Absolare Integrated Amplifier

It has taken several years of research and development for Absolare to bring to market the Absolare Integrated Amplifier. We have leveraged what we have learned from our years of research and development of the Absolare power amplifiers and Absolare Preamplifier into this unique product.
As a single chassis hybrid amplifier with 200W of power, one of the key design goals of the Absolare Integrated Amplifier is for its sonic envelope not to be restricted to the sound of solid-state amplification. To achieve this goal, Absolare utilized an advanced implementation of dual mono, individually powered solid state amplification architecture with tube preamplification.

«The Integrated marries much of the Passion SET 845’s midrange magic to a more solid and powerful bottom end thanks to the transistor output stage.
The Integrated’s sound is not just tube-like, but SET-like in its lush midrange liquidity and voluptuous warmth, driving a wider range of loudspeakers and delivering deeper and more controlling bass.»

Robert Harley – The Absolute Sound – Issue 280

Like all Absolare hybrid designs, voltage gain is generated in the tube section, with zero feedback. This section is configured in Single Ended fashion and implemented with a minimum number of components to preserve sonic purity, inspired by the Absolare Preamplifier. Output stage has only local feedback, in order to make it compatible with the most complex speaker loads. Balanced models employ input transformers for maximum noise immunity and signal symmetry.

The Absolare Integrated Amplifier is housed in a single chassis with separate power supply and signal sections internally partitioned by a thick aluminum wall. This design eliminates unwanted magnetic influence of AC noise on the signal path. The laser cut and precision welded 3mm aluminum chassis is encased in leather clad, high density fiber panels to minimize the mechanical resonances. A 5mm thick aluminum base plate provides a perfectly stable foundation for the amplifier’s feet. Externally it is covered in Hi-End automotive leather with several color and stitching options.

All signal connectors are gold plated tellurium copper. Binding posts are silver plated copper with polyethylene outer barrels to minimize conductor mass. All tube sockets are pure teflon with gold plated copper contacts.

Silver-gold alloy in oil coupling capacitors are employed in the signal path. Signal caps and resistors with very low tolerances keep the phase shift difference between channels at minimum. All PCB boards have «triple-thickness» copper tracks and special silver/gold alloy solder is used for all soldered joints. Custom toroidal power transformers are used for low noise and large headroom. The power amplifier section uses separate power transformers for each channel with 184,000uF ultra-low ESR capacitor banks. Discrete Schottky diodes provide fast and noise free rectification. Tube heaters are DC regulated and filtered. All internal cabling uses Echole’s proprietary alloys.

12 active output components provide 200W continuous power per channel into 4Ω loads. They are individually hand tuned for perfect symmetry. A timer circuit protects the speakers and power components from transient signals and in-rush currents at power-on time.
Volume is set by a CNC machined, remote controlled, 48-step attenuator with discrete resistors.
Output stage is protected from overheat and overloads. Signal ground is separate from chassis ground to minimize hum and noise.

Design:
Dual Mono, Tube input, Solid State output, Hybrid Architecture

Attenuator:
48 step, remote controlled

Tubes:
2 x 12AU7 / ECC82 (or compatibles) – Every unit comes with select NOS tubes

Bandwidth:
20Hz -20kHz within +/- 0.2dB, 15 Hz – 30 kHz +/- 1.0 dB

Input:
4 in RCA and XLR Models; 2 RCA + 2 XLR in RCA/XLR Model

Input impedance:
100 kΩ

Input Sensitivity:
0.5 Volts (balanced version 2 Volts)

Gain:
37 dB

Output Power:
200 Watts @ 4Ω, 150 Watts @ 8Ω

Speaker impedance:
4 – 8Ω

Dimensions:
38.2 x 67.4 x 20 cm / 15″ x 26.4″ x 7.9″ (W x D x H), excl. feet

Weight:
33 kg / 73 lbs., net

Brief Highlight of models. (Dozens of parts tailor made per model, This is a brief description):

Passion:
Echole Signature Cabling, in signal and power section, Mundorf silver gold oil signal capacitors, 20 micron gold connectors.

Signature:
Echole Orius and Omnia cabling in signal and power section, Signature optimized power topology.

Altius:
Echole limited edition and infinity cabling in signal and power section, Duelund copper silver signal capacitors, pure silver connectors Altius optimised signal and power topology.