The P3100 is a 2-channel power amplifier that is equally at home with the most discerning audiophile as with the most demanding studio recording engineer
David Hafler pioneered the use of MOSFETs during the 1970's as a means to approach the even-order sonic character of tubes, while transitioning to the more practical side of discrete solid-state electronics. Over the years his designs have proven to be extremely fault tolerant even in abusive situations. This sturdiness enables the amplifier to drive reactive speaker loads without the performance-degrading sound penalties imposed by elaborate protection schemes. Lateral MOSFETs were designed specifically for linear audio amplification with their high speed and superior sonic characteristics compared to the vertical MOSFETs or bipolar output transistors used by many other amplifier makers. Inside the P3100 is the latest refinement of the trans.nova (TRANSconductance Nodal Voltage Amplifier, US Patent 4,467,288) circuit that was developed by industry guru Jim Strickland. The trans.nova circuit squeezes the most out of every component to reduce the gain stages down to three in lieu of the five typically employed by others. The shorter path results in a much more open sounding and realistic sound stage.
In this latest iteration, a toroidal power transformer has been introduced. This has a lower output impedance and produces far less noise than a conventional E-lam transformer. The result is a tighter, more defined bottom end. As well, toroidal transformers are inherently self-shielding which reduces the amount of potential low frequency and rectifier noise introduced into the audio signal path. Passive convection cooling, with over-sized heatsinks, surround the amplifier eliminating the need for a fan, thus enabling the P3100 to be used in the most intimate installations. The front panel includes individual level adjustments to offset room imbalances, signal present and ballistic LED metering, along with indicators for faults due to excessive heat or short circuits. A soft start power-on switch protects loudspeakers from turn on transients that could reduce lifespan. The rear panel sports a choice of XLR, ¼" TRS and gold plated RCAs for greater flexibility. Output connections feature gold-plated binding posts that can adapt to all popular speaker cable sizes.
In use, the Hafler P3100 is rich in detail, depth of field and musicality. With 150 watts of available power per channel at 8 Ohms and 200 watts at 4 Ohms, the P3100 has plenty of headroom to drive the most power-hungry loudspeaker. Bridged in mono, 400 watts are available for sub-woofers or as a matched pair for larger 2-channel setups.
