Audio component maker, Starke Sound has announced its new line of power amplifiers, the Fiera series. These amps are built for audio and home theater enthusiasts seeking better fidelity from the surround and immersive systems for both film soundtrack and music reproduction. The Fiera models provide lots of power and stability for realistic sound.
The Fiera amplifiers are optimized for the lowest possible noise and distortion at typical listening levels.
What a Power Amplifier Is
Before exploring the Fiera amplifiers further, here is a refresher on the purpose of a power amplifier.
A power amplifier is designed to supply power and transfer audio signals to one or more speakers. However, these types of amplifiers don’t have the extra features and connections usually encountered on a home theater receiver, such as a radio, input source switching, and audio/video (AV) processing. The only control you typically find on a power amplifier (apart from a power switch) is a primary gain control, which is analogous to volume.
Power Amplifiers come in a variety of channel configurations, from a single channel (aka Monoblock) that powers just one speaker, two-channel (stereo), or multi-channel (typically 3, 5, or 7 channels) for home theater applications.
To use a power amplifier, a separate preamp or AV preamp/processor is required to get audio signals from content sources to the power amplifier (more on this later in this article).
The AV preamp/processor decodes/processes audio signals and passes the signals to the power amp via analog RCA or XLR connections. The power then sends the signals to the speakers.
Tip: When a separate power amplifier and preamp/processor are used in an audio/home theater setup instead of a receiver, they are referred to as “Separates”.
Starke Sound Fiera Power Amplifiers
Fiera Power Amplifiers employ Starke Sound’s new, proprietary, 1-kilowatt SAPS (Shielded Switched Audio Power Supply) and NS60 Class-D amplifier modules to deliver 260 watts RMS per channel into 4 ohms with very smooth sound quality.
The Fiera4
The Fiera4 is a second-generation, 4-channel, Class D amp using technology found in previous Starke designs, and can be bridged for 2- or 3-channel operation.
Users can upgrade existing AV receivers that are equipped with compatible preamp outputs using Fiera4 to drive left, center, and right speakers, add height channels for an immersive setup, or power a 2-channel audiophile music system.
The Fiera4 allows users to choose between 2, 3, and 4-channel operations, bridging with speakers always connected to positive and negative binding posts.
Specifications
- Channels: 4
- Amplifier Type: Class D
- Output Power:
- 260 W RMS at 4 Ω (1% THD, per channel)
- 130 W RMS at 8 Ω (1% THD, per channel)
- 450 W RMS at 2 Ω (BTL mode)
- Gain Range: 21.5dB
- Maximum Current Output Per Channel: 16.5A
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz -1.2dB
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio（SNR): >110dB, “A” weighted at 4 ohm 260W
- Input Connections:
- RCA x 4
- XLR x 4
- Speaker Output Terminals: 4 pairs (beryllium copper binding post)
- Color Options: Black
- Dimensions (HWD – with Feet):
- 5.5 x 17.7 x 13.4
- 140 x 450 x 340 mm
- Weight: 19 pounds (8.6 kg)
Price and Availability
The Fiera4 is priced at $1,499 (MSRP) and is available through Starke Sound and Authorized Dealers.
The Fiera8
Starke Sound doubled up on the Fiera4 to give customers 8 channels of high-power Class D and audiophile sound quality from circuits developed for the new Fiera4. You can use Fiera8 to upgrade and expand your home theater channel set up for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro 3D Audio, or other setup requiring more channels and speakers.
Specifications
- Channels: 8
- Amplifier Type: Class D
- Output Power:
- 260 W RMS at 4 Ω (1% THD per channel)
- 130 W RMS at 8 Ω (1% THD per channel)
- Maximum Current Output Per Channel: 16.5A
- Gain Range: 21.5dB
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz -1.2dB
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio（SNR): >110dB, “A” weighted at 4 ohm 260W
- Input Connections:
- RCA x 8
- XLR x 8
- Speaker Output Terminals: 8 pairs (beryllium copper binding post)
- Color Options: Black
- Dimensions (HWD – with Feet):
- 5.5 x 17.7 x 13.4-inches
- 140 x 450 x 340 mm
- Weight: 21.8 lbs (9.9kg)
Price and Availability
The Fiera8 is priced at $1,999 (MSRP) and will begin shipping in August 2022 through Starke Sound and Authorized Dealers.
