STEREOPHILE review (Jan, 2007): "I'm happy to make the Destiny my new reference in affordable intergated amplifiers."
             "Mike Creek, you've done it again. Keep raising that bar!"

- Robert J. Reinna

REVIEWS:

STEREO TIMES

Hi-Fi Choice Magazine

The Destiny integrated amplifier will continue to produce world beating audio performance, through its continued use of discrete analogue MOS-FET circuitry which was first developed for Creek?s amplification products in 1993. This circuitry has continued to be used with great success since that time.

A major improvement in the Destiny over earlier Creek amplifiers has been in the area of separating power supply and voltage referencing circuitry for each channel. Dedicated windings on the new and up-rated mains transformer achieves >100 Watts into 8 Ohm operation.

In addition Creek has upgraded the circuitry that controls the protection of the amplifier and ancillary products under fault conditions. Protection of the amplifier and ancillary products under fault conditions is facilitated by an array of sensors and measurement circuits feeding-back information to the microcontroller that monitors the amplifier constantly for over-temperature, over-current, DC offsets, power supply status and over-drive situations. If any of these conditions is exceeded the microcontroller will take the appropriate corrective action. This can include, muting the input signal, separating the speaker outputs and, in extreme cases, switching off the mains supply to the power amplifier circuitry.

It continues, as before, to control the volume by adjusting a motorized 27mm ALPS potentiometer. The Destiny has 5 inputs plus a single tape loop selected by relays and indicated by LED?s.

Separating the pre-amp / power amplifier in the Destiny is controlled by a semi-hidden push switch on the rear panel and signal paths to and from the pre and power amplifier are carried by custom audio grade wiring. Loudspeaker connection is controlled locally by gold contact high current relays that can also be controlled via the Creek (CAN) bus.

The Destiny can still be run with a passive pre-amp but now has the added feature of a gain selectable active pre-amp. Selection is in three steps - 3dB, 6dB & 9dB. The gain is adjustable from underneath the pre-amp selection with a 3 way slider switch. To select active or passive operation a push button on the front panel switches between the two and is indicated with an LED.

A new connector arrangement can be found inside the Destiny pre-amp circuit board allowing the use of a plug-in gain Phono circuit board. Being fully isolated from the input ground, it is possible to input either MM or MC cartridges. The early range of phono boards which suit Creek?s Classic 5350SE and earlier model Creek amplifiers will not fit this new amplifier.

Most types of dynamic headphones can be connected to the standard size ¼" jack socket on the front panel, for high performance reproduction.

One of the more difficult tasks was to make the Destiny switch into low-current standby operation. Waking up the amplifier can now be performed simply via the Creek System Remote handset.

The metal case of the Destiny amplifier is larger and more substantial in thickness and weight. The new casework design uses heavy extruded aluminium sections and turned control knobs and buttons, machined by computer aided manufacturing techniques, to achieve a very high quality finish. The front panel itself is machined from solid 10mm thick aluminium. Groups of function buttons are now clustered together within a machined circle to make it more intuitive to use. LED?s indicate the functionality. Sorbothane'TM moulded feet, are also used to isolate mechanical vibration and improve sonic resolution.

Technical Specification:

Power in to 8 Ohm both channel driven: > 100W
Power in to 4 Ohm one channel driven: > 200W
Max Current: > 25amps
THD: < 0.05% 20Hz - 20Khz
Frequency Response: 3Hz - 80Khz - 1dB
Gain with, passive pre-amp: x48 33.6db
Gain with built in gain stage: +3db +6db +9db
Input Sensitivity: 590mv for 100W
Separation: > 60dB
Signal to Noise: > 105dB
Remote: Yes (SRC 2 )
Inputs: 5 line inputs + 1 tape loop
Outputs: 4
Headphone output: Yes
a/b speaker switch: Yes
Switchable pre-amp output & power amp input: Yes, on the rear of amp
Voltage Switchable: 120V/220V
Consumption: 350W
Weight: 10Kg, 22Lbs.

Size: W/H/D 430 x 70 x 310mm

Creek Destiny Integrated Amplifier, brand new with full warranty from authorized dealer

List price: $2,395; sell: $2,155 includes 48-state shipping.

 Creek Destiny CD Player, brand new with full warranty from authorized dealer

List price: $2,395; sell: $2,155 includes 48-state shipping.

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 Creek Destiny Integrated Amplifier and Creek Destiny CD Player, brand new with full warranty from authorized dealer

List price: $4,790; sell: $3,879 includes 48-state shipping.

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Crane Enterprises and Crane Home Theater.