Lavardin AP150 Stereo Power Amplifier France

The Lavardin AP150 is the pure power-amp version of the flagship ITx – same circuit technology, same chassis, but without the preamp section, for anyone who already owns a preamp or wants to build one deliberately.

Why the AP150?

When speaker manufacturer JMLab (today Focal) unveiled its new Utopia reference line in 2010, it chose the AP150 for the demonstration – a reference that speaks for itself. That same year, the Polish trade magazine High Fidelity honoured the AP150 with the Best Product Award 2010, and What Hi-Fi (UK) said of the pairing with the preamp in September 2010: "If sound quality and musical enjoyment matter most, this Lavardin pairing delivers exceptional results at the price point."

What you hear

With 2× 55 watts at 8 ohms (up to 2× 110 watts at 2 ohms), the AP150 delivers noticeably more headroom than the more compact Lavardin power amps, without sacrificing fine detail. Voices remain subtly traceable, transients arrive explosively but never harshly – reviewers particularly praise the timing, which hardly any competitor in this class matches.

Who is the AP150 for? (and who isn't it for)

For anyone looking for a powerful yet musical power amp for a separate system with demanding speakers. Straight talk: without a matching preamp, the AP150 stays silent – plan for the CX42 or an equivalent preamp right from the start.

Our verdict

The AP150 shows that Lavardin's philosophy doesn't get diluted with more power. One of the most convincing power amps in its price class for anyone who doesn't want to trade off power against musicality.

Technical data

• Power: 2× 55 W RMS at 8 Ω, max. 2× 110 W at 2 Ω
• Input sensitivity: 780 mV
• Input impedance: 10 kΩ
• Distortion: 0.001% at full power
• Power consumption: 35 W in standby, max. 400 W
• Chassis: black anodised aluminium
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 430 × 135 × 340 mm
• Weight: 12 kg

Frequently asked questions

What was the AP150 awarded for?

High Fidelity Poland named it Best Product in 2010, and What Hi-Fi (UK) explicitly praised the combination with a Lavardin preamp in September 2010 for its price-to-performance ratio in sound quality and musicality during everyday listening at home, not just in the test lab.

Which preamp suits the AP150?

The manufacturer explicitly recommends an equally memory-free preamp such as the Lavardin CX42 to unlock its full potential. In principle, though, any high-quality preamp with sufficient output level and matching impedance works well with the AP150, as practice shows.

Is the AP150's power enough for large floorstanding speakers?

In the vast majority of cases, yes. With 2× 55 watts at 8 ohms and up to 2× 110 watts at 2 ohms, the AP150 has noticeably more headroom than the more compact Lavardin models and confidently controls more demanding impedance curves too.

Why buy the Lavardin AP150 from HD Zürisee?

We put together a coherent system for you from the AP150, a matching preamp, and speakers, instead of just selling you a single unit. Call us, message us on WhatsApp, or drop by for a consultation with us in Wädenswil.

Goes well with

The AP150 wants to bring power to a good system: pair it with our Lavardin CX42 and quality floorstanding speakers.