With its big, bluff edifice – all 68kg of it – the Centaur II 500 Stereo power amp is a true high-end heavyweight. Rated at 500W per channel with a power supply derived from the flagship Hercules II, it brings serious muscular clout to the party. Connectivity includes a choice of two balanced (XLR) inputs – one high gain, the other ‘Direct’ lower gain – and one single-ended (RCA) input. It delivers all the power, clarity and dynamics anyone could want from their music, combining its sheer might with the speed, delicacy and finesse required to illuminate recordings in an entirely convincing fashion.