A pal, whose ears and judgement I belief, pointed me to Java HiFi and their GaN FET-based amplifiers. I’d heard the excitement about GaN FETs, greater than a murmur, as having the ability to supply Class D amplification with out the sizzle.
After all I’m kinda joking as a result of suggesting that every one Class D amps have the very same sonic character is like suggesting everybody from New Jersey says “Joisey” and makes use of curse phrases in most sentences (OK, possibly there’s some fact to each relying on the place in Joisey you’re from). That being mentioned, I feel it’s secure to say that digital amps, and boys from Bloomfield within the Nineteen Seventies, usually are not usually recognized for his or her wealthy, heat, character. No, the way you doin’?
The Java Hello-Fi Single Shot Built-in Amplifier that’s below overview is a full-featured built-in with an inbuilt USB DAC, utilizing twin Burr-Brown PCM1794As in monaural mode, that helps PCM charges as much as 24-bit/192kHz and DSD128, a MM Phono Stage (see specs beneath), and a couple of pair of line degree RCA inputs. An LDR (Mild Dependent Resistor) preamp stage is married to the 200 Watt (into 8 Ohms, doubling down into 4) GaN FET-based (Gallium Nitrade) Class D energy out. You may also connect with the Single Shot by way of aptX Bluetooth, the pal and household connection, and there’s a Pre-Out if you wish to forego the inner amp (why would you?).
I admire a clearly labelled and cleanly organized again panel.
Two massive knobs, one for enter, one for quantity, sit on both facet of the entrance panel together with a 1/4” headphone jack and a small LED standing indicator (on Off, purple Standby). The included slim, small aluminum distant presents energy, quantity, enter, mute, and the power to show off the backlit white LED lights that point out the lively enter and quantity degree. I left ‘em on. Lastly, a button marked “CAL” stays a thriller after a number of tries (word: “CAL” is for future performance as per Java).
It’s additionally greater than price noting that the Java built-in is available in all kinds of end choices, with 7 case cowl selections and three entrance panel colours with matching warmth sinks on both facet. Good! However don’t let all these good-looking seems idiot ya’—there’s a critical music maker hiding inside.
I ran the Java Single Shot with three pair of audio system—the just lately reviewed YG Acoustics Summit (overview), the overview Rockport Atria II (extra information), and the Barn resident DeVore O/96 (overview). Whereas I principally used the Java’s personal DAC, fed by the Auralic ARIES G1.1 (overview), I additionally enlisted the Barn resident totaldac d1-unity (overview) paired with the overview Grimm MU1 (extra information) to up the sonic sport for the Rockport system. All cabling is from AudioQuest and you may get all the nitty gritty system and Barn information right here.
The YG Summit positively cherished the Java built-in. Beloved, not favored, because the Single Shot as pre/energy/DAC appeared to gentle up the Summit from inside, providing easy, clear, clear, and wealthy energy that made music sound alive and kickin’. The Java Single Shot appeared to supply easy and full management of the Summit’s three drivers per facet as if there have been working as one. This synergy additionally meant that the Summit/Java mixture delivered velocity of sunshine transients, explosive dynamics, and wealthy, full, as quick bass response. There was additionally no sense of a scarcity of tone colour, somewhat music, any music, got here into the Barn’s B-Aspect feeling absolutely shaped. Whereas the Ayre 8-Collection separates endowed the music coming by the Summit’s with a higher sense of dimensional fullness, extra actual flesh on the bones, this didn’t register as a loss when listening to the Java Single Shot over the longer haul. Or to place it one other method, comparative listening and variations famous don’t at all times grasp round like ghosts, particularly when the Java/YG pairing did so many different issues exceptionally nicely.
This stunning synergy was greater than evident on Laurel Halo’s latest album Atlas (overview), a surprise of a document that’s as wealthy and rewarding as a favourite feature-length movie. That is lustrous ambient ethereal music that kinda floats into the room and the Java/YG combo projected it as such, filling the Barn with sounds and area that defied the Barn’s precise dimensions and the music’s sonic origins popping out of the YG Summit. Whereas there was a really convincing sense of decision, digging into the high quality grained particulars, the Java amp/DAC by no means sounded, or felt, overly processed or over-hyped. Relatively on this context, the Single Shot proved to be one easy operator. Good.
The Invoice Dixon Orchestra’s Intents & Functions from 1967 shares Dixon’s distinctive imaginative and prescient in sound created by a masterful group of 10 musicians together with Byard Lancaster on alto sax and bass clarinet, Catherine Norris on cello, Jimmy Garrison and Reggie Workman on bass (how’s that for a dynamic duo!), Robert “Cleve” Pozar on drums, and naturally Dixon on trumpet.
From the unique liner notes:
The music will communicate for itself. Nearly all that’s required is a willingness to pay attention to what’s going down. In impact, it’s only essential to convey oneself to the music because the composer introduced the music into being.
Sounds easy, proper? Whereas this isn’t anyplace close to straightforward listening, Intents & Functions is definitely worth the climb and the Java/YG system offered a startlingly alive, lit up, and absolutely energized model in Barn. This music hinges on time, timing, and the distinctive voice of every participant, and the Single Shot driving the Summit dug deep into each final bit if all of it. Beautiful.
The DeVore O/96 additionally took up residence on the B-Aspect with the Java built-in getting a full exercise with the Single Shot as amp, DAC, and Phono stage with the endlessly beautiful Michell Gyro SE/Michell T8 tonearm, and Ortofon 2M Black cartridge in play.
ANOHNI and the Johnsons newest My Again Was A Bridge For You To Cross is so LP-worthy I’m temped to purchase 2. My Again is their first album in 7 years and it was greater than definitely worth the wait as ANOHNI’s voice appears to have one way or the other change into much more heart-wrenchingly emotive, much more stunning, whereas coping with lower than stunning issues. The Java’s phono stage is, to my mind-set, one thing you need to use and overlook about, because it does the job of turning tiny trembling alerts into candy candy music in a really convincing and musically transferring method. No, I’m not raving about its efficiency in final phrases, after all you are able to do higher for those who spend extra money on a stand alone phono stage, however typically the seek for final efficiency is simply an excuse to be a lazy listener, somebody incapable of having fun with the richness of the second, tormented by what if. Ick.
Stepping again into streaming with the ARIES G1.1 feeding the Java’s USB enter with a size of AudioQuest Diamond USB cable, I switched to happier moods with Nick Cave & The Unhealthy Seeds Skeleton Tree from 2016 (joke). I’ve had the actual pleasure of seeing Nick Cave carry out greater than a handful of occasions with the Unhealthy Seeds from the Blixa days and the present Warren Ellis incarnation in addition to the brief lived a lot cherished Grinderman and once they’re on, and in my expertise they principally are, its a transformative expertise.
With the Single Shot accountable for bits and energy, the Java’s readability, management, and velocity, made Skeleton Tree come to life in Barn with an actual sense of menace, energy, and sorrow. My most popular built-in amp for the DeVores, the Leben CS600, coaxes extra emotion from the O/96 to my ears and coronary heart as a result of it locations extra emphasis on tone colour and physique whereas providing nice grip and management. Compared, the Java Single Shot sounds a bit much less ripe, a bit much less wealthy, however we’re not speaking a few gulf of distinction. That mentioned, the O/96 can fortunately run on 25 or so Watts so I’d not suppose {that a} 200 Watt Class D amp wouldn’t be on the need record of many DeVore house owners, regardless that the Singe Shot drove them with authority and with none sense of overt thinness or haze. Fairly the alternative on that final rely, because the Java built-in is exceptionally clear and drop lifeless silent.
If I utterly disregard value for comparability functions, don’t do this at residence, the Riviera Labs Levante (overview) built-in, in addition to the Riviera separates (overview), provided essentially the most crazily dimensional presentation I’ve heard from the the O/96 and if I convey this side of efficiency to the fore, the Java sounds a lot flatter by comparability. I’m speaking in regards to the sense of dimensionality from the issues liable for making music—a sax participant, a piano, a singer—not a soundstage deal. Right here, if we zero in on the sound picture total, the Java Single Shot throws out a really nicely outlined sound picture as large because the recording calls for.
The Java Single Shot’s final Barn cease was a spin with the Rockport Atria II, one other pairing that appears unlikely in the actual world however instructive nonetheless when it comes to listening to how nicely the Single Shot’s voice travels.
The Latest Sound Round options duets from Jeanne Lee and Ran Blake from 1962 and presents a a grasp class in tone, timing, inflection and texture chiseled out of songbook classics and some Blake originals. The Java Single Shot’s major strengths together with management, readability, and easy energy had been standouts with the Atria II however the built-in DAC confirmed its shortcomings on this somewhat lofty system context, sounding a bit skinny. I added the totaldac d1-unity and the overview Grimm MU1 as Roon Server and Streamer feeding the totaldac by way of AES, about $25k price of digital gear, and positive sufficient bought extra physique, texture, tone, and air in and across the notes. Shocker, I do know. The fascinating level being, the Java as built-in amp did an excellent job driving the Atria II, once more extra as a proof of idea than prompt system pairing.
For the Atria II, the Ayre KX-8 Preamplifier/VX-8 Energy Amplifier mixture provided a higher sense of texture, tone, and dimension that translated right into a extra compelling portrait of Jeanne Lee’s gorgeous vocals and Blake’s stressed piano portrayed in Barn.
I selected to provide the very just lately arrived Meze Audio Professional 109 headphones some Java time, and whereas we’re nonetheless attending to know one another, the 109 Professional’s wealthy and splendidly resolving delicacy was on full show with the Single Shot doing the driving.
Lucrecia Dalt’s Oh! from final yr stays a favourite document for its wild, unique trip and wealthy, surprising sound world all tied to some infectious tropical beats. Right here, all up shut and private, the Single Shot’s lifeless quiet operation stood out much more by the 109 Professional, making Dalt’s cornucopia of delights spring from the deepest, darkest jungle silence in full colour. I’ve to say, that that is one other successful mixture, Java/Meze, that feels prefer it provides as much as greater than the sum of the components, as is the case with the Java/YG pairing. When close to good synergy occurs, and I say close to good to go away myself some wiggle room for the long run, it’s as if the gear disappears in a flash, poof!, leaving solely music in its wake. I like it when that occurs. Twice.
My hifi underground, these welcome voices that whisper candy suggestions in my ear, have hit the nail on the pinnacle, once more. The Java Hello-Fi Single Shot shocked, impressed, and surpassed ideas of energy Class and topologies to current music from digital and analog sources, by way of audio system and headphones, in a seemingly untouched kind with excellent element, delicacy, and drive all wrapped up in an interesting and extremely customizable package deal.
Java Hello-Fi Single Shot Built-in Amplifier
Worth: from $8995 relying on end
Firm Web site: Java Hello-Fi
US Importer Web site: Robyatt Audio
Technical Particulars
200 watts/8 ohms (400 watts/4 ohms)
LDR pre-amp stage and GaN FET energy amp stage
2 x pairs of RCA line-level inputs
1 x pair of RCA outputs (pre-out)
Excessive-resolution DAC (USB enter)
MM phono stage (RCA inputs)
Bluetooth aptX
1 x headphone output
Distant management for quantity and supply choice
Dimensions: 44 cm x 41.5 cm x 13 cm (w/d/h)
Weight: 10.6 kgs (23.4 lbs)
