June 2022

Aavik I-180 Integrated Stereo Amplifier Review
You call this entry-level?
Review By Michael Lang

  With the integrated amplifier from the entry-level 180 series, Aavik took a radical turn: leaving behind heavy castles of aluminum in favor of natural materials and shapes derived from musical instruments.

Aavik is the electronics side of a company-triumvirate, the other two being Børresen as a loudspeaker brand and Ansuz as a supplier of cables and accessories. Regular STEREO readers might be familiar with Aavik thanks to the impressive U-300 integrated amplifier equipped with a phono stage and DAC. Or maybe also due to the D-180 DAC or R-180 phono preamp, which has already received excellent reviews recently.

The device featured here has almost nothing in common with the U-300 – neither the martial exterior nor the idea of amplifiers having to have "everything under one roof" made its way into the here and now. Beyond that, no stone was left unturned either!

The I-180 is a soloist and designed exclusively for the playback of analog high-level sources, and this also exclusively via RCA. On the one hand, the price is reduced thus, because you only pay for what you want – in this case, a cleanly designed, state-of-the-art integrated amplifier. It on the other hand ensures that the special requirements posed by a built-in DAC or phono section can be ignored for the time being. The drawback of this concept: an increase in the required space if you want to integrate e.g. a D/A converter into your setup. If such a system is on your wish list, try to have the "U" series of the Danes presented to you – a DAC is integrated into the otherwise identical amplifier technology there. The developers around Michael Børresen have built this series in a genuinely innovative way, not only choosing what to their ears is the best Class D module from Pacsal – but also placing an unusually high emphasis on the mechanical side. This is manifested in both shape and choice of materials for the devices.

Without any problem, the Class D module provides around 300 watts per channel and is unusually broadband for a Class D amp. Thanks to a clever negative feedback circuit that is only used in the first stage of amplification, it is also fairly insensitive to impedance fluctuations of speakers. Another trick in the circuit design ensures that the amplifier can draw on additional current reserves if necessary. The fact that the Danish box also keeps speakers under control with an iron grip was furthermore proven by its performance in our lab. There, the results of all the other measurements also made it clear that this device was developed by someone who has long since let his craft mature into a form of art.

Mechanical Fine Tuning
Eliminating any kind of interferences was also extremely important to Børresen. Some special components, which can also be found in other devices from the manufacturer, make an essential contribution to achieving that goal. Only the number of these special parts varies from series to series. More is always better here, Børresen assures us. They also cost more than a little extra, which shall not be denied at this point.

Before moving on to the sonic merits of the amp as well as some impressions of the complete system, let's have a word about the equipment: The large display – comfortably readable from a distance even for an older gentleman – shows the currently selected input and volume. Of course, no potentiometer is used for controlling it, but an electronic solution that knows neither noise, hum, distortion, or channel imbalances, as the head of development explains. The display can be dimmed in several steps, and even be switched off completely if desired.

The volume control knob sits comfortably in your hand and its mirror-smooth surface is a successful contrast to the otherwise simplistic appearance of the Aavik in our opinion.

Building The Tower Of Babel
Now, the time has come for the listening test of the amplifier. In the course of this, we also tried setups with the complete Ansuz accessory range – from cables to coupling feet – to check out the concept of a complete chain and track down synergy effects.

We started by stacking the Aavik components still present in our office on top of each other – namely the D-180 DAC, the R-180 phono stage, and the I-180 amplifier we are reviewing here. This process took slightly more time than originally anticipated thanks to the Darkzdecouplers: Every single one of the twelve feet is equipped with three stainless steel balls each. And as these balls are rather small, they tend to develop a life of their own and fall out of the busy editor's hand. To then embark on a search for them is a task that one does not pursue too cheerfully or enduringly.

But, finally, the tower was completely built, and wired, the devices warmed up and our ears sharpened – immediately, the electronics emanated a kind of charisma whose fascination was hard to resist.

Quiet Contemplation
The Gauder DARC 100 is not considered particularly low-maintenance when it comes to choosing the right amplifier. However, the way in which the "small" Aavik easily drove the German speakers to peak performance made us start contemplating the concept of separate pre-/power amp combos. It was by no means the sheer power of the Aavik that made our eyebrows raise in astonishment, but moreso the ease with which impulses were reproduced in "Walking On The Moon" by the Yuri Honing Trio.

The challenge of simultaneously occurring brutal and exhausting bass attacks from drums and double bass as well as a saxophone playing sentimentally, which demanded perfect multitasking, apparently didn't trouble the Aavik. It carried on with its work with temperament, but at the same time very relaxed and calm. The bass came across powerful, but never too fat or even rumbling – the speakers were under clean control, even when the volume levels became unreasonable.

The inwards and outwards transient sounds of Vladimir Ashkenazy's Mozart interpretations on the grand piano thus became truly delightful. It seemed to just love voices. They were so finely sculpted that one almost felt the physical presence of Lyn Stanley, while Marla Glen with her rough, smoky voice and the added fat bass part captivated via precise timing. Depending on the recording, room imaging varied from very close and direct to a wide-ranging display with depth and height staggering as well as a stage extending beyond the speaker's base width. Fortunately without a blurred focus.

Stronger Together
All these qualities are complemented by an absolutely natural tonal rendering. Piano, choirs, male and female solo voices – the small Aavik does not let itself be provoked into delivering inconsistencies. Rather, it spices up the action with a really good dash of finesse for rhythmic structures and a smoothness in the temporal flow, such as is not experienced every day.

In order to encounter the I-180 in full bloom – as described above – and enable it to present all its qualities, we advise you to try it in combination with external cables and then in full Danish regalia, i.e. together with Aavik devices and Ansuz accessories. Rarely in the past have we been able to perceive so clearly the differences that can come to light when a developer is able to implement his vision of music reproduction down to the smallest detail of a setup, as done here by Michael Børresen.

You might now object on the grounds that this requires a not inconsiderable amount of additional budget. That will indeed remain unchallenged, but the fact that what you get even then goes quite a bit beyond what is usual in this price range ought to be added. It's a great amp on its own, but the whole team together poses a challenge even for much more expensive competitors. Therefore, we recommend listening to the entire ensemble if you have the opportunity.

Lab Comment
Plenty of power, wide bandwidth, and high damping factor; relatively high distortion and negligible noise.

Verdict
An innovative pure high-level amplifier with relatively few features, but plenty of sound. The Aavik easily works with a wide range of impedances, takes loudspeakers firmly in its grip and has enough power reserves even for watt-hungry speakers.

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Measurement Values
Continuous power at 8 Ohm (1kHz): 396 Watts
Continuous power at 4 Ohm (1kHz): 445 Watts
Pulse power at 4 Ohm (1kHz): Schutzschaltung Watts
Distortion factor at 50mW (1kHz): 0.04%
Distortion factor at 5W (1kHz): 0.97%
Distortion factor at Pmax -1dB (1kHz): 0.006%
Intermodulation at 50mW (according to DIN): 0.008%
Intermodulation at 5W (according to DIN): 0.008%
Intermodulation at Pmax -1dB (according to DIN): 0.002%
Signal-to-noise ratio from high level input at 50mW (1kHz): 89dB
Damping factor at 4 Ohm at 63Hz/1kHz/14kHz: 120 / 101 / 64
Upper cut-off frequency (-3dB/4Ohm): >80kHz
Crosstalk between two high level inputs: 53dB
Synchronization error Volume control at -60dB: 0.2dB

Specifications
Type: Solid-state integrated stereo amplifier
Gain (line 1 - 4: 5-15dB; maximum input 4.5V RMS
Gain (line 5: 1-11dB; maximum input 6.5V RMS
Input impedance 10kOhm
Preamplifier Output: 
One pair of RCA output 
Maximum Output: 7.5Vrm 
Distortion, Line Atage: 
<0,005% (THD at 1kHz, 1V input)
Output impedance: 50 Ohms 
Volume control: 76 positions in 1dB steps
Output: 
Two channels at 300 Watts @ 8 Ohm (600W @ 4 Ohms)
Distortion (THD+N): <0,006%
IMD: <0.002% 
TIM: <0.008% 
Dimensions: 4" x 15" x 15" (HxWxD)
Weight: 19.5 lbs. 
Price: €6000 / $7200

Company Information
Aavik Denmark / Audio Group Denmark
Rebslagervej 4
9000 Aalborg Denmark

Voice: 45 4051 1431
E-mail: info@audiogroupdenmark.com 
Website: AudioGroupDenmark.com

USA Distributor
Audio Group Denmark USA
Perkasie, PA 18944

Voice: (267) 905-5365
E-mail: ph@audiogroupdenmark.com