Aavik Acoustics I-188, Integrated Amplifier, 2 x 300 Watt, Built-In Analog Crossover

Aavik Acoustics I-188, Integrated Amplifier, Built-in Analog Crossover, 2 x 300 Watt
Retail price € 15.000,00
(Non EU Buyers and EU Buyers with a valid VAT nr pay € 12.392,56)

Ohm-Audio BV is the official importer of Audio Group Denmark (Aavik, Ansuz, Axxess, Borresen) for the BeNeLux and products are delivered with warranty. Grey import products are not covered by warranty.

EN.
General: The Aavik I-188 is the latest generation integrated amplifier from the Danish brand Aavik Acoustics, which is part of Audio Group Denmark along with Ansuz Acoustics, Børresen Acoustics and Axxess. The Aavik I-188 has been renewed in many aspects compared to its predecessor the I-180. The housing has been completely redesigned, now made from different materials and the design now comes from Flemming Rasmussen (Gryphon Audio founder and designer). The Aavik I-188 is the first model in the new I-X88 series from Aavik Acoustics. The Aavik I-188 is the model below the I-288 and the I-588 from Aavik Acoustics.

Housing: The new housing of the Aavik I-X88 series is clearly more thoughtfully designed and solidly built. This is due to Audio Group Denmark's endless attention to researching and using different materials. The electronics in your audio device is one thing, the housing is another. The housing of your device also contributes to a certain sonic character. Aavik Acoustics made the housings of its first amplifiers from solid aluminum, but after considerable experimentation, testing and listening they discovered that aluminum is not the best material sonically for an amplifier housing. They then switched to a natural composite material for the I-180/280/580 series (the I-580 also features a titanium cross on the top plate and copper internal components). Now the housing of the Aavik I-188, which is based on the flagship models of Aavik Acoustics, the 880-series, is made from solid copper side panels and a top and bottom plate of sandwich design consisting of a solid copper plate, a natural composite material plate and a stainless steel plate. A much more premium feel and look. The design is clearly derived from the stunning 880-series from Aavik and the overall appearance is very sleek and modern. What has been retained is the very legible and dimmable red dot display. Large but unobtrusive looking. New is the absence of buttons which are now touchscreen buttons on the display, and new is the Aavik Acoustics logo in the volume knob which is also dimmable along with the rest of the display. Also new are the large solid feet incorporating Ansuz Darkz Feet which can be placed on Ansuz Darkz decouplers. A large part of this foot extends over the Ansuz Darkz decoupler, which means you have less contrast between the color of the amplifier and the color of the Ansuz Darkz you place underneath it (the Ansuz Darkz S2T, for example, are made of polished stainless steel while the Aavik housing is black). Finally, the remote control has also been redesigned, these are now the same beautiful and practical remotes that come with the 880-series, which really completes the feel and look.

Technology: The very advanced technology in the Aavik amplifiers is unique. The Aavik I-188 uses the latest amplifier generation from Pascal. This latest generation UMAC™ amplification can switch even faster and generates even less noise than previous generations. This means less filtering is required and the output impedance is lower, giving the amplifier even greater control over connected speakers. The Aavik I-188 delivers 2 x 300 Watts at 8 Ohm and even 2 x 600 Watts at 4 Ohm. The Aavik I-188 can therefore drive practically anything, from enormous Infinity's or B&W's and Wilson Audio to the largest models from Magnepan, Analysis Audio and other magnetostats. The latest generation resonant mode power supply is very generously dimensioned and always sized for its task. The technical design is very advanced and utilizes various techniques from sister brand Ansuz Acoustics. The Aavik I-188 features an extensive Noise and Impedance Reduction via Ansuz Tesla Coil and Dither Technology. The Aavik I-188 has 36 Active Tesla Coils, and 72 Active Square Tesla Coils. These Tesla Coils eliminate noise from the music signal and lower the impedance, providing a freer passage of the music signal from point A to point B. There are also 5 Gold Anti Aerial Resonance Coils (AARC) applied at the speaker outputs and at the analog inputs, these Gold AARC are the latest generation and are gold-plated. Additionally, 4 Analog Dither Circuitries of the latest (3rd) generation are used in the Aavik I-188. The power consumption of the Aavik I-188 is very favorable. The Aavik I-188 consumes only 1 Watt in standby, and in music mode consumption is < 30 Watt idle.

Analog Crossover: What has been added to the I-X88 integrated amplifiers is a high-quality built-in 24dB/Octave active analog crossover, which is unique. This active analog crossover offers many advantages. There is a special dual output for the Subwoofer(s), which can be adjusted via remote control at: Low Pass 30Hz - 80Hz in steps of 5Hz and volume. There is also a dual 24dB/Octave High Pass output for the main speakers. This way you can relieve the main speakers of deep bass in the analog domain, allowing them to sound better. The High Pass is also adjustable from 30Hz - 80Hz in steps of 5Hz via remote control. You will need an extra RCA interlink cable to feed the signal from the High Pass output back to the Main input. This allows you to optimally set up a subwoofer and main speaker in the analog domain without the time delay that occurs in the subwoofer's built-in EQ. Furthermore, there is an extra 6dB/Octave low-cut filter built in as standard, so you can also relieve the main speakers of bass (25Hz/40Hz and 70Hz) without the extra RCA cable. The possibilities are enormous and with this you can create a full-range system with compact speakers and 1 or 2 subwoofers that you can also play loudly in large rooms. We have never heard such an outstanding integrated sound from a speaker/subwoofer setup before! Almost always the bass lags a bit, but not with the new Aavik amplifiers.

Sound: The Aavik I-188 is a clear step forward compared to its already outstanding predecessor. The music is cleaner, the soundstage is tighter, quieter and more organized. There is more liveliness in the sound, which provides an even more engaging listening experience. The bass is deeper and more rhythmic and the control over the speakers is optimal. The sound of the Aavik I-188 is neutral, dynamic and lively, but in a way that remains natural and does not cause listening fatigue. The distinction between foreground and background in the recording is clearly perceptible and there is very good overview when a lot is happening in the recording. Also important is the harmony in which everything that is individually easy to follow plays together. This means you not only hear exactly what is happening in the recording, but it also remains musical and enjoyable to listen to without feeling that the recording is being 'dissected'. The Aavik I-188 simply sounds very musical in short. Relaxed and an enormous 3D bubble. The space in which the performers play is very well audible and the atmosphere is well conveyed to the listener. The Aavik I-188 sounds tight and dynamic and lets everything be heard when asked for it, but there is also a certain peace & comfort to the sound that allows you to also play quiet intimate music and creates a pleasant emotional transfer. The sound is therefore in excellent balance and the overall picture simply works. In terms of dynamics, the Aavik I-188 goes further than most Class A & A/B amplifiers, but that is not ultimately what it is only about. It is about sound quality and musicality, and to what extent an amplifier is able to convey emotions. And conveying the music in the way it is intended is where Aavik amplifiers excel. This Aavik I-188 is pure emotion sang.

Conclusion: The Aavik Acoustics I-188 is a unique integrated amplifier with generous output power, a formidable built-in active analog crossover and fantastic sound quality. Operation is very straightforward and refined, and the display is readable from great distances without being distracting.

Other Aavik Acoustics amplifiers from the I-X88 Series: The other amplifiers from the I-X88 Series by Aavik Acoustics, the I-288 and I-588, are built on the same principle. The output power of all amplifiers from the U-Series by Aavik Acoustics is the same. The differences lie in the amount of noise and impedance-reducing techniques using Tesla Coils, Anti Aerial Resonance Coils and Analog Dither Technology implemented in the amplifier. Sound-wise, moving from the Aavik I-188 to the I-288 represents a nice step forward in terms of definition, spatial imaging and detail, as well as a blacker, quieter and deeper background. From the I-288 to the I-588, you take another step forward in these areas. The chassis size of all amplifiers in the I-Series is identical.

Specifications of the Aavik Acoustics I-188:

Brand: Aavik Acoustics Denmark
Model: I-188
Type: Integrated Amplifier
Extra: Built-in Active Analog Crossover
Warranty Aavik Acoustics / Ohm-Audio B.V.: 24 Months
Analog Inputs: 5 x Unbalanced RCA, 1 x Main In RCA
Phono Input: N/A
Digital Inputs: N/A
Analog Outputs: 1 x Pre Out RCA, 1 x Low Pass Out RCA, 1 x High Pass Out RCA
Speaker Outputs: 1 x Pair WBT Speaker Terminals for Spades and/or Banana Plugs
Output Power: 2 x 300 Watts at 8 Ohm, 2 x 600 Watts at 4 Ohm
Finish: Black, Copper and Brushed Stainless Steel

Dimensions:

Dimensions: 44cm Wide x 43cm Deep x 11.6cm High
Weight: 22 Kg Net
Trade-in: Negotiable

Manufacturer Website: Aavik Acoustics I-188