Goldmund Telos 9800 Mono Power Amplifier

Goldmund Telos 9800 Mono Power Amplifier

The Goldmund Telos 9800 is a monoblock power amplifier and the successor to the Telos 8800, representing what Goldmund describes as the most advanced expression of its amplification research to date. For the first time in the Telos line, the power supply and amplification stages are housed in separate enclosures, allowing each function to operate under optimized conditions. Delivering 1,560 Wrms into 8 ohms and 4,180 Wrms into 1.4 ohms, it was developed in collaboration with designer Cécile Barani and is crafted in Geneva, Switzerland.

Two-Chassis Architecture

The Telos 9800 separates its two primary functions into dedicated enclosures. The amplification unit is engineered to preserve the integrity of the musical signal. The power supply unit is designed exclusively for the Telos 9800 and provides the stability, current, and energy reserves required for demanding musical passages. Goldmund states this separation allows each unit to operate under optimal conditions, free from the electrical and mechanical interference that arises when both functions share a single chassis. The two enclosures are joined at a junction finished with a single gold plate.

Output Power and Performance

The Telos 9800 is rated for continuous output power of 1,560 Wrms into 8 ohms, 2,520 Wrms into 4 ohms, 3,250 Wrms into 2.7 ohms, and 4,180 Wrms into 1.4 ohms. The damping factor is 900 at 1kHz into 8 ohms. THD+N measured unloaded is below 0.005% from 20Hz to 20kHz at 30Vrms output. IMD (SMPTE), measured unloaded, is below 0.01%. Output floor noise, measured with the analog input terminated with RCA shorting caps and unloaded, is below 3 microvolts from 20Hz to 20kHz. The slew rate is 18V/us.

Amplification Architecture

The Telos 9800 is built on Goldmund's Proprietary Symmetrical Architecture with a Fully Symmetrical Design power stage using next-generation MOSFET output devices. Goldmund states these devices were selected to provide greater stability, faster transient response, and enhanced loudspeaker control compared to the Telos 8800. The power supply uses a Controlled Energy Management System with high-performance custom transformers and a high-capacity capacitor bank. A newly developed SoftStart circuit is incorporated in the power stage. Protection covers thermal, overcurrent, and short-circuit conditions.

Gain and Input Configuration

Nominal gain is 35dB, adjustable by plus or minus 9dB in steps of 3dB for each input. Maximum input level before clipping is 2Vrms for analog inputs and 0dBFS for the digital input. Maximum output voltage in bridge mode is 375Vpp at 1% THD, unloaded.

Connectivity

Analog inputs are provided on both XLR and RCA. A single S/PDIF digital input and a S/PDIF digital output are included. Speaker connections use Goldmund's proprietary 4B binding posts in gold-plated copper, which Goldmund specifies for optimum signal transmission and minimal signal loss. A trigger input and RS232 port are provided for system integration.

Chassis and Construction

Both chassis are precision-machined from micro-blasted aluminum with a joint-free design and minimal screws, available in grey or black. The 15mm-thick aluminum panels and 40mm-thick radiator chassis function as an integrated passive heatsink using natural convection, with no active cooling components. Goldmund's Mechanical Grounding system is integrated into both chassis. The Telos 9800 weighs 360 kg per unit and measures 1,367 x 500 x 500 mm (H x W x D).