Red Wine Audio Signature 30.2 Int Amp (Great Reviews)

This listing is for an upgraded Red Wine Signature 30, a 30W/ch, rechargeable battery powered, tripath-based integrated amplifier with the "30.2 partial upgrade". Vinnie Rossi, the owner/developer of Red Wine, said when he offered existing Signature 30 clients the "Partial 30.2 Upgrade for $500" that "your Signature 30 will sound identical to the newer Signature 30.2 following the upgrade.

For detailed sonic reviews of the Sig 30.2 , please search the 6moons review ("A Lunar Eclipse Award is in order, only the fourth on in our 5+ years of operation"), but also Tone Magazine, The Stereo Times, The Street (Gary Krakow), and others.

As Gary Krakow put it in his 2008 review, "Of all the amplifiers I've tested in recent years, the Signature 30.2 is one of the best. Period".

Personally, I have used this amplifier with both Revel M-30's (SPL 87 db, 45 Hz) and Audes Blues (SPL 90 db, 40 Hz) and was very impressed by its sense of tight, commanding bass. If bass is your thing, I would suggest you save a bit (compared to my other Signature 30.2 LFP-V listing) and choose this one even though it lacks a remote and a tube-based frontend.

If you're unfamiliar with this brand, that's understandable. It's a bit of a moving target (as are some of its products). However, it's a very well thought of set of targets. So, first about the company(s). Vinnie Rossi started "Red Wine Audio", received many very positive reviews on his battery-powered amps and more recently redefined his brand to be "Vinnie Rossi". Go to "www.vinnierossi.com/redwineaudio" to get more of the story.

His "Red Wine Signature 30 (circa 2006-$1400)" integrated amp received great reviews and really put him on the map. See the 23 page 6moons review by Srajan Ebaen, concluding "This is one of the three best transistor amps I've heard yet".

The second iteration, Vinnie's "Red Wine Signature 30.2(circa 2008 - $3,000)" then again garnered all sorts of praise from 6moons ("A Lunar Eclipse Award is in order, only the fourth in our 5+ years of operation"), but also Tone Magazine, The Stereo Times, The Street (Gary Krakow), and others. As best I understand it, the 30.2 enhancements (relative to the original Signature 30) were pretty much related to some significant amp board upgrades. new signal capacitors and some major battery-associated convenience enhancements. As 6moons concludes its 20+ page review, the 30.2  "gains features and build quality" and "it sonically goes well beyond its own first incarnation". Vinnie Rossi also offered an upgrade path for existing Signature 30 owners: a "Partial 30.2 Upgrade ($500)". After the "Partial 30.2 Upgrade", Vinnie says "your Signature 30 will sound identical to the newer Signature 30.2. (A true Signature 30.2 also includes battery-associated revisions (relative to a Signature 30) which were not backward-compatible with an original Signature 30 chassis).

In its third and final iteration, the "Red Wine Signature 30.2 LFP-V (circa 2010-$3,500) which (as I best understand it) featured a new Vacuum-tube pre- stage and further significant battery pack/charger enhancements. For $1000, an factory Signature 30.2 owner could optionally choose to fully upgrade to the Signature 30.2 LFP-V level if they wished.

So, in summary, the Red Wine Signature 30 Integrated amplifier (circa 2006). was modified to become the Red Wine 30.2 (circa 2008) and then again modified to become the Red Wine Signature 30.2 LFP-V (circa 2010).

The inexpensive lead-acid rechargeable batteries were pro-actively recently replaced.

Be aware that I also separately have available a matching high quality "Red Wine 3S" 4-to-1" line level switching unit. I could separately make this unit available to the buyer of one of my two listed Red Wine amplifiers at extra cost. The "3S" basically allows the high quality switching between up to 4 line-level inputs (instead of the standard single line-level input).

I'm selling this "As Is" because my Audiogon "Return Policy" seems to be stuck on some sort of 14 day returns policy that I am not allowed to edit (while  older listings are still in progress). Plus to be honest, I have no desire to provide what would essentially be "free" two week auditions of this amplifier. However, I value my reputation on A'gon and will of course honor legitimate concerns if it proves other than as advertised.

A copy of the original Owner's manual is included along with copies of many of the expert reviews. I purchased this amplifier from its original owner about two years ago but am now downsizing.

I have original box, Buyer pays shipping. PayPal preferred.