There are occasions after I overlook I’m reviewing, one thing that occurred greater than the norm throughout my time with the stunning Aurorasound HFSA-01.
A part of the issue is, the one actual job any of us have as listeners is to pay attention. Ideally enjoyment ensues. And when issues work out this merely, as was the case with the Aurorasound built-in amp, I discover it tough to go away listener having fun with music mode to get again into reviewer mode. Maybe ‘tough’ is a poor alternative of phrases as a result of nothing about residing with the HFSA-01 was remotely arduous.
The Aurorasound HFSA-01 (Excessive Constancy Stereo Amplifier no. 01) Vacuum Tube Built-in Amplifier is a hybrid design, however not in the best way most individuals suppose in the case of tubes and built-in amplifiers as a result of the HFSA-01 pairs a strong state preamp with a tube amp, utilizing a part inverter in between. Kinda the reverse of the norm. A Texas Devices OPA 604 A op-amp is used within the driver stage to carry the quad of Sovtek EL84s to life, two per aspect, whereas a Rohm silicon carbide diode is employed for rectification. The EL84s are run in ultra-linear push-pull mode, placing out a specified 14 Watts per channel. [footnote 1]
Along with the three line stage RCA inputs, the HFSA-01 additionally features a Shifting Magnet Phono enter. 4 and eight Ohm speaker outputs permit you to match the HFSA-01 to your speaker’s most popular load. An IEC inlet awaits your energy wire of alternative if you happen to determine to skip the included wire.
As you possibly can see, the HFSA-01 packs a pair of beefy iron core output transformers and an influence provide transformer inside, that are customized by Aurorasound and manufactured by an unnamed Japanese firm. There are a variety of high quality elements in use together with an Alps quantity pot, Dale resistors, WIMA and Nichicon caps, and DALE resistors.
Up entrance reside defeatable tone controls utilizing the toggle change beneath, quantity management, enter selector, and one other toggle change for Stereo or Mono mode. However wait, there’s extra:
These Tone controls do double responsibility as EQ Curves for the Phono enter to correctly play again pre-RIAA data! To my thoughts, it is a great, and I imply great, and unusual function to be present in a $3800 built-in amp. Good! and it makes that Mono toggle change make much more sense.
The headphone output is powered by the preamp’s op-amp, not the EL84s as you possibly can see in Aurorasound’s block diagram of the circuit.
To my eyes, the HFSA-01 checks all of my visible and construct high quality bins with its retro attraction. If you happen to’ve learn my assessment of the HiFi Cut price overachieving VIDA Prima Phono Stage (assessment), you already know that Aurorasound additionally packs in a great deal of efficiency. Pretty, music-making efficiency.
I paired the HFSA-01 with the not too long ago assessment Dwelling Voice A25R but it surely spent the lion’s share of Barn time driving the Barn resident DeVore Constancy O/96 (assessment). The Auralic ARIES G1.1 streamer (assessment) fed the totaldac d1-unity (assessment), whereas the Michell Gyro SE turntable, Michell T8 tonearm, and Ortofon 2M Black MM cartridge dealt with my data (see full system and Barn particulars).
Subaerial by Lucy Railton and Equipment Downes was recorded within the Skáholt Cathedral in Iceland, the place Downes made use of its organ accompanied by Railton on cello for 41 minutes of improvised magic. The place and area of this recording act as accompanists as effectively, and the mighty Aurorasound amp did an incredible job recreating the devices, area, and interaction, bringing this music out into the Barn with gripping readability and full voice. This recording additionally confirmed off the HFSA-01’s bass response prowess, its drive, management, and wealthy timbre leaving little, if something, to be desired. It’s that good.
Anna & Elizabeth’s The Invisible Involves Us from 2018 is a latest discover, and I’m very completely satisfied I discovered it (with Roon Radio’s assist). Folks impressed with sudden constructions, Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle weave intricate songs from synthesizers, fowl music, discovered sounds, drones, loops, guitars, vocals, and hard-edged noise. Very very similar to Subaerial, The Invisible is in love with sounds, offered right here with sudden selection, like discovering a knight on horseback trotting down Flatbush Ave. Spoken phrase, electronics, layered lower ’n paste model, William Burroughs meets Sibylle Baier, and all of this excellent sound and music got here spilling out into the Barn as ripe and prepared for digestion as I must get misplaced in its intricate workings. Crisp when known as for whereas sounding completely paced and in time with the sound collage of delights, the Aurorasound/DeVore duo gave this richly assorted voiced document the total spectrum therapy, sounding as wealthy and ripe as Anna & Elizabeth’s vivid imaginations demand.
From a comparative viewpoint, the HFSA-01 will not be as full-bodied and highly effective sounding because the Barn resident Leben CS600 built-in amp, albeit at greater than double the value of the Aurorasound and with out a phono enter. However I’ll say I used to be shocked by the HFSA-01’s bass prowess that by no means left me pining for my beloved Leben. Don’t get me incorrect, the CS600 provides even larger riches in sound and management, however taken by itself, the Aurorasound may simply be my fundamental squeeze when paired with the O/96. It’s that good, providing readability, management, and a splendidly wealthy sound. If you’d like over-ripe romance, preserve wanting as a result of the HFSA-01 is under no circumstances smooth or overly lush, nor does it have that grainy sound that may include decrease priced amps, tube or strong state.
It don’t imply a factor if ain’t obtained that grind. Dogsbody from Mannequin/Actriz is a dizzying badass trip via the darker noisier elements of city and the Aurorasound/DeVore duo proved completely dynamic and able to delivering each final ounce of manic power from Brooklyn-based vocalist Cole Haden, guitarist Jack Wetmore, drummer Ruben Radlauer, and bassist Aaron Shapiro. As soon as once more, Shapiro’s bass was totally voiced, dimensional, and highly effective whereas the remainder of the band’s grunt, drive, and grunge got here via the O/96 and into the Barn with actual hazard. Loud and louder, as loud as I care to pay attention, Cole Haden leaning in shut mic, “I’m pressed towards the glass, as shut as I can take” with the metallic sheen glinting off Wetmore’s guitar with live-like chunk, the HFSA-01/DeVore pairing had a agency grip on all of the menace Mannequin/Actriz may muster.
Whereas the Leben provides extra meat, extra obvious physique and weight giving this music larger bodily impression, the Aurorasound’s barely leaner sound by no means felt skinny or overwrought. The factor about comparisons and comparative listening is they’re non permanent, transient assessments, making distinction the main focus when, in reality, music is all the time the extra significant focus. And I’ll remind readers that the Barn is an enormous place with numerous area to fill (18’ x 35’ x 12’ on the A-Facet) so for listeners with rooms, not Barns, to fill and equally pleasant audio system to drive, the HFSA-01 ought to pack as a lot punch as you want.
How about that MM phono enter? That is one side of the HFSA-01’s efficiency that didn’t come as a whole shock as a result of I nonetheless keep in mind among the VIDA Prima’s standout qualities, a lot of that are shared by the HFSA-01.
Lucrecia Dalt’s Oh! from final yr stays a favourite document for its backyard of earthly delights enjoyment of sounds, atmospheres, and bodacious beats. OK, I used to be shocked by how effectively the HFSA-01 reproduced this enchanting document in Barn, filling me and the area round me with richly coloured resolute goodness. Huge fats totally voiced bass, all the insect-like quirks and chirps coming from in every single place however the audio system, and Dalt’s gradual vocal dance excessive felt as moist, ripe, and wealthy as a rain forest.
I ran via a bunch of albums over the course of the two+ months of time the HFSA-01 lived in Barn and it impressed by providing the identical finely resolved, wealthy, match, and full sound as illustrated by Oh!. This phono enter isn’t any afterthought, it’s, all issues thought of, a reside with and love kinda deal. After all you possibly can spend extra on an outboard phono stage, however why would you when shopping for the HFSA-01? To my thoughts, the value/efficiency of the HFSA-01’s bundle is a factor of magnificence that you simply shouldn’t mess with.
I get to know the newly Barn resident and beautiful Focal Clear Mg headphones and what higher method to bounce round of their sound than with Aleighcia Scott’s breezy Windrush Child.
Welsh-Jamaican singer Scott is aware of her manner round a groove, and that is pure Reggae pumping from seasoned Jamaican musicians with producer RoryStoneLove on the helm. With this type of sound, this type of efficiency, I may simply ease into some actual non-public listening time, because the Focal/Aurorasound provided a crisp, wealthy, and totally realized bass from Windrush Child like honey for the ears. Good. So good.
I additionally couldn’t resist taking these tone controls for a spin with this music, dialing up the bass to bop corridor ranges. To my thoughts, tone controls are a pleasant to have function, particularly when you possibly can take them out of the circuit with the flip of a toggle change.
I select my hifi gear primarily based on every thing—appears, construct high quality, firm, efficiency, options, and worth. In terms of an built-in amplifier, particularly within the HFSA-01’s worth vary, I like having a MM phono stage inbuilt and even a headphone amp for good measure and I put the HFSA-01’s EQ Curves within the crazy-amazingly good to have class. Add in its retro attractiveness, wealthy match and really feel, worth, and efficiency that left me wholly happy, opening as huge a door onto musical enjoyment as I would like, I can not sing the Aurorasound HFSA-01’s praises loudly sufficient to anybody searching for an built-in amp that can feed your love of music with infinite delight.
1. Aurorasound has made a change to the HFSA-01 cupboard, providing simpler entry to the EL84s via a detachable panel.
Aurorasound HFSA-01 Vacuum Tube Built-in Amplifier
Worth: $3,680
Firm Web site: Aurorasound
US Distributor Web site: highend-electronics
Specs
Enter: RCA unbalanced – CD, LINE-1, LINE-2, Phono-MM (Achieve 40dB, load resistance 47kΩ, RIAA +/-1dB)
TONE Management: BASS +/-12dB, TREBLE +/-12dB
Output: 14W + 14W into 8Ω speaker
Frequency response: 10Hz ~ 40kHz, -3dB, Flat
THD+N: 0.08％, 1kHz, 2W, A-weighted
SNR: 93dB, LINE IN-OUT
Features: TONE management move DIRECT SW, Stereo/Mono, Headphones output
AC voltage: USA mannequin 120V, Europe/Asia mannequin 220V, 240V
Energy consumption: 150W
Measurement / Weight: W360 x D320 x H145mm / 10.3kg (14 x 12.5 x 5.7inch / 22.7lbs)
