Gato Audio PWR-222 Mono Power Amplifier, Gloss White (Single Unit)

The Gato Audio PWR-222 is an analogue mono power amplifier from Copenhagen – a power amplifier that drives exactly one channel, and gets the full circuit, the full power supply and the whole chassis for it.

Behind the curved Danish front sits an uncompromisingly built power amplifier with 250 watts into 8 ohms and 450 watts into 4 ohms, a balanced XLR input from Neutrik, a gold-plated RCA input and speaker terminals from WBT. This version comes in pure gloss white. Supplied as a single mono block – for classic stereo you need two of them.

Why the Gato Audio PWR-222?

Because a true mono power amplifier gives each channel what stereo power amps have to share: its own power supply, its own amplification stage, no crosstalk from the neighbouring channel. The PWR-222 is Gato's answer for anyone who wants to hear their preamp – above all the in-house PRD-3S – on speakers that demand a bit more current. Preamp and power amp share not only the looks but also the 12-volt trigger: preamp on, power amps on.

What you hear

Control. The PWR-222 cleanly doubles its output from 8 to 4 ohms – a sign of a stable power supply and a low internal resistance that keeps difficult speakers on a short leash instead of going soft under complex loads. Add a noise ratio beyond 115 dB and distortion below 0.003 percent: the amplifier itself stays acoustically out of the way and lets through whatever the preamp dictates.

Who is the PWR-222 suited for – and who is it not?

For anyone building a full-fledged pre-/power-amp chain and wanting to give their speakers genuine mono power – ideal as a pair with the Gato PRD-3S. Plainly put: anyone looking for a compact integrated amp or a one-chassis solution is better served by the AMP-150 or DIA-250S. The PWR-222 is deliberately just a power amplifier – no preamp, no source, no volume control – and needs a front-end unit to drive it.

Do I need one or two PWR-222?

Two, if you listen in stereo – one mono block per channel. That's exactly the point of the design: left and right channel work in completely separate units, each with its own power supply.

Our verdict

The PWR-222 is the honest, analogue mono power amp for an upper-tier Gato chain: plenty of current, a clean power supply, refined connections, Danish design. Anyone with a PRD-3S preamp and speakers that want power finds the matching drive here. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil you can listen to the combination at leisure on the speakers of your choice – and we'll tell you honestly whether a pair of PWR-222 makes sense for you or whether an integrated amplifier is enough.

Technical data – Gato Audio PWR-222

• Type: analogue mono power amplifier (1 channel)
• Output power: 250 W RMS into 8 Ω · 450 W RMS into 4 Ω
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz (−0.1 dB) · 2 Hz – 100,000 Hz (−3 dB)
• Total harmonic distortion (THD): < 0.003 %
• Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N): > 115 dB
• Input impedance: 100 kΩ (RCA and balanced)
• Gain: 26 dB
• Recommended speaker impedance: 4 – 16 Ω
• Inputs: 1× XLR balanced (Neutrik) · 1× RCA (gold-plated)
• Speaker output: WBT NextGen binding posts
• Trigger: 12V standby trigger (on/off via the preamp)
• Power consumption: standby < 1 W · idle 55 W · max. 800 W
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 32.5 × 10.5 × 40 cm
• Weight: 16 kg
• Finish: gloss white
• Manufacturer: Gato Audio, Copenhagen (Denmark)
• Scope of delivery: one mono block (single unit)

Frequently asked questions

Does the PWR-222 match the PRD-3S preamp?

Yes, that's the intended combination: the PRD-3S as a streaming preamp with DAC, a pair of PWR-222 as mono power amplifiers – connected via balanced XLR cables and the shared 12-volt trigger, which automatically switches the power amps on and off with the preamp.

Which speakers does the PWR-222 drive?

With 250 watts into 8 and 450 watts into 4 ohms, plus a recommended load of 4 to 16 ohms, the PWR-222 handles the vast majority of floorstanding and bookshelf speakers – including ones considered current-hungry. Which speakers specifically suit your room and your listening level is best clarified at a listening session.

Why buy the Gato Audio PWR-222 at HD Zürisee?

Because a mono power amplifier only makes sense as part of a pairing – and that's exactly the pairing we plan with you. At HD Zürisee in Wädenswil you listen to the PWR-222 and PRD-3S on your own speakers, get the matching cabling to go with it, and an honest assessment of whether the mono solution really gives you something over an integrated amplifier.

Goes well with

As a preamp, the Gato Audio PRD-3S plays in the same sonic league and switches the PWR-222 on right along with it via the shared 12V trigger. Add your Floorstanding speakers of choice – and for true stereo, two PWR-222 as a mono power amp pair.