Here High End Audio begins

Of course, comparisons were made before the decision to purchase the eligible price range. I had a Yamaha A-S700 operated over a year to the satisfaction with two Amun X tower boxes of Quadral to listen to jazz, rock and classical music. However bothered me that in the PURE DIRECT setting the sound quite thin turned out, so I had to give up this option. Furthermore, I had TREBLE caps, untwist BASS on, LOUDNESS turn far to the left and to offset the resulting loss of volume with VOLUME. The external speaker could not be in the same room and did other, more expensive amplifiers in DIRECT mode. So upgrade was announced and at a favorable opportunity I bought the integrated Amplifier ONKYO A-9070 and replaced with the YAMAHA S-700.

The weight of 18.1 kg is due among other things on the stiff housing with 5 mm thick front panel, the huge transformer and other high-quality components. Overall, the ONKYO A-9070 weighs around 8 kg more so than the competitors of YAMAHA. Noteworthy are also the center built huge power amp capacitors, which ensure level accuracy and to be responsible for information adept HiFi dealer that the peaks do not collapse to keep the sound tight and controlled. Wattage alone so do not characterize the quality of a HiFi amplifier more. To be compared only the information from the manufacturers of the dynamic performance of 8 - 4 - 2 ohms. YAMAHA A-S700: 135-160 - 240W ONKYO A-9070: 100 - 180-310 W. According to the data of the output power rating (YAMAHA 2 x 90 W into 8 ohms; ONKYO "only" 2 x 75 W into 8 ohms ) would you suggest a superiority of Yamaha amplifier in benchmarking.

Visually there is understatement. In the center is dominated by the oversized volume control, the right of small INPUT selector knob, next to a small toggle switch for Direct On and Off and a dimmable Mini DisplayPort. All other controls are located behind a massive drop shutter.

Now, at last hearing test: Acoustic jazz recordings (Pat Metheny / Brad Mehlau and Klaus Doldinger in New York), Classical (Julia Fischer, Violinpartiten of Bach) put in DIRECT mode at lower room volume transparent and balanced bulky going. The heights have left nothing to be desired and the bass move air! Nothing sounds "technically". An airy, lively sound with - when hip - brutal bass drum pulses and plastic centers, even at very low volumes, as it could not conjure the YAMAHA to Quadral boxes! I take this experience with joy and give them here with pleasure. Wattages are smoke and mirrors. A hi-fi amplifier has unique virtues who do not understand the technology layman and music-only gourmet, but just listen can! Another experience is that tower speaker to be operated at higher than the specified minimum wattage in order to enjoy their full abilities can. The floorstanding wonderful Quadral Amun X of me practically enticed to buy progressively getting better stereo amplifier. Apparently, the optimum has now reached.

Of course there is the famous fly in the ointment. Unquestionably a matter of taste, but in the clear and simple design of the amplifier then scare but the two garish poisonous-blue LEDs, luckily one of them is behind the flap. The other is lit when the small toggle switch to "DIRECT ON" - so always ... Still to be determined that the ONKYO A-9070 is a remarkable musical instrument and also power-hungry state boxing as Amun-X brings to full fruition here. In this respect, a warmest buy recommendation!