"The amps also have an uncanny way with instrumental textures and micro dynamics that contribute to their ability to create a fully fleshed out picture. The delicately nuanced, organic and realistic quality to instruments as reproduced through the Grails created one of the most vivid and convincing presentations I've had the pleasure of hearing."
"The depth of the soundstage the Grails produced was also nothing short of amazing"....." They also resolved the dimensions of the studio, placing the image in a specific and distinct environment which made the difference between sounding like it was in a large studio and being in a large studio."
"The build and sonic quality of the Grails shows an enormous amount of passion for and dedication to the art and science of audio reproduction and ranks among the very best (of which there are some exceedingly fine examples) of SET amplification. If you have the opportunity, give them a listen, you won't be disappointed!"
Read the Full Review at Positive Feedback Online
“Even If they charged for sound by the pound at $1000/lbs, the Chalice amp would be a bargain weighting in at 150 lbs/piece. I have heard many amps in my system Halcro,ASR,Tidal,Boulder, and many others. I have been to dozens of CES, Rocky Mountain and HE shows and I have never heard an amp like this. It’s almost like the musicians took a night off, flew to your home and performed right in front of you. When you first turn on the amp and let her warm up she glows. Then you plug the music in, and it flows. Then you listen………… and Wow!!! Your eyes tear up a bit and you get small chills up and down your body. She’s that good! The music you hear is so real, it’s spooky. What you hear, is what you don’t hear, or didn’t realize was there. Dead silence, and only the music is what you get. It is pure, unadulterated and like you have never heard before. It is profound. I hear things that I have never heard before in every CD and LP I listen to. I sometimes have to listen to the song over to say, “what was that!”? Then I plug in another amp and “that” isn’t there anymore. By “that” I mean some instrument or sound that you just couldn’t hear with any other amp. Every time I listen, I feel spoiled. I can’t explain it and am not very good describing it. There is no better amp anywhere! If you can afford it, buy it now before you die, because when you listen to your favorite tunes, you almost think you have gone to heaven”.
Feedback from Keith Taruski, at Innovations, Inc.
Dear Tom and Pres,
“To say I am happy with my recent purchase of your 'Talisman' SET monoblocks would be a monumental understatement..they are the best amps I have ever heard....anywhere......my system's sound has been transformed into a totally natural ...liquid ....transparent landscape that is, I believe, as close to the original event as possible within the confines of my room. I had 2 audio friends over last night both of whom have superb system as well and they stated they had never heard amps that sounded so natural with any music played. The 25 watts of the 'Talisman' easily drive my Tidal Contriva Diacera SE’s speakers with mids and highs to die for and a bass that equals or in some instances…betters my previous Goldman solid-state amp. They truly are beautiful both sonically and visually! Thanks for making my musical journey this past 20+ years complete...these are the amps I have been searching for ...I totally agree with the previous reviewer on your website....Chalice Audio does make the 'best amps in the world'
Dave Smith, Happy owner of a pair of Talisman Monoblocks
“My favorite amplifier on the Contrivas were the wonderful Chalice Audio mono amplifiers. Music listened to with the Contriva and Chalice combination in place was, for lack of a better phrase, “excitingly real.” I have heard the Contrivas driven by the highly regarded TIDAL Impact and Preos combination, and the ASR Emitter II, both of which rendered a high level of performance whether you like solid state or tubes. The vacuum tube based Chalice monos have that certain magical quality that when matched with a pair of speakers like the Contrivas, are capable of allowing you to experience music at the highest level.”
Michael Wright, The Stereo Times