Trinnov Amplitude vs Storm Audio vs Marantz 16CH Amplifiers

gene

gene

Audioholics Master Chief
Administrator
The Trinnov Amplitude16 is one of the most powerful 16-channel home theater amplifiers on the market, rated at 200 watts per channel across all 16 channels. In our detailed test report, the Trinnov Amplitude16 demonstrates exceptional headroom, producing up to four times its rated power when channel pairs are bridged thanks to its ICE Edge Class D modules and dual 1600-watt SMPS power supplies.

We also compare its measured performance against the Marantz AMP 10 and StormAudio PA16 to see how today’s top 16-channel amplifiers stack up. Dive into the full bench test to see which multichannel powerhouse comes out on top.

TrinnovAmplitude-front.jpg


All three 16-channel amplifiers are excellent choices depending on power requirements and preamp characteristics you will be mating them with. Find out how they compare in our test report to decide which option is best for your home theater system.

Read: Trinnov Amplitude16 16CH Bench Test Report
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Audioholic Jedi
I think we are hitting an affordability crisis.

By the time you add an AVP of equivalent quality, you are pushing up to 20K.

By the time you buy speakers, subs and ancillary equipment of equivalent quality I estimate you will be in a total equipment price of around 60K and may be more.

Then we get to the issue of if any room in the house will be suitable and do justice to the equipment. I suspect it will require the build out and furnishing of a custom room to make it a worthwhile project.

So, I can see this heading well north of 100K.

Then we get to risk. Trinnov are well funded and run. However the private partners who hold all the equity, started the company 23 years or so ago. So they will be aging, and the company sold, and we all know the risks of that. Then if there is a problem a lack of service is more likely than not.

From my researches today it seems even equipment way down the "food chain" is seeing price rises fast.

Harmon seem to be rationalizing Marantz and to some extent Deonon. As far as I can tell Marantz is concentrating on their higher end cinema line and discontinuing the rest. The AVP 7706 is discontinued, along with a lot of the rest of the Marantz line outside of the higher end Cinema line of products.

This makes sense to concentrate the AV receiver end of the market in Denon's offerings.

However I see price rises, as entry into the 11.4 channel market with Denon, is $3,799.00. You have not yet bought a TV, ancillary electronics and speakers. It seems to me you committing to a 10K outlay at least and probably more if starting from scratch now.

Yamaha receivers are similarly priced. Onkyo is about the same, ranging from $700 to $2,300.

So, some sanity has to return to this. I think have to really stress to new members just starting out, that two good channels beats any number of added poorer ones, and certainly any soundbar.

With the cost of AVP's and AVRs, I think it is vital that we have more good active speakers that can be connected directly to a TV HDMI out.

Even for multichannel active speakers are still a better bet, as you only by the amps you need as they are in the speakers, and you won't have "wasted" power amps lying idle.

Clearly things are now at an a crucial inflexion point, and it is time for a fundamental reassessment.
 
N

Nondemo01

Audioholic
Thanks Gene! Been wondering how these bench test. Glad you keep the all important SINAD test that equals "better" by some. (Forget the fact that it's purely academic as most "bad" SINAD measurement are inaudible and make zero difference to the vast majority.) Expensive? Not really. This isn't for the "hobbyist crowd". It's for professional home theater installs using similar equipment such as Kaleidescape media servers, Perlisten speakers, and Christie projectors to name a few. Can you get what you need using Monoprice HTP1 and their fantastic ATI designed amps with some Arendal 1723 speakers and an entry Epson projector? Absolutely. Do products like the Trinnov do "more", testing shows yes. Knowing many who spend upwards of $150-200K on their media areas, I can say confidently that yes, name recognition matters and many wouldn't dream of having anything LESS than a Trinnov or Storm.

Us Audioholics are a rare breed. We love pouring over these kinds of reviews to know details like types of modules used and crossover components etc. Some of us can even afford a few of these pieces.

But I won't begrudge Trinnov for charging what they do, OR people who spend it. I've deployed to a lot of places in this world and I can assure you ALL of this stuff is firmly in the "we're truly blessed/first-world column.
 
Alex2507

Alex2507

Audioholic Slumlord
I think we are hitting an affordability crisis.
For home theater, yes. But think of it as a shift in the target demographic. We're building mansion theaters. $14k amps and $6k AVP's. $20k mains. I know those people exist but the most extravagant in home system I've seen had Paradigm Sig 8's with the matching center. I was blown away.

Congrats to those of you who not only can afford it but also have an interest in mansion theater.

I wonder how many units this company sells world wide and in just the USA/Canada markets.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Audioholic Jedi
For home theater, yes. But think of it as a shift in the target demographic. We're building mansion theaters. $14k amps and $6k AVP's. $20k mains. I know those people exist but the most extravagant in home system I've seen had Paradigm Sig 8's with the matching center. I was blown away.

Congrats to those of you who not only can afford it but also have an interest in mansion theater.

I wonder how many units this company sells world wide and in just the USA/Canada markets.
Well, as usual you have picked up on the whole thrust and point of my post.

What really matters is that people on median incomes or a little less can enjoy this new technology. That is what really builds the market for software and hardware.

I remember back 70 years or so ago, at the dawn of the Hi-Fi era, the office workers of the city of London and west end, would visit stores like Stern's Radio on Fleet Street, Henry's Radio in Edgeware and the Army and Navy surplus stores off Leicester Square, myself included. DIY was the order of the day then. Gilbert Briggs of Wharfedale published lots of DIY speaker designs and Raymond Cooke of KEF followed in his footsteps.

This allowed the many to not only enjoy the progress in audio fidelity, but have an active part in it.

Frankly I am astounded that we have had so few members who build their own speaker systems. In the information age and autocad design programs this is easier than it ever was to obtain superb results, at far less cost then online ordering. It also schools you in putting together superior systems.

I think this multichannel craze pushed by the industry has really increased cost, and led people to believe if they just have a pair of really good speakers powered by a two channel system, they are missing out, when that is far from the truth.

Things are really going off the rails now as far as I can assess the state of play.
 
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
An impressive piece of kit to be certain! Very cool, @gene . Thank you!
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Thanks Gene! Been wondering how these bench test. Glad you keep the all important SINAD test that equals "better" by some. (Forget the fact that it's purely academic as most "bad" SINAD measurement are inaudible and make zero difference to the vast majority.) Expensive? Not really. This isn't for the "hobbyist crowd". It's for professional home theater installs using similar equipment such as Kaleidescape media servers, Perlisten speakers, and Christie projectors to name a few. Can you get what you need using Monoprice HTP1 and their fantastic ATI designed amps with some Arendal 1723 speakers and an entry Epson projector? Absolutely. Do products like the Trinnov do "more", testing shows yes. Knowing many who spend upwards of $150-200K on their media areas, I can say confidently that yes, name recognition matters and many wouldn't dream of having anything LESS than a Trinnov or Storm.

Us Audioholics are a rare breed. We love pouring over these kinds of reviews to know details like types of modules used and crossover components etc. Some of us can even afford a few of these pieces.

But I won't begrudge Trinnov for charging what they do, OR people who spend it. I've deployed to a lot of places in this world and I can assure you ALL of this stuff is firmly in the "we're truly blessed/first-world column.
Yeah, people gotta do what makes them happy and best for them.

$13K for a 16CH amp? Shoot. My Bryston’s and ATI amps combined for $32K for 15CH.

Now, is it “smart” to buy these costly things?

No, I don’t think it’s smart or sensible. :D

But, gotta do what makes you happy. :)
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Frankly I am astounded that we have had so few members who build their own speaker systems.
How much time does it take to make just one speaker at home that looks decent?

Why in the hell would I waste all my time building garage speakers when I can make $115 per hour working overtime and use that overtime money to buy brand new shiny speakers that don’t look like garage speakers?:D
 
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AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Congrats to those of you who not only can afford it but also have an interest in mansion theater.
Congrats to people with a lot of money because they worked so hard in life to achieve that! :D

Having a lot of luck along the way in addition to having certain parents and resources also help a great deal. :D
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
I think we are hitting an affordability crisis.
I think it’s highly related to inflation.

My wife got a new Toyota Sienna 15 years ago for $35K. Now she just got a new one for $50K. :eek:

How the hell can poor people live anymore?:D
 
Tankini

Tankini

Audioholic General
Congrats to people with a lot of money because they worked so hard in life to achieve that! :D

Having a lot of luck along the way in addition to having certain parents and resources also help a great deal. :D
What of those who weren't so lucky?!
 
Tankini

Tankini

Audioholic General
I think it’s highly related to inflation.

My wife got a new Toyota Sienna 15 years ago for $35K. Now she just got a new one for $50K. :eek:

How the hell can poor people live anymore?:D
Andrew's wife is a very happy lady!;):)
IMG_20260329_190525.gif
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
Great if you want to spend that much money and have all the gear to make a great system of all of it.....just way beyond my interest level let alone how many people I'd need to provide such a system for, mostly it's just me.
 
Alex2507

Alex2507

Audioholic Slumlord
But seriously, how many of those units get produced yearly? I wonder if Mcode would have a way to access that type of info. Cool gear to be sure and the review is appreciated. It's a legit question and even on topic.

What of those who weren't so lucky?!
They go to the DIY forum. :D
 
N

Nondemo01

Audioholic
But seriously, how many of those units get produced yearly? I wonder if Mcode would have a way to access that type of info. Cool gear to be sure and the review is appreciated. It's a legit question and even on topic.



They go to the DIY forum. :D
Oh, I think you'd be surprised. They throw a LOT of money into R&D and I'm guessing the work done on Wave Forming alone was several million dollars. They are big in the pro audio and cinema space as well as home theater and Hi-Fi. I'm certain Trinnov is doing just fine. In fact, I bet they could charge multiples more for their products.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Audioholic Jedi
How much time does it take to make just one speaker at home that looks decent?

Why in the hell would I waste all my time building garage speakers when I can make $115 per hour working overtime and use that overtime money to buy brand new shiny speakers that don’t look like garage speakers?:D
Because it is all about making better speakers than you might be able to buy at all, at a sane price at least or if at all. You term garage speakers is insulting and grossly demeaning. You are welcome to come up for a visit, and I can assure you your views would change promptly.
 
N

Nondemo01

Audioholic
Because it is all about making better speakers than you might be able to buy at all, at a sane price at least or if at all. You term garage speakers is insulting and grossly demeaning. You are welcome to come up for a visit, and I can assure you your views would change promptly.
Better? Since I don't have any objective data points and can't do a subjective listen, I'll take your word for it and as long as you're happy, that's really all that matters. Few DIYers do independent testing on their "designs" to confirm frequency response, resonances, crossover tweaks etc. Let alone, the skill to add quality veneer to anything unless you go the RTJ/JTR route and use Line-X or similar. We aren't just paying for the "item", we're paying for the testing (Klippel, anechoic chamber, Audio Precision etc.), the R&D, and the warranty. From what I know about Trinnov, they are VERY supportive of their products. Again, this product isn't really for the "home theater hobbyists" , their market is the $100K and up media integrator crowd. The people who don't "fiddle" with remotes. They come home, tell Alexa to "something", and then enjoy. The few that ARE Audiophiles, probably fiddle with their record players and cartridges vice using test tones to flush out the best delay times in their living rooms. My $.02.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Audioholic Jedi
Better? Since I don't have any objective data points and can't do a subjective listen, I'll take your word for it and as long as you're happy, that's really all that matters. Few DIYers do independent testing on their "designs" to confirm frequency response, resonances, crossover tweaks etc. Let alone, the skill to add quality veneer to anything unless you go the RTJ/JTR route and use Line-X or similar. We aren't just paying for the "item", we're paying for the testing (Klippel, anechoic chamber, Audio Precision etc.), the R&D, and the warranty. From what I know about Trinnov, they are VERY supportive of their products. Again, this product isn't really for the "home theater hobbyists" , their market is the $100K and up media integrator crowd. The people who don't "fiddle" with remotes. They come home, tell Alexa to "something", and then enjoy. The few that ARE Audiophiles, probably fiddle with their record players and cartridges vice using test tones to flush out the best delay times in their living rooms. My $.02.
The issue goes much deeper than that.

For a start the home constructor can design and build speaker systems that totally conform to nature's laws without compromise. That means bigger and heavier speakers.



Those front right and left speakers are huge and weigh 350 lb each. Their size is due to the fact that they are aperiodic transmission lines and there size is entirely determined by the length of the wavelengths they are designed to reproduce without compromise. They are dual lines with fundamental frequencies half a wavelength apart. To my knowledge these are two of the the only six dual lines built. The former were the legendary monitors in BBC studios Maida Vale. The success of that design led me to pursue this approach. My rear backs are also dual lines, and their design started in 1977. Progress was much slower back then as there was no computer design assisted programs. I was an early adopter and started using computer assisted design, back in 1984.

The center speaker is also a TL and much bigger than it looks, and is a through wall design, and in no way would be commercially viable.

The advantage of TL designs, is that they are very efficient and above all can be low Q, so they are essentially free of bass colortation like sealed and ported designs.

Rear back dual TLs.



1 meter on axis response of a main speaker.



The drop in response above 15K is due to the limitation of the measuring equipment.

On and off axis 1 meter responses. The off axis response very closely mirrors the axis response, as it should.



The bass droop is to take care of room gain.

This is the response of the system a the main listening position and the gradual HF fall off is optimal, as you never want a flat curve at the MLP.



The system requires no activation of Audyssey, Dirac or any "so called" room correction systems or software.

DIY gives you huge design flexibility.

This in wall system was designed and built to my wife's specification. The in wall sub is a TL.





The advantages of DIY are enormous.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Because it is all about making better speakers than you might be able to buy at all, at a sane price at least or if at all. You term garage speakers is insulting and grossly demeaning. You are welcome to come up for a visit, and I can assure you your views would change promptly.
Although Einstein’s Theory of Relativity pertains to physics, I think it can also be extrapolated to speakers.

Two speakers traveling at a similar excellent Frequency Response will sound relatively similar and excellent regardless of whether they are DIY or factory-made. :D

So I am 100% sure that my view will not change if I listen to your DIY speakers.

Although SQ is salient, it’s not the only factor. Aesthetic is also relatively important. So there’s no way I would want your DIY speakers (or anyone else’s like JTR) anywhere near my house. That’s just how I feel about the aesthetics of DIY speakers. Everyone is different.

How many hours did it take you to make all your speakers? 200 hours?

And after a long day at work, do you think it’s realistic to expect people to spend all their time making DIY speakers?
 
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