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 Watt

Retail Price € 19.995,00

GENERAL.

General: The Aavik I-288 is the latest generation integrated amplifier from the Danish brand Aavik Acoustics, which falls under Audio Group Denmark alongside Ansuz Acoustics, Børresen Acoustics and Axxess. The Aavik I-288 has been renewed in many ways compared to its predecessor, the I-280. The chassis has been completely redesigned, now made of different materials and the design now 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 sits above the I-188 and below the I-588 from Aavik Acoustics.

Chassis: The new chassis of the Aavik I-X88 series is clearly more thoughtfully and solidly constructed. 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 chassis is another. The chassis of your device also contributes to a certain sound character. Aavik Acoustics made the chassis of its first amplifiers from solid aluminum, but after extensive testing and listening, they discovered that aluminum is not the best material sonically for an amplifier chassis. With the I-180/280/580, they switched to a chassis made of natural composite material (the I-580 also featured a titanium cross on the top plate and copper internal components). Now the chassis of the Aavik I-288, which is based on Aavik Acoustics' flagship models, the 880-series, is made of solid copper side plates and a top and bottom plate with sandwich construction consisting of a solid copper plate, a natural composite material plate and a stainless steel plate. Much higher quality feel and look. The design is clearly derived from the beautiful 880-series from Aavik and the overall appearance is very sleek and modern. What has been preserved is the very readable and dimmable red dot display. Large but understated looking. New is the absence of buttons, which now consist of 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 with Ansuz Darkz Feet integrated, which can be placed on Ansuz Darkz decouplers. A large part of this foot overlaps 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 (the Ansuz Darkz S3T and S3W, for example, are made of polished stainless steel where the Aavik chassis is black). Finally, the remote control has also been redesigned, these are now the same beautiful and practical remotes that are supplied with the 880-series, which truly completes the feel and look.

Technology: The highly advanced technology in Aavik amplifiers is unique. The Aavik I-288 uses the latest Pascal amplifier generation. This newest UMAC™ amplification can switch even faster and generates even less noise than previous generations. This means less filtering is needed and the output impedance is lower, allowing the amplifier to have even more control over connected speakers. The Aavik I-288 has 2 x 300 Watts at 8 Ohms and even 2 x 600 Watts at 4 Ohms. With this, the Aavik I-288 can drive practically anything, from huge Infinity's or B&W's and Wilson Audio to the largest models from Magnepan, Analysis Audio and other planar speakers. The latest generation resonant mode power supply is very generously dimensioned and always calculated for its task. The technical construction is very advanced and uses various techniques from sister brand Ansuz Acoustics. The Aavik I-288 features extensive Noise and Impedance Reduction via Ansuz Tesla Coil and Dither Technology. The Aavik I-288 has 72 Active Tesla Coils, and 168 Active Square Tesla Coils. These Tesla Coils eliminate noise from the music signal and lower impedance, allowing for freer flow 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 latest generation and are gold-coated. Additionally, 7 Analog Dither Circuitries of the latest (3rd) generation are employed 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, which is unique. This active analog crossover offers many advantages. There is a special dual output for the Subwoofer(s), which is adjustable via remote control at: Low Pass 30Hz - 80Hz in 5Hz steps 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, and they will sound better as a result. The High Pass is also adjustable from 30Hz - 80Hz in 5Hz steps, 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 additional 6dB/Octave low-pass filter built in as standard, so you can relieve the main speakers of bass without the extra RCA cable (25Hz/40Hz and 70Hz). The possibilities are enormous and you can create a full-range system with compact speakers and 1 or 2 subwoofers that can also play loud in large rooms. We have not previously heard such an excellent integrated sound from a speaker/subwoofer setup! Almost always the bass lags behind somewhat, but not with the new Aavik amplifiers.

Sound: The Aavik I-288 is a clear step forward from 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 noticeably better and there is more liveliness in the sound, providing an even more engaging listening experience. The bass is deeper and more rhythmic and 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 causes no listener fatigue. The distinction between foreground and background in the recording is clearly perceptible and there is very good clarity when much is happening in the recording. Also important is the harmony in which everything that is individually easy to follow plays together. Because of this, you not only hear clearly what exactly is happening in the recording, but it 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 conveyed well to the listener. The Aavik I-288 sounds tight and dynamic and lets you hear everything when called for, but there is also a certain calm & comfort to the sound that allows you to play quieter intimate music and allows for pleasant emotional transfer. The sound is thus excellent in balance and the overall picture is simply right. Dynamically, the Aavik I-288 goes further than most Class A & A/B amplifiers, but that is ultimately not all that matters. It is about sound quality and musicality, and the extent to which an amplifier is able to convey emotions. And conveying the music the way it is intended is where Aavik amplifiers excel. This Aavik I-288 is pure emotion.

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 in the I-X88 Series from Aavik Acoustics, the I-188 and the I-588, are constructed on the same principle. The power output of all amplifiers in the I-X88 series from Aavik Acoustics is the same. The differences lie in the amount of noise and impedance reduction techniques through Tesla Coils, Anti Aerial Resonance Coils and Analog Dither Technology applied in the amplifier. Sonically, moving from the Aavik I-188 to the I-288, you will hear a nice step forward in definition, soundstage and detail and a blacker, quieter and deeper background. From the I-288 to the I-588, you step forward again in these areas. The size of the chassis of all amplifiers in the I-Series is the same.

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 Ohms, 2 x 600 Watts at 4 Ohms
Finish: Black, Copper and Matt 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