Who it comes up against
13 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on bass control.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
Hydra II reference Leema stereo power ampLeema Hydra II positioning
8 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the NVA S80 Stereo keeps the slot clearly.
With the NVA P50 MKII, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
With the Neat Iota 2, the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the NVA P50 MKII gives up vocal presence under the Characterful weighting.
Hydra II reference Leema stereo power ampLeema Hydra II positioning
5 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audiolab 9000Q gives up vocal presence under the Characterful weighting.
THD just 0.002% at 1kHz, S/N >112dB A-weightedAudio Tailor 9000P review + manufacturer specs
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot clearly.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
With the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature, the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the NVA P50SA MKII gives up vocal presence under the Intimate weighting.
Hydra II reference Leema stereo power ampLeema Hydra II positioning
3 lost · Intimate, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot clearly.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Emmae Reginae (custom) gives up low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.
SET 8W/ch tube power amp, classic Audio Note voicingAudio Note P1 SE positioning + Hi-Fi+ reviews
Hydra II reference Leema stereo power ampLeema Hydra II positioning
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
3 lost · Artisan, PRaT, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot clearly.
With the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier gives up vocal presence under the Artisan weighting.
Hydra II reference Leema stereo power ampLeema Hydra II positioning
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) gives up midrange truth under the Intimate weighting.
Hydra II reference Leema stereo power ampLeema Hydra II positioning
1 lost· 2 won · Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot clearly.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 gives up quietness at rest under the Cavity-Native weighting.
1 lost · Anchored
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) keeps the slot clearly.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
1 lost · Twin Arms
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · BBC Sound
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot clearly.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Leema Hydra II is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the power amplifier position.
0 lost· 4 won · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Leema Hydra II takes the slot decisively.
0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Leema Hydra II takes the slot decisively.
0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound
Against the BBC Sound brief, the Leema Hydra II takes the slot decisively.