Aavik I-880 Integrated Amplifier

Aavik I-880 Integrated Amplifier Powerful with a maximum of musicality The primary development goal of this series was to create a powerful non-switching pure class A amplifier with the lowest possible output impedance that would contribute to a better signal and less noise, thus improving speaker performance, resulting in a much more organic sound and more musicality. Technologies and Components Through a long and intensive research and development process, Aavik’s engineering team identified several characteristic elements in the traditional Class A amplifier design that could be improved, which has had a very positive effect on the soundstage and musicality. To create the best and most effective control section, Aavik’s engineering department has carefully tested and evaluated each electronic component to ensure both the lowest possible noise floor and further refinement of the signal. The ultimate goal of this thorough approach is for the amplifier to unlock a dynamic musical range that projects even the smallest musical details onto a palpably larger soundstage with an extremely quiet background.   Aavik 200W pure class A amplifier Aavik have designed a circuitry that constantly keeps the bias spread 0,63 V above the required current, no matter where it is in the cycle. So, no matter how much current the power amp requires to perform, it always stays in Class A up to an impressive 2×200 W into 8 ohms, while at the same time not consuming unnecessary power. This significant reduction in the power requirements of the amplifier allowed Aavik to design the capacitors as smaller units and place them locally, so that essentially each of the eight pairs of output transistors has its own capacitor bank right next to it. This means that the current does not have to flow through long wire harnesses and long circuit boards. The current is always directly at the output transistor, which means a shorter signal path and therefore less noise. In addition, this innovative Aavik design also means that the 880 amplifiers do not get as hot as conventional Class A amplifiers, resulting in higher efficiency. Resonant mode power supply This Aavik series is designed to ensure massive power resources with ultra-low noise. Unlike the square waves used by conventional switch mode power supplies, this Aavik series boast a resonant mode design which is principally driven by sine waves. When more power is needed, the operating frequency increases, which, in turn, has the advantage that the power density also increases, thus allowing higher peak power when required by the music. The noise floor in the raw power supply is extremely low but could be even further lowered by the ultra-low noise regulators supplying the different parts of the circuit. The noise of these regulators is measured in a few microvolts respectively nanovolts, which is significantly lower than the noise level of conventional regulators. The principle of a traditional class A power supply is to create switching noise. This happens when the large capacitors have to absorb current from the transformer. Current can only flow into the capacitors when the voltage on the outside is less, so when current is needed, the voltage across the capacitors will be lower than the 50/60 Hz cycle. Although defined as a linear power supply, there are a lot of current transients flowing in these power supplies. The Aavik 880 amplifier has four 500W power factor corrected resonant mode power supplies. The 500w power supplies combined with the extremely large power banks mean that the amplifier can deliver peak currents in excess of 80A, so it is not the power supply in the Aavik 880 amplifier that will limit how much you can feed into your speakers in transient and they will never switch . Volume control Affects the sonic experience. The Aavik 880 amplifier features a unique inverted amplifier topology with virtual ground for maximum stability. Feedback becomes so strong that the signal can be attenuated to a gain of less than 1. This maintains the full signal with the lowest signal-to-noise ratio, whether the volume is turned up or down. This provides the speakers with a clear and distinct flow of information, making even the subtlest nuances of timbre and texture audible against an extremely quiet soundstage. Switchless optical input board LDR based. The LDR (Light dependent resistor) is ultra quiet thanks to the switchless principle. The traditional switch arrays and relays are more noisy. They suppress subtle sound details and unnaturally color the tone.         The 880 cabinet design A study of materials and shapes The exterior design of the Aavik 880 amplifier is the result of Flemming Erik Rasmussen’s artistic and aesthetic work. However, his design philosophy is and always has been that design must serve purpose. The cabinet of the Aavik 880 amplifier was designed primarily with the goal of maintaining the best audio characteristics of the electrical design, i.e. the lowest inductance, reducing hysteresis to an absolute minimum, and ensuring excellent resonance control. In addition, since this was a Class A amplifier that was to be developed, there were some predefined premises for the design. With these goals in mind, the design process became a study of shapes and materials that opened up a unique and constructive synergy between Flemming Erik Rasmussen and Michael Børresen. In addition, the amplifier features cooling elements on the sides and top that clearly bear Flemming’s design signature. The outer part of the volume button is covered with titanium, and the control panel is designed as a large LCD touchscreen display. The choice of materials, as well as the interior and exterior design, are the result of Fleming and Michael’s collaboration and are characterized by functionality, but also by a very aesthetic and elegant design. Bottom plate sandwich construction The bottom plate is designed as a sandwich construction with a copper plate, a heavy compact laminate plate, and a titanium layer on the bottom. This unique sandwich construction ensures minimum resonance and supports a natural and organic sound.   The solid copper enclosure Based on Flemming Erik Rasmussen’s fascination with copper for its visual appearance and feel, and Michael Børresen’s insight into the sonic properties of copper, this material was chosen as a fundamental component of the design. As a result, the Aavik 880 amplifiers feature a solid copper enclosure. This results in a further reduction in hysteresis, lower output impedance, lower inductance, a positive effect on the damping factor, and cooler operation of the amplifier. All these components ensure that the music is reproduced with more energy and power.     Active Analog Crossover The Aavik active analog crossover secures a precise timing in the delivery of sound signals to the receiving components. This is essential to avoid a harsh and compressed sound. The Aavik active crossover has been designed to either very precisely control a subwoofer or with the integrated low pass and high pass filter to control a 2.1 home theater system. Alternatively, Aavik’s analog crossover can function as analog room correction control. Excellent and absolutely precise subwoofer control Since the crossover is analog, there is no latency. The timing of the signal transfer to both the speakers and the subwoofer is absolutely precise. This results in an utmost pristine and authentic sound. Other conventional crossovers, such as DSP transport the signal through a digital circuit. This results in a latency of 15-20 msec. The effect of a failing precision in the timing of the signal transfer to the speakers, respectively the subwoofer, impairs an authentic audio reproduction, creates a compressed sound and adds a harsh tone to the music. Control your home theater and your 2.1 audio setup By using the low pass and high pass filter, the sound performance of your individual speakers can be optimized. When directing the low frequencies to the subwoofer, more energy to the main speakers will be released. To ensure an even volume of the speakers and the subwoofer, the gain on the high pass and the low pass filter can separately be controlled. Analog Room Correction – prevent “Room Boom”, the annoying pressure resonance Room correction is a matter of identifying and eliminating room resonance. The one specific resonance that creates an unpleasant and disturbing sound is a pressure resonance resulting from the given size of the room – subjectively, it feels like a “boom” emanating from the speakers. To eliminate this room specific resonance, the Aavik amplifiers can adapt their audio performance and make allowances for any given room size. Both the low pass and high pass filter allow the listener to set the exact frequency progress around those low frequencies which cause this disturbing ‘Boom’ effect.   The Tesla coil principle The principle is to have two coils that are wounded in each direction / a coil and a counter coil. In Ansuz words: “a double inverted coil” – the two coils are both carrying voltage – and when the Tesla coil encounters a voltage spike a counter spike is activated in order to eliminate the noise. As Noise spikes are pure voltage and carries virtually no charge, the cancelation is quite good, but not 100%. By adding more P-TC coils in parallel the performance increases. By implementing this the perceived blackness in the music improves significantly. Ansuz Tesla coils are available in various types as they complement each other in terms of strengths /weaknesses.   Analog dither technology 3rd generation A 3rd generation of the Ansuz analog dither technology has been developed. Analog dither technology originated in radar, where it ensured a stronger signal and thus greater range. The active Tesla coils send pulsating signals at precisely defined frequencies. These signals are sent in anti-phase. This significantly amplifies the musical signal and eliminates the background noise floor. Analysis and studies have led to new options – and a lot of listening has resulted in this 3rd generation design which is a further optimization of the most effective frequencies which opens the soundscape even more and with the tiniest details when it comes to reproduction of the recordings.   Active Tesla coil Effective noise killer. The active Tesla coils are power supplied which secures a remarkable lower impedance and thus a better ability to eliminate noise. The active version is about three to four times more efficient than passive Tesla coils.                       Active square Tesla coils Impressive noise reduction. The active square Tesla coils are embedded in our circuitry boards – one coil on the top and the counter coil on the rear side. The principle is exactly the same as the active Tesla coil and thus a great ability to eliminate noise than the passive Tesla coil.       Anti aerial resonance coil technology Prevents airborne noise. All cables and cable screens are acting like antennas for airborne RF noise which of course is a huge problem. The passive cable Tesla coil is wounded on the external part of the cable and protects the signal from absorbing the airborne RF noise. This noise is absorbed in the Tesla coil. As there is a voltage running in the conductor itself, and it is wounded in the counter direction – this is used as the counter coil and the RF noise is then eliminated.   Active zirconium anti aerial resonance Tesla coil Based on Ansuz general curiosity on the properties of different materials, Ansuz has implemented a zirconium bar in their anti aerial resonance coil design. This is another impressive upgrade to the Ansuz anti aerial resonance coil technology. The properties of this zirconium bar allow for unprecedented resonance control resulting in outstanding musical refinement that creates a natural soundstage, unrivalled in its purity, precision and attention to musical detail.     Active zirconium cable anti aerial resonance Tesla coil When Aavik designs new audio equipment, one of the main tasks is always to eliminate as much unwanted noise as possible to provide uncompromising musical authenticity. Therefore, Aavik always integrates the most effective Tesla coil technologies from the sister brand Ansuz into the Aavik products. Audio Group Denmark has learned that many technologically groundbreaking advances in product development of its three individual brands, Ansuz, Aavik and Børresen, can often be leveraged across brands. The knowledge and technology sharing that takes place between the three brands has proven to be extremely insightful and valuable. Based on their studies of the properties of zirconium and their recent experience with the use of zirconium, Ansuz has also designed an active cable zirconium Tesla coil technology. The new design includes not less than three zirconium bars. Furthermore, the Tesla coil itself is extended as well. The complete solution is improving the signal handling dramatically – both in terms of eliminating noise and controlling resonances, ensuring a crystal-clear sound. The active zirconium cable anti aerial resonance Tesla coils is wound directly on the out part of the cable and protects the signal from absorbing the airborne RF noise. This noise is absorbed in the Tesla coil. The active version is about three to four times more efficient than the passive cable Tesla coil REVIEW & AWARDS Aavik I-880 - Read More "The Børresen M1 review was a major mental exercise that took a while to finish. Just so we’re clear, writing about a compact passive monitor set priced like a brand new Porsche isn’t exactly easy. The material about the more affordable and still very dear Aavik essentially wrote itself. I consider this visual stunner a work of art more than anything else. It’s executed to the highest standards, operates flawlessly, runs barely warm and feels like a luxurious costly well-designed object no less. With Boenicke W11 SE+ its dynamic capabilities seemed endless and overall sonics were superb all across the board. I truly haven’t heard these speakers any better. I also haven’t sampled an integrated machine aesthetically and sonically more accomplished than the Aavik I-880, hence the award below." - Dawid Grzyb   The Aavik I-880 Integrated Amplifier - A New Flagship For Audio Group Denmark - Read More "In retrospect, I continue to reflect on what I experienced and heard with the Aavik I-880. Do we now have that one component that will finally resolve the questions surrounding the integrated verses separates issue? Rarely do we find an integrated amplifier with such innovation and advanced technologies. This includes, but is not limited to those realized for resonance control, noise suppression and power supply. Rarely do we have the ability to enjoy the advantages of Class A sound, but in such an efficient and effective manner. Even beyond the technology, and for those with a very discriminating eye, should we consider the I-880 a beautiful piece of art? Should it be the center piece of of your listening room and proudly displayed so that all can see? The Aavik I-880 Integrated Amplifier clearly responds to all of these challenges and more. Truly a tour de force designed and built by two master craftsmen! Congrats to Michael Børresen, Flemming Erik Rasmussen and the entire AGD Team! Very highly recommended!" - Robert S. Youman Extract licensed for web use from FIDELITY 67 – 3/2023 Aavik I-880 - Read More "Now, what closing remarks can I make about this paragon of an amplifi- er? Of course, some people will be horrified by the price, and we could discuss the point and absurdity of luxury goods to our heart's content. On the other hand, it is clear that the superb I-880 conjures up specific expectations in terms of design, haptics, features, handling and sound. And the Aavik truly delivers! This amplifier not only met every one of our expectations, it surpassed them. The Rasmussen-inspired design is awesome and the craftsmanship stunning. Despite the rich features, a three-button interface couldn't have been implemented more smoothly. And I've gushed enough about the sound already."     Integrated Amplifier Technology Table   Aavik I-180 Aavik I-280 Aavik I-580 Aavik I-880 / Integrated Amplifier Active Tesla coil 36 72 108 132 Active square Tesla coils 96 168 240 311 Dither Circuitry 5 8 11 18 Anti aerial resonance … 4 4 4 Aavik Copper Inner Cha… * * Active zirconium Tesla… 20 Active zirconium cable… 4 Switchless Optical Inp… *   SPECIFICATIONS Connections Line in: Gain Line 1-4: 5-15dB; max input 4,5V RMS Gain Line 5: 1-11dB; max input 6,5V RMS Input impedance: 10K ohm Pre out: Pre out: 1 single ended – RCA Max output: 7,5V RMS Distortion, line stage: <0.005% (THD at 1kHz, 1V input) Output impedance: 50 ohm Amplifier Section