Onkyo A-1VL digital stereo integrated amp

soundboy · « **on:** 6 Dec 2004, 09:44 pm »

I suppose it's only available in Europe, but it sure is an enticing piece of gear.

http://www.onkyo-emea.net/uk/cms/products/hifi/hifi_amp/A-1VL/

dual-mono construction
dual toroidal transformers
pre-in/main-out jacks
detachable power cord
Wolfson 192 kHz/24 bit DAC

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Dec 2004, 10:15 pm »

A surprise, it's even got phono. I don't know if that's more prevalent or less over in Europe. Pretty much a rarity here most times, in the US.

brj · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Dec 2004, 11:08 pm »

Interesting looking integrated... any idea on whether it has digital inputs? I found very little information besides that web page (although a bit more on the matching c-1vl CD player).

dave_c · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Dec 2004, 11:09 pm »

It says that it has Wolfson DAC's, but I couldn't find any info about Digital inputs. Weird.

brj · « **Reply #4 on:** 6 Dec 2004, 11:14 pm »

Yeah, I saw the note on the DAC as well...

I'm guessing that it has to have some sort of digital input, but it was never called out anywhere that I could find. The c-1vl CD player appears to have the same DAC, but they explicitly list 3 digital outpus (2 optical and 1 coax).

I wonder what the price will be in the U.S....

soundboy · « **Reply #5 on:** 6 Dec 2004, 11:34 pm »

I checked the Onkyo Japanese website, and this amp is listed at something like 160,000 Yen. That's over US$1,500.00.

There're some photos there but nothing that identify the type of digital inputs on the amp, if any. From the technical diagrams, the technology used resembled what's being used in the JVC RX-F10, although at much higher quality. Still, this is not an Onkyo Integra component. I wonder what the Integra version will be like.

Here's pdf file that will give a better description of the amp....

http://www.maxaudio.pl/html/pliki/katalogi/Productinfo_A-1VL_ENG.pdf

JoshK · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 12:23 am »

The fact that it has a DAC and doesn't really mention any thing about being "totally digital" means to me that it isn't Equibit, it is probably Tripath based. It also mentions that it has direct digital interface, when discussing the CD player, so I am guessing that the DAC is for digital inputs and that it uses the Tripath chip after the DAC, i.e. not true digital amplification but rather analog switching amp.

Occam · « **Reply #7 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 01:19 am »

Soundboy,

Thanks for the references on this amp. I see no reference to an AtoD converter with respect to this amplifier.. The fact that the 'matching' CD player has a digital output is no indication that its brother amplifier will have a digital input, i.e. Creek, Cambridge, Roksan, Rotel, Nad,etc...

Additionally, if you look at the 2nd page of the PDF you provided, you'll find that all of the RCA sockets are accounted for, with no mention of a digital input.

The fact that it has a pre-amp out and main-amp in RCA sockets would indicate that it is a typical analog pre-amp cicuit, and a PWM (Tripath, Zetex, whatever...) analog input, switching amp, as described by JoshK.

tubeytubeamp · « **Reply #8 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 03:17 am »

The Onkyo was reviewed in What-Hifi magazine a few months back and didn't fair very well. I don't exactly remember exactly what it said, but the amp was described as cold and clinical sounding.

I also emailed Onkyo and it is not available in the US.

Dennis

soundboy · « **Reply #9 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 05:54 am »

I merely mentioned the Onkyo amp because it was stated on the company's UK website as a "digital amp". Same can also be said of the apparent description at Onkyo's Japan website.

As for connectivity, I also remember the What Hi-Fi review from a few months back, in which I believe the Onkyo received only 3 stars out of the maximum of 5. I also don't remember anything about it being a digital amp, i.e. Panasonic XR receivers, TEAC power amp, etc.... Although I am usually wary of reviews fro Brit hi-fi mags due to their "flavour of the month" mentality.

I haven't seen any clear photo of the back side to this amp; maybe it has some coax digital inputs. There's also a US$10,000+ Sony stereo integrated amp that sports a similar back side.

On the other hand, there's always a chance that someone at Onkyo finally snapped.

cryotweaks · « **Reply #10 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 03:14 pm »

The amp's damping factor of 25 is a concern to me. That tells me it won't do bass very well. that being said, I've owned some B&K amps with a low damping factor that sounded great when paired with a powered sub.

Something else that isn't being discussed too much about digital amps. Power conditioning. It makes a HUGE difference on the performance of digital amps. Moreso than solid state or tube amps.