ELAC Alchemy DPA-2 Power Amplifier - Black

One Box, Stereo or Mono

The Alchemy DPA-2 is two amplifiers in one chassis. Leave the rear switch in stereo and it drives a pair of speakers at 325 watts per channel into 4 ohms. Move the switch to mono and the whole amplifier becomes one channel, making 625 watts into 8 ohms.

That is the reason to buy it. Start with one DPA-2 running your system in stereo, then add a second later and run the pair as monoblocks. Nothing gets traded in, and the upgrade path costs you the price of one more amplifier rather than a whole new pair.

Peter Madnick designed it around a discrete FET input stage running in Class A, feeding a Class D output stage. The input side has its own toroidal transformer and linear supply. It is fully balanced from input to output, and it takes both XLR and RCA.

The chassis stands one rack unit tall and weighs 14 pounds, so a pair of them stacks into the space a single conventional amplifier would take up. The only finish offered is black.

Inside the Chassis

Class A In, Class D Out

The input stage is discrete FETs running Class A, with a DC servo controlling the output stage. Feeding a Class D output from a Class A front end is what lets the DPA-2 stay cool and light without the hard edge that early Class D was known for.

Gain You Can Match

A switch sets high or low gain, which matters more than it sounds. In stereo you get 24dB or 30dB, and in mono 18dB or 24dB. If your preamp runs hot and you never get past nine o'clock on the dial, the low setting hands you back usable travel.

On the Bench

ELAC quotes distortion of 0.003% at one watt into 8 ohms and a signal-to-noise ratio of 94dB. Response runs 5Hz to 20kHz within 0.2dB. Input impedance is 12k on RCA and 19k on XLR, and output impedance is 0.03 ohms at 1kHz.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Jason Victor Serinus, in Stereophile on May 12, 2021, found the DPA-2 "delivered far more musical truth and pleasure than you might expect," said Peter Madnick "may also have created a benchmark product for this price range," and closed "Enthusiastically recommended."

Who Is This Power Amplifier Best For?

• The listener who wants monoblocks eventually — Buy one now and run it in stereo, add a second when you are ready, and you land on a 625-watt monoblock pair without ever having traded an amplifier in.
• Owners of speakers that dip to 4 ohms — 325 watts per channel into 4 ohms means the amplifier is happiest exactly where a lot of floorstanders get difficult, so you hear the speaker rather than an amp under strain.
• Anyone short on rack space — A single rack unit and 14 pounds means two of these weigh less than most single stereo amplifiers, so a monoblock system stops being a furniture problem.
• Systems built around a balanced preamp — It is fully balanced from input to output and takes XLR or RCA, and the high-low gain switch lets you match it to a hot preamp so you keep real range on the volume control.
• Mono mode needs two units, one per speaker — Switching a single DPA-2 to mono turns the whole chassis into one channel, so it drives one speaker, not two. A stereo system in mono mode means a matched pair. If you want the 625-watt figure, budget for the second unit, and see our Monoblock Amplifiers for amps that arrive as a pair.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

In stereo, run one interconnect pair from your preamp, set the switch to stereo, and wire both sets of binding posts to your speakers. Pick RCA or XLR to suit your preamp, and set the gain switch high or low depending on how much output it makes.

For mono, set each amplifier to mono and feed one signal per chassis, then run one amplifier to each speaker. There is no volume control on board, so a preamp or a source with variable output does the driving.

Pairs Well With

The DPA-2 handles amplification. These are the pieces that go around it.

• Preamplifiers — any preamp with balanced or single-ended outputs will drive it. Browse preamplifiers.
• Balanced interconnects — XLR cables suit the fully balanced signal path. Browse interconnect cables.
• Speaker cables — one stereo run in stereo mode, or one run per chassis in mono. Browse speaker cables.
• Floorstanding speakers — the 4-ohm rating suits larger designs. Browse floorstanding speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does it make?

In stereo it is rated at 325 watts per channel into 4 ohms. Switched to mono, one chassis makes 625 watts into 8 ohms. Both figures are quoted at 1% THD+N at 1kHz.

How do I switch it between stereo and mono?

A switch on the rear panel selects the mode, and the amplifier ships with a manual that walks through both. ELAC supplies one manual in every box, so a pair arrives with two.

Does it take balanced cables?

Yes. Unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR inputs are both fitted and the signal path is balanced from input to output. Input impedance is 12k ohms on RCA and 19k on XLR.

Will it run hot?

The Class D output stage keeps heat low, and the whole amplifier is one rack unit tall. It sits happily on a normal shelf and stacks without needing the clearance a big Class AB amp wants.

How big and heavy is it?

It measures 2 inches high by 17.5 wide by 15 deep including the jacks, and weighs 14 pounds. That is light enough to install single-handed.

What warranty does it carry?

ELAC Americas covers its electronics for one year from purchase for the original owner from an authorised dealer. Reconditioned and open-box units carry 90 days unless the listing says otherwise. Call us at 800-942-0220 and we will confirm which applies to the unit you are buying.

See It in Action

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Learn More

Want to learn more about power amplifiers, running an amplifier in bridged mono, or matching an amp to your speakers? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.