Osterville, Mass. - Home-automation supplier Savant Systems launched its first-ever amplifier, a 16-channel model that can be paired with the company's multi-room audio systems and placed on a shelf or in an equipment rack. 

The eight-zone AMP-1640 is a fan-less Class D model that fits in a three-rack-space metal enclosure and features the same industrial design as the company's other components. It's rated at 16x40 watts into 8 ohms and 16x50 watts into 4 ohms (at 0.1 percent THD at 1kHz). Pricing was unavailable.

Features include RCA phono input jacks, screw-terminal speaker connections that accommodate up to 14-gauge standard speaker wire, and independent gain controls for all channels. It can be configured to drive zones in stereo or mono.

 Frequency response is 20Hz to 20kHz (+/- 0.8dB) with signal-to-noise ratio greater than 90dB.