I was mightily impressed with the Audia Flight FLS 10 I reviewed back in February, which is the Italian company’s flagship integrated, so I’ve been dying to know, not literally mind you—how does the FL Three S compare, seeing as it’s Audia Flight’s least expensive integrated.
And here we are.
Let’s begin with the FL Three S’ business end, which is straight forward—5 inputs (4x single-ended RC, 1 balanced XLR), a Monitor input and Record output, Preamp out, a single pair of speakers binding posts, and IEC inlet for power. You can see the (empty) slots for the optional Phono and DAC boards and I’m kinda pleased that they are, as I want to focus on this Audia Flight as integrated amplifier. No sides.
While the specs are included below, the dual mono FL Three S features Audia Flights’ current feedback circuit and offers 100 Watts of output power into 8 Ohms and 160W into 4.
The company shares:
Inside the Flight Three S’s sophisticated electronic interior are a series of critical features that make this integrated amplifier perform well above other integrated amplifiers within its category. A high performance ALPS Blue potentiometer provides an accurate volume control at all settings. Eight power supplies are in charge of all amplification stages up to the driver transistor stage, with 13.200uF total capacitance available for the stabilized power supplies until the driver transistor section. Four high-current power supplies (72.000µF) are then dedicated solely to the output driver stages. If that’s not enough, all inputs feature sealed relays in an inert atmosphere and gold terminations! And, as following our philosophy for best sonic performance, the logic control section features its own toroidal transformer and is connect to the analog section via photo-couplers only. Driving your speakers are two 100 Watt amplifiers with a large 576VA toroidal audio transformer.
The FL Three S face bears a similar mustache smile of a display as found on the FLS 10 along with a number of recessed buttons for power, input selection, speaker on/off (for headphone listening), SET provides access to advances functions like naming inputs, activate/deactivate inputs, and set an input for Direct Mode bypassing the unit’s preamp and volume control, and Mute. There’s an include matching aluminum remote that offers these functions from the listening seat. A large volume control sits next to the headphone jack completing the front end picture.
Audia Flight claims the FL Three S offers “deep, well-controlled bass” and if it’s anything like it’s larger FLS 10 sibling, which elicited the biggest baddest deepest bass from the DeVore O/96 as I’ve ever heard, I believe it.
We shall see!
Audia Flight FL Three S Integrated Amplifier
Price: $3999, w/DAC $4548, w Phono $4498, w/DAC and Phono $5047
Company Website: Audia Flight
US Importer Website: Fidelity Imports
Specifications
Output power (Watts RMS) @ 8/4 ohm: 100/160W
Amplifier stage gain: 26dB
Frequency response (@1 Watt RMS; -3db): 1Hz – 450kHz
Slew Rate (@ 8 Ohm): >80V/µS
THD: <0,05%
S/N ratio>: 95dB
Unbalanced input impedance: 51kOhm, 150pF
Balanced input impedance: 30kOhm
Stand-by power consumption: less than 1W
Maximum power consumption: 400W
Dimensions and weight: 450 x 110 x 430mm (W x H x D), 16,5 kg
Shipping dimensions and weight: 550 x 250 x 580mm (W x H x D), 18,5kg
