Goldmund Telos 8800

Goldmund Telos 8800 Mono Power Amplifier

The Goldmund Telos 8800 is one of the world's most powerful mono power amplifiers, delivering 1,400 watts into 8 ohms through Goldmund's proprietary Telos® Class A/B amplification technology. This flagship amplifier features an advanced multi-board architecture for enhanced system stability and redefines high-performance amplification with unparalleled power and groundbreaking innovations.

Flagship Position in the Goldmund Lineup

The Telos 8800 stands at the absolute pinnacle of Goldmund's amplifier hierarchy, representing over 45 years of continuous refinement in high-end audio engineering. Replacing the Telos 5500 NextGen, it serves as the technical foundation from which the Telos 4800 was derived, offering the ultimate expression of Goldmund's amplification philosophy. For stereo applications, a pair of Telos 8800 amplifiers provides the most uncompromising mono amplification available, capable of driving any loudspeaker regardless of impedance characteristics.

Telos® Amplification Technology

At the heart of the Telos 8800 lies Goldmund's proprietary Telos® amplification technology, first introduced in the 1990s and continuously refined to remain unmatched in the industry. Operating in Class A/B, this highly sophisticated circuit combines the linearity of analog components with a high-bandwidth architecture, delivering pristine sound quality with ultra-low distortion and superior efficiency. Total harmonic distortion measures below 0.005% from 20Hz to 20kHz at 30Vrms output, a remarkable achievement for an amplifier of this power.

Multi-Board Architecture

The Telos 8800 features four separate electronic boards meticulously designed to maximize system stability. This advanced multi-board architecture isolates critical circuit functions, preventing interference between stages and ensuring consistent performance under all operating conditions. Sixteen MOSFET output transistors (arranged as four pairs per side) deliver the immense power output while maintaining the refinement expected from Goldmund.

Speaker Control and Signal Purity

Telos® amplifiers exercise uncompromising speaker control through massive, clean power delivery ensuring high-fidelity reproduction without distortion, and proper driver control preventing unwanted sonic artifacts. This precise control is particularly critical in low frequencies, where woofer diaphragms are prone to excessive movement increasing the risk of unwanted vibrations. Telos® technology virtually eliminates harmonic and intermodulation distortion by enhancing the linearity of each amplification stage. A higher-bandwidth circuit minimizes group delay distortion, preserving timing accuracy and sonic coherence.

Output Impedance Reduction

By isolating high and low-current circuits, Telos® amplification prevents feedback and interference while improving Mechanical Grounding™ for superior signal purity. The advanced output impedance reduction drastically enhances micro-dynamics, eliminates excessive woofer overshoot in high-power conditions, and prevents unnaturally "boomy" bass, ensuring absolute sonic transparency. The 600 damping factor at 1kHz into 8 ohms provides authoritative control over connected loudspeakers.

Performance from First Watt to Full Power

A perfect amplifier must deliver exceptional sound quality even at its very first watts, a rarity among most amplifiers on the market. The Telos 8800 defies this norm. Despite its 1,400-watt output capability, it delivers outstanding performance right from the first watt of operation. Whether at whisper-quiet volumes or full concert intensity, Telos® amplification ensures the signal remains pure, dynamic, and distortion-free, offering an emotionally immersive listening experience like no other.

Real-World Performance

Many amplifiers excel on paper but fail to deliver a truly immersive listening experience. Goldmund's amplifiers go beyond conventional benchmarks, ensuring flawless technical performance and superior real-world sonic results. Unlike conventional designs that perform well with resistive loads in laboratory tests but falter with real-world passive speakers, the Telos 8800 maintains identical performance whether tested in a lab or connected to any loudspeaker. This ensures absolute control, precision, and faithful audio reproduction regardless of the speaker's impedance characteristics.

Advanced Power Supply

The Telos 8800 surpasses its predecessor by introducing an advanced power supply system with fully customized power capacitor banks engineered to Goldmund's exacting standards. Responding to the growing demand for increased capacity and power, it is fitted with Goldmund's proprietary MKP silver-metallized polypropylene film capacitors. This cutting-edge technology ensures a supremely stable supply for the MOSFET output stage, guaranteeing optimal stability even for demanding 1Ω loads, enabling the amplifier to drive virtually any loudspeaker without compromise.

Power Supply Innovations

Key advancements include a new soft-start system for seamless power-up, enhanced energy storage from four massive 15,000μF capacitors (60,000μF total) for consistent power delivery, virtually zero contact resistance in circuit boards and cabling eliminating power loss, and stable power output unaffected by mains voltage fluctuations ensuring optimal amplifier responsiveness.

Thermal Management

To support its extraordinary power output, the Telos 8800 incorporates exceptional cooling capabilities. The side panels have been meticulously designed as heat sinks, complemented by a 40mm-thick radiator chassis. An additional 17cm-wide heatsink is positioned inside the case, providing massive cooling surfaces that ensure exceptional heat dissipation. This engineering ensures the amplifier maintains optimal thermal performance even during extended high-power operation, preserving electrical conductivity and contributing to long-term reliability.

Protection Systems

The Telos 8800 has been engineered with a fully analog circuit for advanced thermal security and short-circuit protection. Safety protection circuits are designed to ensure reliability and longevity, safeguarding both the amplifiers and connected speakers. If temperature thresholds are exceeded or a short circuit occurs, the amplifier automatically enters protection mode, pausing operation until normal conditions are restored.

Chassis Design and Construction

Reflecting the high level of its technology and design, every aspect of the Telos 8800's construction serves both form and function. The seamless aluminum chassis is precision-crafted from micro-blasted aluminum, featuring a sleek, joint-free design with minimal visible screws ensuring structural integrity and aesthetic perfection. The distinctive stone-textured side panels highlight the technological prowess of this extraordinary amplifier. Panel thickness of 15mm provides exceptional rigidity and vibration control.

Premium Components

Goldmund uses gold-plated copper terminals and screws throughout, optimizing signal transmission and minimizing potential signal losses. These premium components ensure that every nuance of the audio signal is faithfully reproduced. The robust, heavy-weight chassis and specialized resin-coated transformers effectively minimize mechanical and electronic vibrations, eliminating unwanted resonances that could compromise sonic purity.

Electromagnetic Shielding

The robust aluminum construction effectively blocks electromagnetic interference, preserving signal purity throughout the amplification chain. This natural Faraday cage protection is essential given the massive power supplies and output stages operating within the chassis.

Mechanical Grounding™

Conic Feet technology, a key component of Goldmund's Mechanical Grounding™ system, evacuates vibrations to the ground, preventing resonance buildup and ensuring absolute sonic clarity. Given the Telos 8800's 265kg weight, this mechanical grounding is crucial for maintaining sonic purity.

Proprietary Components

Beyond capacitors, numerous electronic and mechanical components have been meticulously designed, engineered, and fine-tuned exclusively for Goldmund amplifiers. Each of these custom-built components plays a crucial role in achieving unmatched audio performance. These proprietary elements are developed to Goldmund's unique standards and are not available anywhere else on the market, ensuring a level of precision and sonic purity that sets these amplifiers apart.

Connectivity

The rear panel provides essential connection options for integration into reference-level systems. Signal inputs include both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connectors. Digital RCA input and output connectors enable integration with Goldmund's digital processors. Speaker connections include binding posts and a Goldmund 4B proprietary connector. An RS-232 control port enables system integration for sophisticated home audio installations.

Finish Options

The Telos 8800 is available in both gray and black finishes. The all-aluminum shell with sleek lines visible on both sides perfectly combines authenticity and avant-garde design, representing the harmonious fusion of art and cutting-edge engineering that defines Goldmund.

Summary

The Goldmund Telos 8800 represents the absolute pinnacle of high-end amplification. At Goldmund, technical perfection and an extraordinary listening experience go hand in hand. The amplifiers are designed not just to measure flawlessly, but to sound breathtakingly real. By refining both the science and the art of sound reproduction, the Telos 8800 achieves an unparalleled fusion of precision, dynamics, and emotion, setting the gold standard in high-end amplification. Experience the Telos 8800. Experience absolute sonic truth.