MAGAZINE
The South Korean hi-fi manufacturer Aurender, known primarily for high-end streamers and servers, announces its first integrated amplifier, the AP20, which will be available in the fourth quarter of 2023, carrying an Aurender-typical large display. Inside, the AP20 offers a dual-mono amplifier design, with each of the two channels having its own toroidal transformer, which is supposed to keep interference between the paths to a minimum. A total of six separate power supplies are said to be available for the digital circuits or the optional memory boards. According to the manufacturer, the power amplifiers used are the potent and high-end Class D modules Purifi 1ET400A, developed by Professor Bruno Putzey, which are said to be devoid of any tonal harshness or sharpness. Their continuous power is specified at 350 watts per channel into four ohms.
The signals put in via on of the three analog inputs are not digitized. For the four digital inputs, to which two USB interfaces for flash drives and hard drives are added, the AP20 carries the AKM4497 DAC chip twice. The temperature-stabilized OCXO clock generator is supposed to produce an ultra-precise clock for the circuits, while the analog volume control aims to guarantee the same high standard. In addition, there is the option of connecting the MC10 "Master Clock Generator" – available from September for around €16,980 in Germany – to the AP to further enhance the sound quality.
A special feature are the AP20's two slots for optional HDD or SSD memory drives, which are closed by metal caps when not in use, and turn the amp into a full-fledged music server. A variable XLR output and the headphone jack, whose performance the Koreans paid particular attention to, are further special features of the integrated amplifier.
The Aurender integrated amp AP20 is available in black or silver and costs around €23,900 in Germany.
