Thermion Engineering Redesigns the Floor-Amp from the Ground-Up - with its new Zero, Dynamic Hybrid Amplifier

Currently running as a Kickstarter Campaign and thus far two years in the making - the forthcoming Zero, Dynamic Hybrid Amplifier is an entirely new design of Class D amplifier which fully recreates every part of a Tube style amplifier with a highly innovative active OpAmp array. While typically OpAmps are used in active amplifiers between passive stages like a more conventional EQ / Tone-stack, with the Zero, all EQ Filters are fully active in order to draw more dynamics and harmonics out of the amplifier.

All components used are Pro-Audio grade with optimal signal-to-noise ratio. And Thermion have entirely redeveloped the Transformer stage, PreAmp and Power stage with their own innovative proprietary technology. The majority of other floor-amp manufacturers tend to make use of Profusion IcePower Modules for the Power stage - while everything in the Zero is original and wholly bespoke.

So the core innovation is really how the Amp circuit has been engineered to deliver the maximum of dynamics, feel and harmonics which is highly unusual outside the more traditional Tube amps. There are further innovations though that can clearly be seen on the rear panel of the amp - with its Mono-In - Stereo-Out FX Loop, PreAmp Loop and Balanced XLR ports with Analog Speaker Modelling / Cab Simulation.

The Amp further has 2 x 8 ohm 40 Watt Stereo output jacks, and a Universal Mains port with accessible fuse box; there is also a full size 6.35mm / quarter inch Headphone jack.

On the top panel you have 3-Band EQ with 2 levels of enhanced Brightness, 3-way Reverb Size and Mix Controls. Also XLR / Headphones Volume Control, Standby switch and single Master Volume control. In terms of footswitches there is one for the Internal PreAmp - so you can toggle between that and in effect a 2nd Channel if you have something connected to the PreAmp Loop. The Effects Loop engages the FX Send/Return for further effects inclusion, and finally the 3rd switch engages the Reverb at the end of the output chain.

In the picture it looks like it’s quite a sizeable pedal, while it’s dimensions are relatively modest for such a product at 245mm x 150mm x 55mm, in fact not dissimilar to the Victory V4 Tube Floor PreAmps at 225mm x 140mm x 79mm. Note that the Thermion Zero is a full PreAmp + Power Section amp, while most equivalent alternatives are PreAmps only - you should factor that into the cost and size of the unit respectively. The Thermion Zero is in effect a fully portable compact stand-alone full amplifier - wholly equivalent to a full-featured Amp Head.

The Zero’s Reverb is a Stereo Digital Spatial Reverb - which with its Small, Medium and Extra Large Modes replicates Room, Hall and Cathedral type algorithms. The Reverb includes an Analog Mix and Filtering in a post-processor fashion and is more a 3D style Reverb rather than the traditional Spring or Plate types.

As mentioned, this is currently a Kickstarter Campaign which still needs to get over the line - the very early-bird €384/£345/$433 Pledges are gone already, but there are plenty of advance €442/£399/$499 Pledges remaining - which is still a bargain compared to the final RRP of €595/£535/$671.