Margules i-240 Stereo Tube Integrated Amplifier Review

The integrated amplifier has really come into its own as of late and is far removed from the (old) stigma of being a “step-down” from big, bulky, and expensive separates. The Margules i-240 creates an instant synergy of preamplifier and amplifier stages since it was developed as one (relatively small) standalone unit, and in turn squashes the idea of an integrated amplifier being second tier.

I must admit that my knowledge of Margules (based out of Mexico) was limited at best before the review, as I had only read a few favorable reports about them at various audio shows. But when Secrets Editor Carlo Lo Raso reached out to me about potentially reviewing one of their tube-integrated amps, I didn’t hesitate in the least bit.

To get to know them better, I jumped on a conference call with Carlos Smith, who handles their US and Canadian sales/marketing, and Julian Margules himself. It’s always great to catch up with those who are behind the scenes and creating all of the magic within these companies, especially when you find out that they’re just good people in general! Julian provided me with the rich history of the family business that dates back 95 years, which is very rare, to say the least.

Once we got all the pleasantries out of the way, we made arrangements for me to get their i-240 Integrated Amplifier in for review. The challenge however was that the very piece of equipment that I was to get had to be on display at the Florida Audio Expo in February, then it would only be available to me for a short period of time before it had to go on to the next stop. Fortunately, Carlo Lo Raso was attending the show, and he volunteered to bring it back with him as carry-on luggage for his flight back to Ohio (Thanks, Carlo!). We all held our breath a bit knowing that it was going to travel this way, but it made it through the airports without any issues.

The Margules i-240 Integrated Amplifier is a tube design operating in Class-A with 25 watts per channel. Utilizing their Active Servo Bias (patent pending) guarantees an optimal operation since it does not require any polarization adjustment as you will find with many tube-based amplification.

The i-240’s output tubes are configured to operate in ultra-linear mode to improve the efficiency in amplification, and the unit utilizes shunt-regulated power supplies, which help to guarantee the integrity of the audio signal. Additionally, it does not use negative feedback, and the use of negative feedback is common practice that results in a loss of details and sound richness.

Finally, Margules components utilize their ANA® Technology that they define as follows: The ANA® technology (Aligned Neuro-Acoustics) is one of Margules’ technological innovations developed from a fundamental principle: the human brain perceives sound by prioritizing the harmonic structure above fundamental tone; that is, it focuses on how humans perceive sound and not on how we measure it.

This technological advance originates from the engaging sound theory and is based on the way in which our brain decodes the information from the sound waves through the ears: when sounds are closer, they keep us focused due to the relation between perception and sound, the distance at which we perceive them and their intelligibility, whereas distant sounds, even when intelligible, do not catch our attention and are easily ignored.

Our ANA® technology is designed to achieve a realistic sound, with a wide frequency response, low distortion, and precise harmonic reproduction, optimizing to the utmost the relationship between the source and the receiver, so that you can enjoy your music in a way you have never experienced before.

The i-240 has an appealing design element featuring a combination of brushed dark polymer with wood on the left and right sides. The front panel is very clean, with all the controls being on the top surfaces along with four EL34 and four 12AU7 tubes. There are 2 dials on the top surfaces with one being for on/off and the selection of 3 different inputs, and the other being a volume control. On the back of the unit, there are 3 sets of RCA inputs (no balanced options), an on/off toggle switch, fuses, and speaker terminals. The i-240 also comes with a similarly designed and simple remote control for those of you like me who get stuck with a dog (or two) on your lap while listening and can’t get up to control the volume!

Fortunately, during my time with the Margules i-240, I had a variety of speakers to pair with the integrated amp to get a really good idea of its capabilities. Once set upon my Massif Audio amp stand, I first connected them to my Dynaudio Special 40 monitors using a pair of Iconoclast SPTPC speaker cables. Sources on the digital end were my Auralic Aries G2.1 streamer and an Esoteric K-01XD SACD / DAC. For analog duties, I was using a Pro-Ject Signature 12 turntable with Sumiko Palo Santos cartridge, and a Lab12 Melto2 phono preamp. Power connection to the i-240 was made to an AudioQuest Niagara 3000 Power Conditioner.

During the review process, I also had a pair of Sonus faber Cremona Auditor monitors, Sonus faber Serafino Tradition speakers, and finally a pair of Marten Oscar Duo monitors.

Most of my listening and gear ownership over the years has been with dedicated separates, and my current system features a 2-box VAC Signature Mk IIa SE preamplifier ($19,500) teamed with a massive pair of McIntosh MC611 600-watt monoblock amps ($16,000/pair). So, to replace almost $36k, worth of gear with a $7k integrated amplifier was going to require that I take plenty of time to “re-tune” my ears down to the level of gear that I was listening to…or at least that is what I originally thought.

With my separates rig, I had played my Dynaudio Special 40 monitors plenty of times and had already established the best positioning for them to find their sweet spot. Keeping them in that same spot, and connecting the Margules i-240, I literally wasn’t prepared for what I immediately heard.

While these small monitors sounded extremely good with the VAC / McIntosh combo, they literally opened up in full bloom with the little Margules i-240 integrated amplifier! Everything that I played sounded bigger, wider, and deeper. How could this be? A $7k integrated tube amp at 25 watts wiping the floors with $36k worth of (very good) separates? At least when paired with the Dynaudio Special ’40s, in my listening room, that’s exactly what had happened.

Now, this doesn’t automatically mean that I need to sell off my separates, but it does mean that there’s simply better synergy with the Dynaudio / Margules combo than there is with the “big gear”.

When I swapped out the Dynaudio speakers with my big Sonus faber Serafino Traditions, however, the tables turned back in favor of the separates as the i-240 at just 25 watts couldn’t control the multiple drivers on the towers nearly as well as the 600-watt monoblocks, even at lower volumes. While the sound was still very good, it just lacked some of the “meat on the bones” presentation that the big solid-state monoblocks provided. So, in this case, the synergy tipped in favor of the bigger, more powerful, and more expensive gear.

I had recently picked up a pre-owned pair of Sonus faber Cremona Auditor Monitors that I absolutely love. They might be 15+ years old, but they can still hold their own as they are incredibly musical. When I paired them with the Margules i-240, I had the same reaction as I did with the Dynaudio Special 40s. The images were bigger, deeper, and with a much more holographic presentation than I could achieve with the VAC / McIntosh combination. And even though neither of these monitors are overly sensitive, the i-240 had no issues whatsoever driving them to high volumes.

Going back through my listening notes, I had some specific instances where the i-240 showed off its strong points and personality. Finnish group Club for Five has a version of Brothers in Arms that I typically reserve for full-range speakers and/or subwoofers as the lead singer’s voice is so deep and textured that smaller systems can rarely if ever do it justice. Playing it for the first time with the i-240 / Dynaudio combo, I literally jumped in my seat when his voice kicked in as it was as deep, textured, and huge across the soundstage that I am accustomed to with much larger systems. Combine this with the holographic presentation of the monitors being driven by the Margules made for an extremely enjoyable listening moment where you literally forget about the gear and take in the music (as it should be!).

After finding out that the Margules was all about projecting a huge soundstage that was deep as it was wide, I reached for one of my new demo favorites in Make Us Stronger by Ghost Rider. Not only is this track a true test for the system’s ability to go low, but it also projects spooky images that float around the room as if it were being played in a home theater environment. As I had expected, the Margules i-240 did not disappoint. While the bass was a little shy compared to the big solid-state amps I have, the 3-dimensionality was off the charts with a soundstage that reached far out to the sides beyond the speakers themselves.

And my final listening experience that I will share with you is from Patricia Barber’s A Taste of Honey off of her Café Blue SACD. I have heard this song perhaps hundreds of times and know it very well. But when I played it through the Margules i-240 and the Dynaudio Special 40 pairing, it was one of the most special listening experiences I have ever had. It’s really hard to describe in “audiophile terms” why this particular song moved me so much on this particular day, but what I can say is that in that moment, I was completely content and never felt like I needed more than what this pairing was providing. Every now and then we achieve that complete Zen-like moment while listening to music, and this was it for me.

Now that I have gone into some details about the strengths of the Margules i-240, there were a few small nit-picks that I had with it. While it was great to have a simple remote control, I did find that even the quickest of touches for volume up or down made a significant change in volume levels. I like having the ability to make very small adjustments with the remote, and no matter how I tried, I always ended up over-shooting either up or down. The other minor quibble that I had was with the feel of the knobs on the I-240 itself. There was what I would call a lot of play in the dials compared to the precision feeling of higher-end gear that I have worked with, and I thought that it didn’t match the build or sound quality that the i-240 stood for. These are both relatively minor gripes, but I wouldn’t be doing my job correctly if I didn’t point them out. When I addressed these issues with Margules, they informed me that my review unit was early in the production cycle and that these improvements are already in the works.

THE MARGULES i-240 STEREO TUBE INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER isn’t just about value, it’s about a very high level of performance. If you’re into a lot of depth and dimension in your music presentation, you’re going to love the i-240.

The integrated amplifier market has been pretty hot for more than a few years now, with a lot of manufacturers making incredible equipment that can compete with separates that come in at much higher pricing. Margules has accomplished the same with their i-240 Stereo Tube Integrated Amplifier.

There is a lot of value in the i-240 with its natural voicing, 3-dimensional soundstage, and 25 Class-A watts of pure tubed goodness. And since it all comes in a relatively small, one-box solution, it makes the Margules even more appealing to a wide range of listeners who don’t have the space or desire for an entire wall full of audio gear!

If you’re in the market for an integrated amplifier, you should do yourself a favor and check out the Margules i-240!