Review: Audio Analogue AACento – integrated amplifier from the new PureAA series

The new integrated amplifier Audio Analogue AACento, as is typical for High End audio solutions, will not offer you a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) or streamer. But, the device has a high-quality phono preamplifier and headphone amplifier, and the commutation set will satisfy almost every audiophile. However, the main thing here is, of course, the sound – and we will focus on it.

Design

The integrated amplifier Audio Analogue AACento is built according to a zero-feedback scheme - both in the preamplification section and in the output stages. The signal circuits use ceramic resistors of increased size - this reduces the total heat. Switching of sources is carried out using electromagnetic relays, and the precision digital volume control (but the signal in chain always remains analog) does not use operational amplifiers. The linear power supply contains a toroidal transformer with a power of 480 watts. Cooling radiators for the output stage transistors are located inside the case.

Technology

The Audio Analogue AACento commutation unit includes three linear unbalanced inputs on RCA connectors and one balanced input on XLR, there is also an output from the preamplifier, a mono output for sub, and a direct input to the dedicated power amplifier. The built-in phono preamplifier is suitable for both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) pickup heads, the amplifier (also on discrete elements) for headphones, operating in pure class A and delivering 1,000 mW into a 32 Ohm load. The input impedance is 47 kOhm, and the sensitivity is declared at 0.6 V.

The output power of the Audio Analogue AACento amplifier is 100 watts per channel when driving loudspeakers with an impedance of 8 Ohms - the power doubles to 200 watts when the impedance of the speakers decreases to 4 Ohms. The output impedance does not exceed 0.4 Ohms (!), and the upper frequence level is limited to 100 kHz at the -3 dB. The front panel of the case is turned from a solid aluminum billet, as is the case of the remote control. The Audio Analogue AACento weighs 14 kilograms.

Test system

Before testing, the Audio Analogue AACento amplifier worked for 100 hours, after this burn-in period, we can draw conclusions about the sound of the device. We used a full rack of branded electronics in a pair with the amplifier - an Audio Analogue AADrive disk transport, an Audio Analogue AADac digital-to-analog converter and Davis Acoustics Krypton 9 loudspeakers.

Listening

Audio Analogue equipment always pleases with filigree precision on the bass and iron grip of the speakers - with a very lively and timbrally accurate sound picture. In our case, again, the control of the loudspeakers was total - any attempts to unbalance the amp (say, fortissimo on symphonic works) failed. An absolutely justified result with such a low output resistance! But, again, the chic bass is accompanied by careful handling of timbres, the textural richness inherent in high-end tube amplifiers. The sound picture is always multifaceted, which is not at all typical of transistor amplifiers.

Maria Joao Pires's Chopin - The Nocturnes on Deutsche Grammophon demonstrated a full-bodied sound of the piano, with body and the most accurate after-sounds, literally materializing the instrument in the room.

The transition to aggressive tracks Infected Mushroom - Vicious Delicious did not stump the device and demonstrated an excellent sense of rhythm, supported by excellent detailing.

Finally, Diana Krall The Look of Love sounded with the whole range of emotions and built a truly three-dimensional sound stage in front of us, the foreground and background were easy and relaxed.

The device seemed to be slightly more preferred classical and jazz music, slightly narrowing the effect of the sound-wall on rock-and-roll, but, excuse us, for all the talents described above and taking into account the cost of the device, this can be completely forgotten. The detailing, in any case, is excellent, and the drive makes your legs dance.

Conclusion

The AACento integrated amplifier will become a reliable link in a high-quality audio system, in which the naturalness of timbres and the accuracy of the bass line are at the forefront.