http://sites.thestar.com.my/audio/story.asp?file=/2010/6/14/afreviews/6434642&sec=afreviews
THERE are quite a few Exposure aficionados in AudioFile. I own, and still regularly use, an old Exposure X, the company’s first integrated amp which made its debut around the time the Margaret Thatcher administration ended.
I believe MK Chong has an Exposure XV tucked among his goodies, while new convert Khairan Nasir is discovering the capabilities of his Exposure 3010S2.
The company was established in the 1970s, but I recall it made its way to these shores only around the mid-1980s. My first encounter with its wares came back then, while taking a break from the pinball machines in the old Pertama Complex to cool off in a near-hidden hi-fi shop in the upper floors. The nice assistant fired up the multiple black box Exposure amp combination and all present were astonished at how thoroughly it demolished the best-selling A&R A60 amplifier in just about every sonic parameter.
I subsequently got to meet John Farlowe, Exposure’s original owner and designer, probably about the time local interests first bought into his company (local share-holding continues to this day). He advised me to keep the X, a design he was especially proud of, if I was going to continue to use a turntable. My kinda man!
Shuffle and deal
My understanding is that Farlowe was not directly involved in the 2010 and 3010 designs, these being the first two rungs at the bottom of the current Exposure product hierarchy. Another celebrated name, Tony Brady of Onix amplifiers fame, now helms the Exposure design team.
The 2010S2 is a revision of the well-received 2010S, though just where the changes have been made, apart from the inputs now being relay-selected, haven’t been elaborated on. Externally, the 2010S2 looks similar to its predecessor, the distinguishing factor being no text on the bottom half of the amp’s fascia.
The 2010S2 has six pairs of RCA inputs, a fixed output for dinosaurs (like me) who still make analogue recordings, and a buffered variable preamp output. If inclined to, the user can run a bi-amp set up with Exposure’s own gain-matched 2010S2 power amplifier.
An internal MM or MC board option is available but wasn’t provided – my 100% track record here continues! Local dealer Audio Image will oblige an order for the board but an external phono stage like the Clearaudio Nano available there is more flexible as it caters for both cartridge types and has variable settings, allowing more options going forward. Either route has pros and cons, but Audio Image is offering a sweetened price on the Nano if purchased with the 2010S2.
The 2010S2’s speaker terminals are not switchable and are thus more for bi-wiring. They accept only banana-type plugs which may annoy those who use other terminations on their speaker cables. The Alps potentiometer is motorised so the unit is remote controllable for most of its switchings (not for power on/off, though).
Cards on the table
It didn’t take long for the 2010S2 to come on song and exhibit the traits which have made Exposure a favourite with discerning punters. In a system sourced by a Bastin Garrard 401-Rega RB300-Dyna 10x5-Rotel RHQ-10 phono amp, and driving Sonus faber Guarneri loudspeakers and a James EMB1000 subwoofer, arguably somewhat above the 2010S2’s station in life, the little amp sang for its supper with a passion rarely encountered at its price point.
The midrange sounded spot on, with Don McLean’s take of Roy Orbison’s Crying so well portrayed that my wife, who has heard her share of valve amps, commended the results. Midrange detail gave the diyparadise Eva-Euphonic Research Amp-80 combination, a really revealing combo, a run for its money.
Rhythmic and timing aspects met the expectations set by its predecessors, with Paul Simon’s Rhythm Of The Saints LP playing through with no thoughts on the part of the listener to skip any tracks. Strangely, it is here that I feel the old X may just have the measure of its descendent, but this really depends on personal sensitivities to this subjective musical aspect.
The highs were excellent, showing virtually no grain, grit or hardness that gives away the game for lower-cost transistor amps. Bass was solid and played notes well, none of the mushed-up and homogenised lower end that less well sorted-out designs can suffer playing complex pieces.
Overall scale and low-end extension were good, but not a match for the more powerful (and expensive when available!) Krell KAV300-i and diyparadise Eva-Mesa Baron amps used as comparison to gauge these aspects. I suppose this is where big brother, the 3010S2, or a bi-amped 2010S2 combo, should be called upon.
Call, or raise
An enthusiastic recommendation from yours truly was all sewn up within a fortnight or so of evaluation and comparison.
The 2010S2 is informative, fun to listen to, tugs at your heartstrings and brings all these to the table at a keen price, so you owe it to yourself to audition it carefully. I’m all curious now about how good the range topping MCX system may be.
EXPOSURE ELECTRONICS 2010S2
WHAT IT IS: Solid-state integrated amplifier.
LUST FACTOR: A musical communicator par excellence; option to upgrade to a bi-amp set up.
REALITY CHECK: Plasticky remote; output terminal type precludes usage of various speaker cable terminations.
PRICE: RM4,250
FEATURES:
Separate pre-amp output
Bi-wiring compatible
75 watts per channel into 8 Ohms
Full-function remote control
3-year guarantee
