Aavik 880: Best Class A amplifier with 200W power

 The hi-fi components from the Danish manufacturer Aavik have always attracted attention because of their outstanding sound. In terms of size, i.e. the space they take up on the elegant sideboard, the devices are almost minimalist. The integrated amplifier Aavik I-580, the LowBeats-colleague Frank Borowski so captivated, is just 38 cm wide, 10 cm high, and 40 cm deep. It can be assumed that the new Class A amplifier, the Aavik 880 presented at High End 2022 in Munich, will far exceed these dimensions. The fact of pure Class A operation alone requires an enormous supply of energy and heat dissipation, which makes a small housing seem rather improbable. In addition, the former Gryphon founder Flemming Erik Rasmussen has retired and supported Aavik owner Michael Børresen with the design.

And Rasmussen thinks big and is big. The Dane is an imposing figure, as are the works he once created for Gryphon. Just to scale: An Apex Stereo power amplifier is almost 60 cm wide, 37 cm high, and a good 87 cm deep. Weight: over 200kg. So the Aavik 880 will be a big work either way.

So what does Aavik promise that he can do? Michael Børresen doesn't bother with minimalism either, so he promises that the new amp will always deliver Class-A to the speakers, no matter what power is called up - no matter. Whether 2, 20, or 200 watts, the performance should remain constant.

The whole thing is in a resonance-optimized titanium-copper case. The housing has to feel good, because in a table discussion with the designer, Børresen says: "If it feels good, it must also sound good". Rasmussen smiles and asks him if he believes materials have a soul. Børresen replied: "I don't believe that materials have a soul, but every material has a sound." He's right.

What else does the Aavik 880 have? For example, for an LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) volume control, the announcement also states that we can look forward to “a unique switchless input circuit for the preamp stages” and a (sic!) “1kW resonant power supply”. Well, we're excited. The pictures that Aavik has published of the Aavk 880 so far make us very curious about what awaits us at the HIGH END 2022 in Munich. Unfortunately, the price is still unknown (UPDATE: The price is said to be around 80,000 euros). The Audio Group Denmark, under whose roof Aavik builds such special amplifiers, can be found at the HIGH END 2022 in Hall 4 at Stand T04/U03. And maybe even an Aavik-880…