Aavik I-580 Integrated Amplifier
By Alan Sircom at Hifi+
Aavik I-580
Alan Sircom from Hi-Fi+ has written several reviews on what he calls “the Danish power trio” – Ansuz, Aavik and Børresen.
With an ever-curious and exploratory approach, Alan Sircom has now arrived at what he calls “the heart of the matter”: the Aavik I-580 integrated amplifier. Alan Sircom focuses on the amplifier design – Class D. He notes that many audiophiles refuse to consider Class D as an alternative to Class A or tube amplifiers. He wonders why that is, since brands like Bel Canto, Jeff Rowland, Merrill, Mola Mola, and Primare are very well respected brands and all use Class D amplifier designs. Considering that Class-D amplifiers tend to divide minds among hi-fi enthusiasts, Alan Sircom examines how the Aavik I-580 stands out and whether it fits some of the classic assumptions about Class-D amplifiers. One of the things he highlights as atypical compared to the norm is Aavik’s use of Pascal’s UMAC amplifier modules developed in Denmark. He then goes on to discuss the generally increasing popularity of these modules.
In this review, Alan Sircom also addresses topics such as “Ultra-low noise regulators,” “Anti Aerial Resonance Coils,” “RF and EM interference,” “copper inner chassis,” “Ansuz Darkz-ready bases,” and “mechanical vibrations.”
In his test of the Aavik I-580, he comes to several interesting conclusions. One of the most notable is his experience of an expanding soundstage that gives one the feel of being transported directly to the live event. He describes an expanded soundstage and a sense of “wholeness” as the strengths of the Aavik I-580. He also concludes that Aavik’s sonic performance has continuously become better and better over the model generations, from the U-380 to the I-150 to the I-580.
Read the full review here, and judge for yourself