Absolare Integrated

GuillaumeB

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I thought I would start a new thread to discuss this and share thoughts with other owners. Despite the very favourable feedback from Munich 2016 I haven't come across a dedicated thread for this, or indeed any detailed online reviews.

I have recently ordered an Absolare Signature Integrated which I will be setting up as a second system in my listening room. I have gone for the almond leather finish with black stitching. It did take me a while to settle on this as I kept changing my mind, something I tend to do quite a lot! I also chose the RCA analogue inputs version following Absolare's recommendation.

I am curious to hear what others are partnering it with in terms of DACs. Since my other system is a Devialet I will need to choose one.

I am sorely tempted by a Totaldac d1 dual or perhaps d1-six since I already own a d1 server, which has served me very well over the years (no pun intended!). However I am very open to other suggestions. I don't want to spend silly money so the totaldac is probably at the higher end of my available budget. :)

Cheers

Guillaume
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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Congrats...i have spoken with people who have auditioned the Absolare Integrated (original) and raved. Enjoy. The great thing about digital is that you have some seriously great options today that are (for some people) rivaling their TTs in terms of how much digital vs how much analog they are listening to on a daily basis. And it seems, not solely for the greater convenience of digital either.
 

Jazzhead

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Aug 26, 2012
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What would it be driving . Heard their SET amps drive the Rockport Altairs to great aplomb . Super harmonic structuring and tone , with sufficient control . Have not heard their integrated , but was told it seemed to run out of steam on dynamic crescendos driving the Altair last Munich show . A kinder load may the order of the day . Quite the departure from the Devialet sound .....
 

GuillaumeB

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What would it be driving . Heard their SET amps drive the Rockport Altairs to great aplomb . Super harmonic structuring and tone , with sufficient control . Have not heard their integrated , but was told it seemed to run out of steam on dynamic crescendos driving the Altair last Munich show . A kinder load may the order of the day . Quite the departure from the Devialet sound .....

Well indeed, should make for an interesting comparison :)

It will be driving a pair of Sasha 2s.

Guillaume
 

Jazzhead

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Congrats and good luck with the pairing . Look forward to your thoughts once hooked up .
 

GuillaumeB

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Thanks Jazz! Will do!

Guillaume
 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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I thought I would start a new thread to discuss this and share thoughts with other owners. Despite the very favourable feedback from Munich 2016 I haven't come across a dedicated thread for this, or indeed any detailed online reviews.

I have recently ordered an Absolare Signature Integrated which I will be setting up as a second system in my listening room. I have gone for the almond leather finish with black stitching. It did take me a while to settle on this as I kept changing my mind, something I tend to do quite a lot! I also chose the RCA analogue inputs version following Absolare's recommendation.

I am curious to hear what others are partnering it with in terms of DACs. Since my other system is a Devialet I will need to choose one.

I am sorely tempted by a Totaldac d1 dual or perhaps d1-six since I already own a d1 server, which has served me very well over the years (no pun intended!). However I am very open to other suggestions. I don't want to spend silly money so the totaldac is probably at the higher end of my available budget. :)

Cheers

Guillaume

Lampi - try big 7, golden gate not required. Audition should be easy to arrange. The distro will send it to you. If you are anywhere in London you can try mine.
 

jep123

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Dec 23, 2012
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I have the Absolare integrated, Signature version. With rca. It is an outstanding amplifier, pure and simple. I have a APL dac and the new Verity Parsifal Anniversary. + Aurender streamer and a CEC Belt drive CD drive. I have never had better sound in my listening room and imo the Verity' s are also superb speakers.

The Absolare sounds very organic, open and musical. It is a lot of power and I must disagree regarding the sound in Munich this year. It drove the Rockports very well indeed and Kerems room got many BOS, from TAS among others. I visited this room several times and also spoke with Kerem. He was very happy with the sound, as he should be.

Good luck and enjoy!

Rgds
JP
Norway
 

Bobbi

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Mar 5, 2016
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This amplifier has also caught my eye and am looking to get my hands on one.
Hopefully that will happen in the next month or so.
 

Hyperion

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Oct 3, 2011
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The Absolare Integrated is certainly SOTA and the most natural sounding amplifier I've experienced so far. It's also powerful enough to drive most speakers on the market without limitations.

The TotalDAC is certainly a very strong contender if you're able to stretch the budget. Based on the characteristics of TotalDAC being very organic and fluid in nature, I would strongly suggest you to look at the APL DACs as well ranging from approx. €10-40k.

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more specific questions.

/ Marcus
 

microstrip

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May 30, 2010
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The Absolare Integrated is certainly SOTA and the most natural sounding amplifier I've experienced so far. It's also powerful enough to drive most speakers on the market without limitations.

The TotalDAC is certainly a very strong contender if you're able to stretch the budget. Based on the characteristics of TotalDAC being very organic and fluid in nature, I would strongly suggest you to look at the APL DACs as well ranging from approx. €10-40k.

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more specific questions.

/ Marcus

Ignoring the price difference, how does it compare in absolute terms with the sound of the discrete preamplifier and mono amplifiers?
 

Hyperion

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Oct 3, 2011
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Ignoring the price difference, how does it compare in absolute terms with the sound of the discrete preamplifier and mono amplifiers?

That's a good question. The simple answer is that the integrated hybrid gets surprisingly close in most setups compared to the stand alone preamp + SET monos from Absolare. If your speakers are hard to drive and/or if you like to play loud in a large room the power of the integrated would be more valuable compared to the added level of insight, finesse and musicality of the separates. Absolare also offers more powerful push pull monos for those who need more power btw.

/ Marcus
 

GuillaumeB

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The Absolare Integrated is certainly SOTA and the most natural sounding amplifier I've experienced so far.

Thanks Marcus. That is quite an accolade.

I didn't know APL, I will check them out. Thanks for the tip.

Guillaume
 

GuillaumeB

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Mar 10, 2014
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This amplifier has also caught my eye and am looking to get my hands on one.
Hopefully that will happen in the next month or so.

Cool! Please keep us posted. :)

Guillaume
 

Hyperion

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
441
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Stockholm/Sweden
Thanks Marcus. That is quite an accolade.

I didn't know APL, I will check them out. Thanks for the tip.

Guillaume

You're most welcome.

APL is a boutique manufacturer based in Bulgaria. The new DSD-MR DAC (not yet on their website) will challenge anything on the market on the highest level: https://belhifi.com/products/apl-hi-fi-dsd-m

The former DSD-M has been my personal reference since a year back.

/ Marcus
 

Rhapsody

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Jan 16, 2013
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We have the Absolare Signature Integrated at our studio in Manhattan if anyone would like to hear it....it drives all of the Magico S series S1II, S3, S5II and S7's along with Kaiser Kawero Classics and Chiaras and Ubiq Model ONE easily with "tube magic" with SS power.

Red.jpg
 
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GuillaumeB

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Wow, stunning in red!

Guillaume
 

Rhapsody

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Wow, stunning in red!

Guillaume

It's funny, I just remembered Marcus/Hyperion (Perfect- Sense) took that pic on a recent visit. Hi Marcus:)
 
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