My interest in and coverage of gear from Italy’s Audia Flight has taken me from their entry integrated to the current top of the line integrated and now to the second from the top separates with their Strumento Series stack.
As you can tell from reading my reviews of the FL Three S and FLS 10 integrated amps, I’m a fan. Here’s the first sentence from the FLS 10 review:
The Audia Flight FLS 10 is among the most engaging integrated amplifiers to have graced the Barn.
Why beat around the bush?
The Strumento Series N°1 evo Stereo Preamplifier is built to typical Audia Flight standards which means, in part, some real focus on clean power and their “entirely class A current-feedback circuitry.” From the company:
Within the Strumento N°1 evo’s gorgeous chassis one finds it is powered by four toroidal transformers (two 75VA toroidal audio transformers for the main stages, one 25VA toroidal audio transformer for the control boards, and one 15VA toroidal transformer for the logic board), all enclosed within a ferromagnetic shield and encapsulated by epoxy resin. The main power supply is extremely low noise, the filter being made by ultra-fast rectifiers and n.40 680µF 100V extra low impedance capacitors. On the electrolytic capacitors an EMI shield and vibration damping material is used to reduce any physical noises to a minimum.The main power supply is composed of eight, very low noise power supply stages. Each amplification channel with its fully balanced circuitry is on an independent print board. Custom printed circuit boards with an extra high-grade surface copper are used, as ultra pure copper bars are used for ground and power supplies. After the input selection and a buffer, the input signal meets the volume control.
The N°1 evo offers a total of 5 inputs (2x balanced XLR and/or RCA, 3x balanced XLR) and 3 outputs (2x balanced XLR, 1x RCA). A matching remote is included.
Audia Flight’s signature carved curved front panel houses 5 control buttons (input, balance, on, set, mute) and a volume control knob for a simple, clean look. “This custom Audia Flight attenuator is composed of discrete components (low-noise metallic film resistors and relays) and provides a gain range as high as 127 dB while providing constant steps of 0.5 dB.”
The fully balanced N°8 Monoblock Power Amplifiers weigh over 200 lbs. a piece in part due to their massive, and I do mean massive, transformers and deliver 500/1000/2000 Watts of output power into 8/4/2 Ohm loads respectively. Woof! That centered recessed blue light on black is the power button while also doubling as a display for numeric error messages.
From the company:
…a massive power supply built with extra low impedance, ultra high grade capacitors (190.400µF alone on the main power supply), custom printed boards with an extra high-grade surface copper, and ultra pure copper bars in the output stages. But we have chosen to not stop there with the Strumento N° 8 Mono-block Power Amplifier! The Strumento N° 8’s power supply is comprised of two super high current power supplies for its single channel and four stabilized independent stages: two for the input stages and two for the Audia Flight current feedback stage. The gain stage’s power supply is designed to achieve extremely low noise, the filter is made by ultra-fast rectifiers and extra low impedance capacitors. Two 150VA toroidal audio transformers are used for the main stages and one 15VA toroidal transformer is used for the logic control and protections. The main power supply is made by n.28 6.800µF 63V extra low impedance capacitors.
Like the N°1 evo preamp, the monoblock’s chassis is made from ultra high grade cast aluminum, which comes in silver and black, where every part is then closely inspected and “mirror polished” by hand.
The N°8 monoblock offer 2x XLR and 1 RCA input per side and two sets of speaker binding post for bi-amping.
Here’s a peak at the “massive 3000VA custom made audio transformer, encapsulated by epoxy resin and sealed within two ferromagnetic shields” taken during my visit to Audia Flight HQ in Civitavecchia last year.
As you might imagine, I had more than help setting up the Strumento Series stack and they went directly from wooden crate to system, skipping my usual glamor shots. Once the sun comes out again, it’s been raining for 40 days and 40 nights, I’ll take some better pics.
I’m nearly certain I heard the YG Sonja 3.3 (review) mumble “Mmm” soon after Japanese Breakfast was playing through ’em.
Audia Flight Strumento Series N°1 evo Stereo Preamplifier
Price: $29,999
N°8 Monoblock Power Amplifier
Price: $39,999/each
Company Website: Audia Flight
US Importer Website: Fidelity Imports
N°1 evo Stereo Preamplifier Specifications
Inputs: 2 balanced XLR and/or unbalanced RCA ; 3 balanced XLR only
Outputs: 2 balanced XLR and 1 unbalanced RCA
Gain range:-90 dB / +10 dB
Gain resolution: 0.5 dB
Frequency response: (1W RMS -3dB) 1 Hz ÷ 1 MHz
Slew-Rate: (@ 8 ohm)/strong>> 200 V/µS
THD: < 0,05 %
S/N Ratio: 105 dB
Input impedance: 10pF 15 kOhm balanced or unbalanced
Output impedance: 5 Ohm
Main voltage AC (50-60Hz): 100, 110-115, 220-230,240 V
Stand-by Power consumption: less than 0,5W
Nominal Power consumption: 90W
Dimensions and weight: 450 x 120 x 450mm (W x H x D)| 22.5 kg
Shipping dimensions and weight: 580 x 300 x 580mm (W x H x D) | 38.5 kg
N°8 Monoblock Power Amplifier Specifications
Output power per channel Watts RMS @ 8/4/2 Ohm: 500/1000/2000W
Gain: 29 dB
Input sensitivity: 1.41 Volts RMS
Frequency response (1W RMS -3dB): 0,3 Hz ÷ 1 MHz
Slew-Rate (@ 8 Ohm): > 200 V/µS
THD: < 0,05 %
S/N Ratio: 110 dB
Input impedance Unbalanced: 7,5 kOhm | Balanced: 7,5 kOhm
Damping factor (@ 8 Ohm): > 1000
Main voltage AC (50-60Hz): 100, 110-115, 220-230, 240 V
Stand-by Power consumption: less than 1W
Nominal Power consumption (no signal): 330W
Power consumption (600W RMS @ 8ohm): 1100 W
Dimensions and weight: 450 x 280 x 500mm (W x H x D) | 103.5 kg
Shipping dimensions and weight: 580 x 410 x 700mm (W x H x D) | 124 kg