General Asylum: REVIEW: LFD Audio Mistral LE Integrated Amplifier (SS) by Jonathan B

Model:	Mistral LE
Category:	Integrated Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$1595
Description:	75 wpc limited edition of Mistral integrated
Manufacturer URL:	LFD Audio
Manufacturer URL:	LFD Audio

Review by Jonathan B ( A ) on February 18, 2002 at 12:02:16
IP Address: 204.151.230.97

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After several years of trying to reconcile a Threshold T-100 with family life including small children, I gave up and started looking around for smaller integrated that would run cool enough to keep in the rack, and that did not have heat sinks that could cause permanent damage when a toddler stumbles.
I was in the process of figuring out what was available for audition from the dealers in the area when Audio Advisor sent an e-mail offering a close out on the Mistral LE for $975. It arrived still factory sealed, so this was not a demo.
I am now 3 weeks into the demo period, and the amp has played something more than 100 hours of music - so it probably is still not fully broken in.
I did not have any comparable integrateds on hand, so all comparisons are with my Musical Fidelity Nuvista/Threshold T-100 combo, using my Epos ES22 speakers. My first surprise was how close the systems really were in overall sound quality. I was expecting dramatic differences after reading some "tube-like" reviews of the Mistral, but it really was not that dramatic a difference in my system.
The Mistral did soften the presentation somewhat, but I think it is just as extended in the HF and may even be more transparent than the Nuvista/Threshold combo. The midrange is a tossup for me - the Mistral really does sound better with most voices, but it was a very close call.
The Nuvista/Threshold, though, definitely have more bass extension and impact, particularly at low volume levels. Overall, the bass of the Nuvista/Threshold also is better defined, making it easier, for example, to determine differences in, say, drum types. The other area in which the Mistral does not match the Nuvista/T-100 combo is in soundstaging. The stage is just not as clearly defined, or as deep, with the Mistral. Both of the differences I've described are actually pretty subtle, and neither is of overriding importance to me.
However, the Mistral does do so much right, and it meets most of my other criteria, that overall it is close to the perfect answer for me. I'm finding that even with bright recordings I'm playing music louder, with less fatigue.
My biggest remaining gripe is that it is designed to be left on all the time, and causes a turn-on thump at a surprising loud volume, but low in frequency. I don't think this will cause any damage to my speakers, and I've decided to live with it rather than hunt for another integrated at this price point that can get so much so right. So I'm keeping it.
JB

Product Weakness: Somewhat ill-defined bass (comapared with a power/pre combo that was 3x the cost at retail!), not the greatest soundstage
Product Strengths: Very musical, transparent, cool running,

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Threshold T-100
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Musical Fidelity Nuvista
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony SCD-333es, Wilson Benesch Circle/Clearaudio Aurum Beta/Monolithic PS-1
Speakers:	Epos ES22
Cables/Interconnects:	various
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock/Pop/Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	25 x 9 x 18
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Audio Prism Foundation 1
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Somewhat ill-defined bass (comapared with a power/pre combo that was 3x the cost at retail!), not the greatest soundstage
Product Strengths:	Very musical, transparent, cool running,