A Power Supply Designed as an Instrument
The Madison Amplifier is built around a balanced, regulated, and filtered external switch-mode power supply with high current capacity. That supply is fundamental to the amplifier’s performance, establishing the stability, dynamic authority, and composure that allow Madison to remain articulate across changing loudspeaker loads.
The Madison Amplifier power supply is treated as an integral part of the design, supporting the amplifier’s speed, composure, and musical engagement rather than merely satisfying a specification.
Balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) inputs allow the Madison Amplifier to integrate easily into a wide range of systems. From the input stage onward, the circuit remains fully symmetrical and fully discrete, preserving the amplifier’s structural consistency whether the incoming signal is balanced or unbalanced.
This underlying design shapes the Madison Amplifier’s essential character: fast, dynamic, and stable under load. It also gives the amplifier the configurability and adaptability to work effectively across a wide range of systems and installation contexts
A Design Collaboration with CH Precision
The Madison Amplifier was developed through direct engineering collaboration between Wattson and CH Precision. That collaboration shaped the amplifier where it matters most: topology, power strategy, device selection, and overall circuit behavior. The result is a compact amplifier built with real structural seriousness. It applies lessons from CH Precision’s engineering culture to a more accessible platform without turning that relationship into theater.
System Architecture: Scalable by Design
The Madison Amplifier supports Stereo, Mono, and Bi-Amp operation. Those modes allow it to adapt to different loudspeakers and different system requirements without changing its underlying design. In stereo operation, Madison functions as a compact two-channel amplifier. In mono operation, a single chassis is assigned to one channel, increasing available output power into lower impedances. In bi-amp operation, both channels can be directed to separate driver sections of a compatible loudspeaker system. This flexibility gives the amplifier a longer useful life as the system evolves.
Two Finishes, One Ethos
For the first time, the Madison Amplifier is available in two finishes—Light Gray and Dark Gray. The new palette reflects Wattson Audio’s commitment to precision and visual harmony, allowing the amplifier to blend seamlessly into a wide range of interiors. Light Gray recalls the elegance of the former Lounge Edition, while Dark Gray preserves the timeless purity of the original design.
Discrete Architecture:
The Foundation of Continuity
Madison’s amplification stage is built around components derived from reference-grade designs developed with CH Precision. At its core are the same bipolar output devices used in the M10 Reference Amplifier, implemented here as one device per rail. These devices give the output stage a foundation proven at the highest level.
The ultra-high quality of the parts ensures predictable electrical behavior under temperature variations and dynamic demand. Bias stability reduces crossover distortion, and controlled feedback sustains linear gain while preserving harmonic nuance. Stability in the circuit translates directly into coherence in musical phrasing: tonal structures remain intact from soft passages through peak dynamics, and instrumental texture persists under load.
Wattson’s Minimalist Vision
Wattson’s design philosophy is grounded in structural efficiency: low part count, short signal paths, and purposeful design. In the Madison Amplifier, this approach reduces parasitic effects and creates a cleaner electrical environment for the signal.
Precision manufacturing and long product life cycles support durability over time. Mechanical tolerances, thermal management, and material selection are all chosen for stability, consistency, and reliable long-term performance. Sustainability follows from this same discipline through reduced material waste, extended service life, and lasting operational integrity.
The collaboration between CH Precision and Wattson on the Madison AMPLIFIER brings together two distinct yet complementary philosophies, uniting CH Precision’s relentless pursuit of uncompromising performance with Wattson’s vision of refined, accessible, high-performance audio. CH Precision’s expertise in ultra-linear amplification and circuit design ensures that Madison inherits the sonic purity, speed, and control found in reference-level electronics, while Wattson’s approach emphasizes elegant simplicity, compact form, and sustainable craftsmanship.
This synergy results in an amplifier that delivers exceptional transparency and musicality, and is versatile and adaptable to evolving systems. By fusing CH Precision’s technical rigor with Wattson’s ethos of simplicity, the Madison AMPLIFIER achieves a rare balance—one that honors the essence of high-end audio while offering a pathway for enthusiasts to experience uncompromised sound in a far more accessible and affordable package.
The Madison Amplifier combines a low-feedback Class A/B linear circuit, a robust, regulated, and highly filtered power supply, and a fully symmetrical discrete amplification stage in a compact form. Its design reflects Wattson’s broader discipline: modern high-density circuitry, carefully integrated and optimized for speed, stability, and musical engagement.
Its compact architecture is part of the amplifier’s character. It allows Madison to deliver articulate, dynamic performance across a wide range of loads while remaining configurable for different systems and requirements.
Swiss Precision, Sustainable Design, Timeless Performance
The Madison Amplifier is machined from solid billet aluminum, providing electromagnetic shielding, mechanical rigidity, and thermal stability. The chassis serves as both a structural frame and a heat management system, maintaining operating consistency through controlled dissipation.
Manufactured locally using sustainable practices—including the reuse of aluminum off‑cuts—the amplifier integrates environmental responsibility with engineering performance. Drawing from CH Precision technology, its linear amplification stages, configurable operating modes, and carefully selected components support clarity, control, and long‑term reliability. The platform integrates seamlessly into existing systems and accommodates future evolution.
International Press Honors
Engineered in Service of Music
The Madison Amplifier combines a low-feedback Class A/B linear circuit, a robust regulated and filtered external power supply, and a fully symmetrical discrete amplification stage in a compact format. It is designed to remain fast, stable, and articulate across a wide range of loudspeaker loads.
Its practical value lies in more than one fixed configuration. Stereo, mono, and bi-amp modes allow the amplifier to adapt to different systems and to remain useful as those systems evolve. That flexibility is part of the engineering, not an added feature.
The result is a simple and compact amplifier built with clear priorities: signal purity, configurability, and long-term relevance within serious music systems.
Specifications
General
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Type: 2-channel power amplifier
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Modes: Stereo, monaural, bi-amp
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Color Options: Light gray or dark grey
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Dimensions (W x D x H): 216 x 300 x 87 mm
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Weight: 6.0 kg
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Power Supply: External 36V DC, 350 W, universal input
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Power Consumption: < 0.5 W standby, 20 W idle, 450 W max
User interface
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Mode, Impedance, and gain: Toggle switches on the rear side
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Input, Mute, Standby / ON: Push button on the front side
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Firmware update: Via Ethernet connection
Analog input
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Type: Balanced XLR, single-ended RCA
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Impedance: 100 kΩ
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Nominal level: 2.0 V RMS
Analog Output
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Type: Spade / Banana sockets
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Bandwidth: 1 Hz to 400 kHz (-3 dB)
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Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: < 0.05 %
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Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted): > 120 dB
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Voltage gain: +20 dB, +26 dB (switchable)
Output Power
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Stereo / bi-amp:
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8 Ω : 2 x 50 W
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4 Ω : 2 x 75 W
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2 Ω : 2 x 100 W
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Mono:
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8 Ω : 1 x 50 W
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4 Ω : 1 x 100 W
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2 Ω : 1 x 150 W
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