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The Stereo Times (www.stereotimes.com)
Melody I880 Integrated Amplifier
My exposure to the Melody brand came about during a late night web browsing session a couple of
months ago. Having just installed the mega-buck Vitus SM-101-mono amps as well as the Behold
amplification system, I was hardly in need of another power plant. After digesting a couple of rave
reviews (Yes, reviewers read reviews), and learning the modest asking price of the $2200 KT88
equipped M-1880, I sent off an e-mail to Melody which was promptly returned the next day. My initial
desire was to review the mono-amps but only the integrated was available so I jumped at it.
First off, the packing, build quality and over all fit and finish of the Melody integrated is way beyond
what we could have expected even a few years ago at or near this price point. The lush black laquer
simply drips from the sturdy sculpted chassis. Once warmed up, I was giddy with delight with what I
heard. Despite being under powered for my enormous room and relatively inefficient speakers, in the
right system this little beauty will deliver liquid, dynamic and tonally true renditions of instruments and
voices. While I would not call the sound lush, it was colorful in the best sense of the word. On concert
recordings, the dynamics were very lively with great micro-contrasts and surprising drive for such
modest power. Review to come. [Greg Petan]
