What it is
Hi-Fi+ review (Sept 2024, Alan Sircom): "11.5/10... not just a world-class power amp, it sounds like home... some of the nicest watts you'll ever hear" (≤15-word quotes per copyright rules).
CRITICAL DRIVE LIMIT: 40W/8Ω is class-leading Class A power but ABSOLUTE rather than per-impedance. The amp does NOT double into 4Ω — Class A thermal ceiling caps current. Mandate E's drive gate (≥100W/4Ω AND ≥1.65× doubling) is FAILED — FBA-800 is incompatible with Epos ES-7N forced systems. For Epos drive, use Naim NAP 250 or Exposure 3510 Mono.
COMPATIBLE SPEAKERS: ≥86dB sensitivity at ≥6Ω — Harbeth P3ESR XD2 (83dB / 5.7Ω) is borderline at typical Romantic/Intimate listening volumes; Neat Petite Classic (87dB / 4Ω) and PMC Prodigy 1 (87.5dB / 5Ω) are comfortable. Iota 2 (86dB / 5Ω) is comfortable. Falcon Gold Badge (83dB / 11Ω) is excellent — high-Z helps Class A SE.
Hi-tier mandate fit: F-Hi (fully balanced phono → preamp → power) should consider FBA-800 over Exposure 3510 Mono pair when paired with DAP-800 preamp. The DAP-800 + FBA-800 combination achieves the audit's only fully-balanced same-house designed-pair Class A separates configuration.
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 gains most on quiet-hours detail.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
warm... not at expense of leading edgeHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2018
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot clearly.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on bass control.
With the Leema Neutron, the pairing gains most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
Hydra II reference Leema stereo power ampLeema Hydra II positioning
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot by a whisker.
With the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gains most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature gives up timing and drive under the Intimate weighting.
one effortless gestaltHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2018
3 lost· 1 won · Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
With the Neat Petite Classic, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
one effortless gestaltHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2018
3 lost · Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
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 Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.
With the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
one effortless gestaltHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2018
2 lost· 2 won · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 takes the slot clearly.
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot clearly.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 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.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the power amplifier position.
1 lost· 2 won · Intimate, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 takes the slot clearly.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the weaker power amplifier — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 gains quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the power amplifier position.
low noise floorHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2018
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot clearly.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on bass control.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gains most on tonal body.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Emmae Reginae (custom) gives up bass control under the Cavity-Native weighting.
warm... not at expense of leading edgeHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2018
Ultima 6 stereo with high-frequency feed-forwardChord Ultima 6 stereo positioning
1 lost · Anchored
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) keeps the slot decisively.
With the Neat Petite Classic, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gains most on quiet-hours detail.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the weaker power amplifier for that brief.
1 lost · Twin Arms
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · BBC Sound
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
0 lost· 1 won · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 takes the slot clearly.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gains most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Sugden Sapphire FBA-800 is the weaker power amplifier — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 gains low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the power amplifier position.