Nuforce Reference 9 V3 SE

Six Moons Rave Review of the Ref 9 V3 SE

The Ref 9 V3, is the standard Reference Series mono amp, is available in a black or silver finish. Price listed is for one amplifier.

Nuforce has made significant improvements to their designs over the years, and the V3 amplifiers are the lates iteration of their patented technology. Improvements to the midrange, and soundstage width and depth are immediately evident when compared to the V2SE amplifiers. the bass still remains an extremely strong feature of the VxSE amplifiers. Gone are the complaints of "cold" sounding digital amps. The Nuforce amps sonic characteristics are somewhere in between linear powered solid state and tubes.

The Ref 9 V3SE utilizes an improved power capacitor board featuring Nuforce's proprietary low ESR capacitor matrix and high performance capacitors.

The Ref 9 V3SE adds refinement and delicacy to the already excellent-sounding Ref 9 V3. The When used in less than the most revealing systems, the SE's advantages may not be fully realized. As excellent as the Ref 9 V3 is, the Ref 9 V3SE takes its strengths to an even higher level. These include:

• Sweeter highs, without any compromise in frequency extension.
• A smoother and more palpable midrange, while preserving the natural harmonic structure for which the Ref 9 V3 is famous. The Ref 9 V3SE is one of the few amplifiers in the world that does not impart a signature on the music.  This results in a more natural and relaxed presentation.
• The bass remains the amp's a huge strength.  The Ref 9 V3 SE has same tightness and texture of the standard  Ref 9 V3, but with a little more weight.
• The stage is more coherent and deeper.

In summary, the SE's sound is more neutral and liquid, with a more relaxed yet powerful soundstage presentation.

Ref 9 V3SE Specifications

• Power
  • 175w RMS, 325w peak into 8 ohms
  • 335w RMS, 650w peak into 4 ohms
  • 335w RMS, 1300w peak into 2 ohms
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz -0.3 dB - 120 kHz -3 dB
• THD+N = 0.01%, 1kHz, 1W to 10W, A Weighted.
• Input impedance: 22K ohm
• Input sensitivity = 2.57V, 100W @ 8 Ohm; 1.81V, 100W @ 4 Ohm
• Gain: 21 db
• SNR > 100 db at 100W
• Dimension: 8.5" x 14" x 1.8" (height does not include feet)
• Worldwide AC voltage (84VAC to 264VAC). No need for AC regulator if the AC voltage falls within the specified range.
• Weight: 8 lb
• AC Fuse: Slow blow, 5A, 250VAC