reprinted from Audio & Video Lifestyle Magazine AVL-80, p56, with kind permission of LORANE Publishing

There’s not much more we can say about Redgum Audio after the feature a couple of months back in issue AVL-78. However, this is the first of the suburban Melbourne manufacturer's products to reach the Audio & Video Lifestyle magazine ‘Audition’ pages. For those of you who missed out on the company profile, Redgum Audio was formed five years ago by Ian Robinson, a gentleman with three decades of hi-fi industry experience under his belt and designer of the Redgum range of amplifiers. Currently there are four 'models' in the range, although the entire range shares the same intrinsic design qualities so you'd be better off thinking there's one Redgum amplifier that comes with different power outputs. The entry-level amp is this, the RGi60 - a 60 watter integrated single unit. The next model is the RGi120, a stereo power amp/passive pre, rated at you guessed it, 120 watts. Next up, the RGM175 monoblocs and topping the range off, the most powerful, the RGM300 monoblocs. There's also the CD2, a DA converter that works with any computer CD-ROM drive as its transport, a six-channel 240 watt AV power amp and a couple of loudspeakers which Ian enlisted the help of leading Aussie speaker maker, Axis Loudspeakers to design. Back to the matter in hand, the RGi60 amplifier. Now, Redgum amps aren't your everyday sort of amplifier. The product literature will tell you in great detail what makes the Redgum amps different and there's a number of design features that sets Redgum truly apart from the crowd. The first thing you'll notice is that the amplifier comes with a key. It's a feature I've only ever once come across, a few years back, when Thorens did a similar thing. The lock doubles as the on/off switch - so no key and you can't switch it on. Great if you want to keep the kids away from the hi-fi. It also acts as a security feature - any would-be thief isn't going to get much joy out of it without the key. Every Redgum amp has its own key and Redgum keeps a registry of keyholders, so a keyless amp is bound to raise suspicions. Novel, yes, but also practical. Another thing you'll notice is that the RGi60 has two volume controls. The dual mono design is a deliberate attempt to reduce the amount of distortion the volume pot contributes to the sound quality by reducing the amount of contact with in the volume control. In fact Redgum amps don't use conventional carbon potentiometers at all, instead opting for a volume control made of conductive plastic. Other features (or lack of them) to maximise sound quality abound. Redgum works with the philosophy of 'less is more', and maintains its guiding design principle is 'not to use insane bunches of components, when one unit will do.' It's a principle at the heart of amplifier design - some of the world's finest sounding amps are often the simplest in design. The main aesthetic feature of all Redgum amps is the use of a single piece of Red Gum wood adorning the amps facia, which also makes every Redgum amp unique. It's a striking look with each solid panel selected and finished to maximise the character of its grain. One look at the finish, and it's no surprise when you learn that Ian also used to be a cabinet maker. Redgum wanted to produce amplifiers that would last a long time and to make them as reliable as possible. To this end, MOSFETs are used in the output stage of all its amps as they don't degrade and need replacing as with valves, and offer significant benefits over conventional transistors. Those used in the Redgum amps are higher specified than found in a lot of other MOSFET designs and Redgum claims its MOSFETs make a circuit so robust that it is indestructible. It's a bold claim sure, but it's one that Redgum backs with a seven year warranty, which shows it must have confidence in its products. The RGi60, as with all Redgum amps, is line-level only; incorporating a passive preamp with five inputs comprising two for tape, CD, VCR and a tuner. There's no phono stage, nor do Redgum produce one, so if you're still into vinyl, you'll need a separate phono amp to listen to your favourite LPs. This omission was also a deliberate one; Redgum believing an internal phono stage again leads to a reduction in sound quality and recommends an external device for the best vinyl reproduction. As with all amplifiers, the Redgum begins to really fire after some running in and warming up. The sound is immediately appealing, even when cold, though only improves with use. Leaving it to 'cook' gently for a weekend works wonders. Fed by a TEAC/Musical Fidelity CD combination and driving a pair of Mission 752s the Redgum positively fizzes through Pearl Jam's raucous No Way. Lead singer Ed Vedder's voice is solidly positioned at the heart of the soundstage, while the snare drum's crack is tight and crisp. Choose a purer recording, like John Lee Hooker's Tupelo and the RGi60 sounds excellent, hammering out his powerful, quick-fire guitar, and capturing the intimacy of his wheezing, rattling breath. If musical insight is your idea of hi-fi heaven, then the RGi60 amp will take you there and back. In many ways the sound of the Redgum is the antithesis of its attention-grabbing appearance, the presentation being understated in the best possible way. Sure, it has it's own character - all hi-fi does - but this is benign, and within a short space of listening it's very easy to accept the amp's version of the music as the truth. The Redgum is smooth in the way that many people believe only valve amplifiers can be - there's an impressive lack of edge or hardness to the sound that encourages long listening sessions. Don't mistake 'smooth' for lack of bite, however. This amp has enough attack to satisfy all but the most hard-bitten thrash merchants, and in terms of balance, it is just about spot-on. Any warmth present is in the recording and not added by the amplifier to spice up the presentation. Rhythmically the Redgum is excellent, having a natural fluidity that manages to be precise without sounding mechanical or forced. This works as well with tracks by Fat Boy Slim as it does with the Acid Jazz of Jamiroquai or a Beethoven symphony. This is perhaps the amp's greatest strength - it works well with all kinds of music and expresses no preference. While revealing and analytical, it never makes a meal of poor recordings. On the other hand, its wide-ranging dynamics and exceptional detail retrieval skills make the most of good recordings. If soundstaging is also important to you, there are few around this price-point capable of such a spacious and well focused soundstage. Depth is handled particularly well, and with suitable recordings the back wall of the listening room virtually disappears. It's a potent 60 watts too, and the amp has enough poke to cope with difficult speaker loads with maybe only a slight loosening of the collar. It combines great looks with a truly Australian feel with a sound quality that'll rival the best from anywhere in the world. The Redgum isn't only different; it's a totally homegrown product with a very affordable price tag that makes it even more appealing compared to pricier imported rivals. With amplifiers such as this, there really is no reason to look elsewhere. A true Aussie stunner! AVL

The Last Word

The 'Last Word' is included so as to be used in conjunction with the full contents of this Audition equipment review. The ratings in each category are determined by the reviewer as an overview of this product only, and should therefore be considered as an integral part of this review. As such, each category should be judged on its own merits and not necessarily used as a comparison with other equipment reviews in this, or other issues of Audio & Video Lifestyle magazine.

"If musical insight is your idea of hi-fi heaven, then the RGi60 amp will take you there and back."

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• Performance:      **************************

• Build Quality:	********************

• Compatibility:	********************

• Value/Money:	**************************

1.  Shocker! Don't even think about a product that scores so low!

2.  Just OK, but this could be better.

3.  Average to good, the minimum requirement.

4.  Very Good! What should be expected of today's technology.

5.  Excellent, 100 percent perfection. A rarity!