The Emitter II Exclusive has always been regarded as the best sounding integrated amp in the World. The Emitter II Exclusive you see here is ASR’s latest (produced in 2018) and improved version over their Version Blue. Like its previous version, it is essentially a battery powered integrated amp (some have come to call it a power amp with volume control and input selection) which will offer 100 hours of battery powered amplification when fully charged. There is a “battery pack” for each channel and another “battery pack” to power the inputs for the ultimate in transparency and neutrality. So in total, you are looking at a four chassis amplification. Power output from the Emitter II Exclusive starts at 250W per channel in 8 ohms and rises up to 1,400W in 1 ohms.\n\nListening to the ASR is like breathing in the freshest of air. There was this total “emptiness” in coloration. Music was delivered with a purity that is unheard of from any integrated amp we have experienced with and is comparable to some of the best pre/power combos out there. And even in that respect, we are talking about pre/power combos that are in the $50,000 or more category. An excellent source unit and a top notch pair of speakers are MANDATORY to full enjoy the prowess of the ASR.
The Emitter II Exclusive does take up a good deal of real estate in your room and will require some “strategic” placement of components to reduce cable length running to and from it. Recommended placement for all four units is straight out level or stack the battery pack up like a “tower” is space is a constraint. Laying them out straight however makes it easier to connect the thick gauge power cables between the battery units and the main unit.
Cosmetically, the unit looks really good. A few minor scuff marks that are very typical from use but nothing major. We have the original boxes, manual, all the necessary power cables and remote. Collectively, the whole system weighs just slightly above 300 lbs and ships in 4 boxes on a pallet.
