Lamm Industries M1.2 Reference Amplifier
The Lamm M1.2 Reference combines pure Class A delicacy with explosive dynamic control and strikingly three-dimensional image density. Stereophile found it exceptionally nuanced and unflustered by punishing electrostatic loads, while The Audio Beat praised its organic, lifelike musical presence. With 110W of Class-A power and immense low-impedance capability, it is a compelling reference monoblock for revealing systems.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
96/100
Build Quality
90/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Exceptional low-level nuance and resolution, with finely articulated dynamics from tiny level shifts to full-scale impact.
Delivers vivid three-dimensionality, dense imaging, and an organic sense of musical presence.
Handles difficult electrostatic loudspeaker loads at very high levels without difficulty.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 96/100
Reviewers portray the M1.2 Reference as an exceptionally nuanced, musically absorbing monoblock with unusual control, dimensionality, and dynamic finesse. It combines delicacy and low-level insight with the force to make demanding recordings and difficult speakers feel fully alive.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
Stereophile heard “delicacy and nuance” throughout, saying the amplifier corralled every intricacy while clearly articulating a pianist's technique. That praise points to outstanding low-level resolution without apparent loss of coherence or natural flow.
Tonal Balance Musicality
97/100
The Audio Beat described living, breathing performers, an organic yet ordered presentation, and music that consistently demanded attention. Its reviewer considered the M1.2 unusually dependable at conveying music's “vital essences” regardless of partnering equipment.
Dynamics
96/100
Stereophile found transient and dynamic responsiveness ideal and seamless, praising both tiny gradations in level and major contrasts. Deep synth bass and drum strikes were described as having whiplash-inducing force, clarity, immediacy, and liveness.
Soundstage Imaging
96/100
The Audio Beat reported a restored sense of three-dimensionality and exceptionally improved image density. The presentation was said to make performers feel present and human rather than merely reproduced between the speakers.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
90/100
The M1.2 uses a pure-Class-A hybrid circuit with a selected 6922/ECC88 tube per channel, MOS-FET outputs, and an 850VA toroidal transformer. The Audio Beat also cites painstakingly precise artisanal manufacturing, while Stereophile found the amplifiers bulletproof when driving difficult electrostatic speakers loudly.
Value for Money
85/100
The supplied reviews do not directly assess whether the M1.2 Reference represents good value at its asking price, and no current price is provided. They do, however, describe performance of a level that clearly places it among serious reference-grade monoblocks rather than ordinary high-power amplifiers.
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Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Pure Class A Operation
- No overall feedback
- 110W per channel
- Continuous into 8/4 Ohms (pure class A operation)
- 400W per channel
- Continuous into 2 Ohms
- 600W per channel
- Continuous into 1 Ohm
- Switch-selectable bias/voltage settings
- For 8- or 4-Ohm operation
- 1 specially selected 6922/ECC88 vacuum triode tube
- Per channel
- Specification
- 12 high speed MOS-FET output transistors
- Custom-made 850-VA toroidal power transformer
- Assures absolutely unique clarity and micro-resolution during sound reproduction
- “Soft-start" circuit & vacuum tube rectifiers
- Protects power supply components from large in-rush currents when the amplifier is turned on
- Specification
- 4-155,000 Hz frequency response
- Specification
- Operates on all world AC line voltages
- Height
- 8.25" (21cm)
- Width
- 17" (43.2cm)
- Depth
- 19.5" (49.5cm) Add 2.8125"(7.14cm) of depth for front and rear handles
- Weight (each)
- 68.5lbs (31kg)
Manufacturer's Description — Lamm Industries
A milestone In high-end amplification
The M1.2 Reference monoblock power amplifier represents a top of the line product in LAMM hybrid and solid-state audio equipment. It is the pinnacle of its designer’s professional career and a result of years of intensive research directed solely at attaining the most accurate reproduction of recorded music. Unique topology and application of the most advanced technological resources and processes bring the M1.2 Reference to a threshold of excellence in sound reproduction.
Design Elements
A distinctive feature of the M1.2 Reference is its presentation of the extraordinary transparency of perceived sound which in turn assures the recreation of a three dimensional soundstage in the home, recording studio, etc. without boundaries and limitations. The M1.2 Reference is a masterful blend of design and engineering simplicity. It is a pure class A amplifier featuring high-speed MOS-FET transistors in the output stage with no overall feedback and special switch-selectable bias/voltage settings for 8- or 4-Ohm operation.
The bias setting switch assures the pure class A operation of the M1.2 Reference when matched with a speaker load of either 4 or 8 Ohms, whereas conventional class A designs double the power into 4 Ohms resulting in one fourth of the doubled power in class A and the rest in class AB (learn more about this in FAQ section of our website at lammdev.wpengine.com/faq/switch.html).
The M1.2 Reference is a hybrid design with one specially selected 6922 vacuum triode in the second stage.The M1.2 Reference is conservatively rated to deliver 110 Watts into 8 and 4 Ohms in pure class A operation (high and low impedance settings, respectively); 220 Watts into 2 Ohms, and 400 Watts into 1 Ohm (low impedance setting), continuous. The M1.2 Reference can drive any known speaker. The harmonic structure remains intact regardless of the speaker load, while the extreme clarity is maintained at all power levels.
Components
Each amplifier is carefully constructed and hand-crafted with the finest materials and parts currently available, some of which include military graded low noise DALE metal film resistors; PRC wire wound resistors; ELECTROCUBE and ROEDERSTEIN film capacitors; high frequency switching grade CORNELL DUBILIER electrolytic capacitors; BOURNS multi-turn potentiometers; HAMMOND filter chokes; military graded low noise long life vacuum tubes; high quality heavy duty gold-plated binding posts and RCA jacks; gold-plated NEUTRIC XLR connectors, and CAMAC-type coaxial connectors from FISCHER.
Special attention was given to designing the toroidal power transformer, which has no mechanical contact with either the transformer cover or the chassis and is suspended in a special encapsulant that almost completely absorbs even the residual mechanical vibrations. This plays a significant role in assuring the absolutely unique clarity and micro-resolution during sound reproduction.
The M1.2 Reference works on all world AC line voltages. U.S. Patent No. D368,261; U.S. Patent No. 5,470,795; other patents pending.
Features
Drives to any known speaker
The harmonic structure remains intact regardless of the speaker load, while the extreme clarity is maintained at all power levels.
Ultra low-noise power transformer
Custom-made toroidal power transformer has no mechanical contact with either the transformer cover or the chassis, assuring the absolutely unique clarity and micro-resolution during sound reproduction.
Transformer hum reducer
Special circuit reduces power transformer core saturation and residual mechanical hum.
Bias setting (load) switch
Switch-selectable biasing circuit maintains pure Class A operation of the output stage for all load conditions between 4-16 Ohms.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Lamm Industries M1.2 Reference Amplifier
- Absolute Hi End — in-store — Ormond, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Ann Arbor Audio Design — in-store — Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States (website)
- Audioplus Hi End — in-store — San Benedetto del Tronto, Marche, Italy (website)
- gestalt FINE AUDIO — in-store — Nashville, Tennessee, United States (website)
- Innovative Audio Video — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Maestro Audio — in-store — Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv District, Israel (website)
- Technology Factory — in-store — Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, Belgium (website)
- The Audio Beat — online (website)
- The Cable Company — online and in-store — New Hope, Pennsylvania, United States (website)
- USA Tube Audio — online and in-store — Phoenix, Arizona, United States (website)
