivery as the taller M28's in a smaller, wider footprint for those desiring additional power in smaller spaces or rack-friendly set-ups. A single, powerful transformer and custom built capacitor banks render a beautiful sense of depth and dimension that needs to be experienced to truly be appreciated.
Fully differential
Not all devices are balanced end-to-end. The M30's fully differential design delivers a fast, low distortion, open and harmonically accurate musical experience. Paired with any of the Bricasti line of fully differential digital to analog converters, a truly balanced system can be enjoyed from source to speaker.
Optimal design
The M30 chassis is design to keep critical components in an optimal temperature range with the generous use of aluminum, crafted from solid blocks and a clever design that directs airflow through the top. Stillpoints isolation devices have been carefully designed directly into the feet for maximum isolation from vibration.
Handcrafted in the USA
All of our products are crafted in the old world tradition, in a classic brick mill building in Massachusetts USA by a team of individuals dedicated to excellence.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Bricasti Design M30 Monoblock Amplifier
- Akalın Muzik Ltd. — in-store — İstanbul, Turkey (website)
- Alma Music & Audio — online and in-store — San Diego, California, United States (website)
- Audio Archon — online and in-store — Libertyville, Illinois, United States (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AV Solutions - Italy — online and in-store — Aosta, Valle d'Aosta, Italy (website)
- East End Hi-Fi — online and in-store — Brookhaven, New York, United States (website)
- Erdal Stereo — in-store — Erdal, Vestland, Norway (website)
- Fat Cat Audio — United States (website)
- Fred's Sound Of Music AV — in-store — Portland, Oregon, United States (website)
- Jordan Acoustics — in-store — Christchurch, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 27 more verified dealers