Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
11 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, Reference, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
Creek Voyage i20
Integrated amplifier
Relative price
above typical
Among the 59 integrated amplifiers in the catalogue, this one is above typical.
A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.
What it is
Hi-Fi World (Noel Keywood) bench-measured 120W/8Ω + 225W/4Ω; DF~180 from 0.04Ω output Z; FR 2Hz-53kHz line. Honest performance data: manufacturer claim DF>400 contradicted by bench (180); use 180 for system planning. Both figures still excellent.
+12dB selectable preamp gain on inputs 1-4 — accommodates low-output sources (e.g. some valve preamps, cassette tape). Each input also has user-selectable DIRECT mode bypassing preamp + volume — use as multi-input power amp for AV bypass.
CRITICAL ELECTRICAL FIT: 120W/8Ω + 240W/4Ω + DF~180 + 0.04Ω output Z drives most demanding speaker loads. Excellent partner for low-sensitivity reactive loads (B&W 800-series, KEF Reference, PMC active, Magneplanar). Headphone output 8-600Ω compatible — works with all standard hi-fi headphones.
Creek tradition: no coupling/feedback decoupling caps in signal path (direct DC-coupled with electronic servo for offset compensation). Cleaner signal path than typical AC-coupled designs.
Competition record
Assessed against 17 rivals across the sixty systems: 1 head-to-head won, 49 lost.
Where it gives ground
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
- low-level clarity ×8
- tonal body ×4
Who it comes up against
NVA S80 Stereo
7 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
Leema Hydra II
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.
Audiolab 9000P
4 lost · Anchored, Characterful, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan)
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot decisively.
Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150)
3 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE (KT150) keeps the slot clearly.
With the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII, the pairing gives up most on tonal body.
On its own merits the Creek Voyage i20 is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII gives up tonal body under the Vocals-First weighting.
Audio Note P1 SE
3 lost · Intimate, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot decisively.
EAR Yoshino V12
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
Against the BBC Sound brief, the EAR Yoshino V12 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Creek Voyage i20 is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aura Reference MC gives up low-level clarity under the BBC Sound weighting.
EAR Yoshino 890
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units)
2 lost · Artisan, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
Chord ULTIMA 6
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot decisively.
Longdog Audio P6100M (pair)
1 lost · Anchored
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) keeps the slot decisively.
Sugden A21 Signature
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden A21 Signature keeps the slot decisively.
With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Harbeth P3ESR XD2, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Creek Voyage i20 is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Naim NVC TT MM/MC gives up low-level clarity under the BBC Sound weighting.
Leak Stereo 230
1 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Leak Stereo 230 keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Creek Voyage i20 is the weaker integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
Quad Artera Stereo
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot decisively.
Sugden ANV 50
1 lost · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Sugden ANV 50 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Creek Voyage i20 is the stronger integrated amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Naim NVC TT MM/MC gives up low-level clarity under the BBC Sound weighting.
Creek 4040A
0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Creek Voyage i20 takes the slot clearly.
With the Falcon Q7 Complete@Home, the pairing gains most on timing and drive.
On its own merits the Creek Voyage i20 is the stronger integrated amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the integrated amplifier position.
What the reviewers said
very high damping factor of 180 Hi-Fi World review (Noel Keywood)· Bass control
reproduce music without nasties Hi-Fi World review (Noel Keywood)· Harmonic texture
480 watts into 2Ω one channel driven Hi-Fi World bench + manual· Physical impact
Big bass and almost eery smoothness, with relaxed rhythm Hi-Fi World — Creek Voyage i20 review (Noel Keywood, Mar 2021)· Bass control
Plenty of fine detail was mined from the vivid guitar Reviewary — Creek Voyage i20 review (Hi-Fi World cross-reference, Oct 2021)· Micro-dynamic resolution
How it scores
Clarity
- Electrical noise floor 86 from specification
Voice
- Harmonic texture 76 from listening evidence
Bass
- Bass control 82 from listening evidence
- Physical impact 79 from listening evidence
- Bass extension 68 from specification
LowerVolume
- Low-level noise floor 86 from specification
- Micro-dynamic resolution 76 from listening evidence
- Tonal consistency 70 from specification
Specifications
| power 8ohm w | 120.0 |
|---|---|
| power 4ohm w | 240.0 |
| power class | G |
| damping factor | 180.0 |
| line inputs | 5 |
| line input sensitivity mv | 645.0 |
| line input impedance kohm | 47.0 |
| has phono | False |
| pre out | True |
| pre out level v | 2.0 |
| pre out impedance ohm | 100.0 |
| pre power separable | true_break |
| internal bass management | none |
| headphone out | True |
| frequency response hz | 1/100000 |
| snr db | 102.0 |
| thd pct | 0.002 |
| dimensions mm | 430/80/350 |
| weight kg | 9.0 |
| power consumption w | 600 |
| integrated dac | True |
| digital inputs | 7 |
| notes |