Fusion Encounter EN-AM6004 Four Channel Amplifier

Fusion’s entry level amplifier range. This four channel Class A/B model, a two Ohm stable MOSFET design, has Nickel plated RCA inputs for each pair of channels and a set of stereo RCA outputs for each set as well. You could thus use all four channels from one RCA feed. The input sensitivity is very wide from 200mV all the way up to eight Volts for the highest output headunits and line drivers, although you would be less likely to be using that sort of product at the entry level. The extruded case is anodised green and is well ornamented with a plastic moulding. The crossovers are simple switched HP/off/LP types with a sweepable potentiometer (inset knob) rather than using fixed switched points, which is keen at this price. Power and speaker onnections are also Nickel plated and meaty sized for the power cable input and a standard choc-block affair for the eight speaker wire connections. Two 25 Ampere fuses sit in the end. The manual included is well written and comprehensive, although it covers several models of product within the Encounter amp range. There are short circuit, over current and thermal protection circuits.
– 76w RMS Per Channel @ 4 Ohms
– 98w RMS Per Channel @ 2 Ohms
– Signal To Noise Ratio >90dB
– THD @ Rated Power @ 1kHz/100Hz 0.1%
– Low Pass Crossover 40Hz to 160Hz
– High Pass Crossover 40hz to 600Hz
– Crossover Filter Slopes 6dB per Octave
– Frequency Response 10Hz to 40khz
– Channel Separation 50dB
– Input Sensitivity 0.2 8V
– Fuse Rating 25A x2
Review by Adam Rayner
The amplifier was hooked up to two pairs of Encounter loudspeakers as this forms the four corner pack EN-4CNR but was also replaced at one point with a ‘known good’ reference quality amplifier. You could hear the difference between the very posh HiFi item and the Encounter amplifier but the Encounter tested here was far from lacking. It has a properly quoted output, although I do hate the need to put the ‘Maximum Output’ on the heatsink – it even makes the four corner kit look unbalanced as it says ‘600watts’ on the amp but only ‘500 watts’ on the wiring kit it can be sold with! This is about marketing and measuring a maximum instead of RMS or Root Mean Square, which is techno for a decent average way of measuring the output of an amplifier. The connections are all Nickel plated and the RCA pairs each have a set of output RCAs next to them so you could feed more amps or even use a four channel amp with a single RCA output. You would get no front-rear fade that way of course, though. The look matches the rest of the range beautifully making it a keen contender for a bit of brand loyalty so as to build a whole system from the one line of the one brand. The big bold Fusion badge on the end is a nice touch and all in all, this is a workmanlike product, well suited to the kit it is supposed to go with and priced very keenly. Sold as part of the four corner pack it is just nutty value for your money. A bit hard and tough perhaps to listen to for hours on end but for street music, dance and urban stuff, especially those bass tracks and spittin’ choons, this is a well ‘ard purchase.
Overall 7.6
Sound Quality 7
Power Output 8
Features 7
Build Quality 8
Value For Money 8