Aavik Acoustics I-288, Integrated Amplifier, Built-in Analog Crossover, 2 x 300 Watt

Aavik Acoustics I-288, Integrated Amplifier, Built-In Analog Crossover, 2 x 300 Watts
Retail price € 20,000.00

EN.
General: The Aavik I-288 is the latest generation integrated amplifier from Danish brand Aavik Acoustics, which is part of Audio Group Denmark along with Ansuz Acoustics, Børresen Acoustics, and Axxess. The Aavik I-288 has been renewed in many ways compared to its predecessor, the I-280. The housing has been completely redesigned, now made from different materials, and the design comes from Flemming Rasmussen (Gryphon Audio founder and designer). The Aavik I-288 is the mid-range model in Aavik Acoustics' new I-X88 series. The Aavik I-288 is the model above the I-188 and below the I-588 from Aavik Acoustics.

Housing: The new housing of the Aavik I-X88 series is clearly more thoughtfully designed and more solidly built. This is due to Audio Group Denmark's endless attention to researching and using different materials. The electronics in your audio equipment is one thing, the housing is another. The housing of your device also contributes to a certain sound character. Aavik Acoustics made the housings of its first amplifiers from solid aluminum, but after considerable experimentation, testing, and listening, they discovered that aluminum was not the best material sonically for an amplifier housing. With the I-180/280/580 models, they switched to a natural composite material for the housing, and with the I-580 they also added a titanium cross on the top plate and a copper interior. Now the housing of the Aavik I-288, which is based on Aavik Acoustics' flagship 880-series models, is made from solid copper side panels and top and bottom plates featuring a sandwich design with a solid copper plate, a natural composite material plate, and a stainless steel plate. This offers a much more premium feel and look. The design is clearly derived from the beautiful 880-series and has a very sleek and modern appearance. What has been retained is the highly readable and dimmable red dot display. Large but subtle-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 portion of this foot extends over the Ansuz Darkz decoupler, reducing the color contrast between the amplifier and the Ansuz Darkz decoupler you place underneath it (the Ansuz Darkz S3T and S3W, 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 supplied with the 880-series, which completes the feel and look perfectly.

Technology: The highly advanced technology in Aavik amplifiers is unique. The Aavik I-288 uses the latest amplifier generation from Pascal. This newest 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, allowing the amplifier to have even more control over connected speakers. The Aavik I-288 features 2 x 300 Watts at 8 Ohm and even 2 x 600 Watts at 4 Ohm. The Aavik I-288 can therefore drive practically anything, from enormous Infinity's or B&W's and Wilson Audio to the largest models of Magnepan, Analysis Audio and other planar speakers. The latest generation resonant mode power supply is extremely generously dimensioned and always calculated for its task. The technical design is very advanced and uses various techniques from sister brand Ansuz Acoustics. The Aavik I-288 includes extensive Noise and Impedance Reduction via Ansuz Tesla Coil and Dither Technology. The Aavik I-288 features 72 Active Tesla Coils, and 168 Active Square Tesla Coils. These Tesla Coils eliminate noise from the music signal and lower the impedance, allowing for 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 analog inputs; these Gold AARCs are the newest generation and are gold-plated. Additionally, 7 Analog Dither Circuitries of the latest (3rd) generation are used in the Aavik I-288. The power consumption of the Aavik I-288 is very favorable. The Aavik I-288 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, and that is unique. This active analog crossover offers many advantages. There is a special dual output for the Subwoofer(s), which can be adjusted via the remote control: 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 allows you to relieve the main speakers of deep bass in the analog domain, which makes them sound better. The High Pass is also adjustable from 30Hz - 80Hz in steps of 5Hz via the remote control. You will need an extra RCA interlink 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. Additionally, there is an extra 6dB/Octave bass cut filter built in as standard, so you can relieve the main speakers of bass (25Hz/40Hz and 70Hz) even 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 excellent integrated sound from a speaker/subwoofer setup before! Almost always the bass lags somewhat, but not with the new Aavik amplifiers.

Sound : The Aavik I-288 is a clear step forward compared to its already excellent predecessor, and also a nice improvement over the I-188. The music is cleaner, the soundstage is tighter, quieter and more organized. The resolution is clearly better and 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-288 is neutral, dynamic and lively, but in a way that remains natural and does not cause listening fatigue. The distinction between the foreground and background in the recording is clearly perceptible and there is very good clarity when a lot is happening in the recording. Also important is the harmony in which everything that is individually easy to follow works together. This means you not only hear clearly what exactly is happening in the recording, but it also remains musical and enjoyable to listen to without feeling that the recording is being 'dissected'. In short, the Aavik I-288 simply sounds very musical. Relaxed and an enormous 3D bubble. The space in which the performers play is very clearly audible and the atmosphere is well conveyed to the listener. The Aavik I-288 sounds tight and dynamic and lets everything be heard when called for, but there is also a certain calm and comfort to the sound that allows you to play intimate music comfortably and creates a pleasant emotional transfer. The sound is therefore in excellent balance and the overall picture simply fits. Dynamically, the Aavik I-288 goes further than most Class A and A/B amplifiers, but that is not ultimately what it is all 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-288 is pure emotion in sound.

Conclusion : The Aavik Acoustics I-288 is a unique integrated amplifier with generous output power, a formidable built-in active analog crossover and fantastic sound quality. Operation is very simple and refined and the display is readable from great distances without being intrusive.

Other Aavik Acoustics amplifiers from the I-X88 Series : The other amplifiers from the I-X88 Series from Aavik Acoustics, the I-188 and the I-588, are built according to the same principle. The output power of all amplifiers from the I-X88 series from Aavik Acoustics is the same. The differences lie in the amount of noise and impedance reducing techniques through Tesla Coils, Anti Aerial Resonance Coils and Analog Dither Technology that are applied in the amplifier. In terms of sound, moving from the Aavik I-188 to the I-288 you will notice a nice step forward in the area of definition, spatial characteristics and detail, and a blacker, quieter and deeper background. Moving from the I-288 to the I-588, you take another step forward in these areas. The size of the housing of all amplifiers in the I-Series is identical.

Specifications of the Aavik Acoustics I-288 :

Brand : Aavik Acoustics Denmark
Model : I-288
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 : 23.3 Kg Net

Manufacturer Website :

Manufacturer Website : Aavik Acoustics I-288

Trade-in : Negotiable