{"product_id":"soulnote-a-2-ver-2-integrated-amplifier","title":"Soulnote A-2 ver.2 Integrated Amplifier","description":"\u003ch2\u003eNo Feedback, No Compromise: Soulnote A-2 ver.2\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFounded by ex-Marantz engineer and director Norinaga Nakazawa, Soulnote designs \"100% based on the actual sense of hearing\" — and the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoulnote A-2 ver.2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis that philosophy at full volume. This is a completely non-NFB integrated amplifier: no global feedback loop of any kind, prioritising signal purity above tidy measurements. Nakazawa's team describes it, only half-joking, as \"essentially a power amplifier equipped only with a selector and volume control.\" The result is the vivid, alive, three-dimensional sound that has made Soulnote a cult name among Japanese high-end enthusiasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePurist Circuitry, Obsessive Build\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe A-2 ver.2 delivers 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms (160 W into 4 ohms) from a parallel push-pull output stage using high-speed TO-3P transistors precisely paired by hFE to eliminate the tonal smearing common to conventional designs. A four-stage Darlington driver gives it exceptional grip, while a non-impregnated large toroidal transformer runs at deliberately lowered voltage — trading maximum 8-ohm wattage for the instantaneous current that really matters into demanding, low-impedance loudspeakers. Everywhere you look, sound quality drives the engineering: a four-layer PCB with 70-micron copper, cables soldered directly to the boards with connectors eliminated from both signal and power paths, a chimney-type heatsink, and even a floating top cover and unsecured circuit board to keep vibration away from the music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOne Box, Four Amplifiers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA relay-switched balanced attenuator with high-precision resistors handles volume, sharpening imaging and low-level detail. And the A-2 ver.2 is really four amplifiers in one: use it as a stereo integrated, a bi-amp monaural integrated, a stereo power amplifier, or a bi-amp monaural power amp. In power-amp mode it bypasses the microcomputer, selector and volume entirely for the highest possible signal-to-noise ratio — a genuine upgrade path as your system grows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love the Soulnote A-2 ver.2\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompletely non-NFB design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— no global feedback, for vivid, natural, alive sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e80 W into 8 ohms (160 W into 4 ohms)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— current-first power supply for tough loads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ehFE-matched parallel push-pull\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— high-speed TO-3P output devices, no tonal smearing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRelay balanced volume\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— high-precision attenuator for pristine low-level detail\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFour amplifier modes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— integrated, bi-amp mono, stereo power, bi-amp mono power\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSound-first construction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— direct-soldered wiring, floating cover, four-layer PCB\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHand-built in Japan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— Premium Silver or Premium Black, ~20 kg of engineering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does \"non-NFB\" mean, and why does Soulnote use it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNFB stands for negative feedback — a technique most amplifiers use to lower measured distortion. Soulnote omits any global feedback loop because founder Norinaga Nakazawa believes it robs music of life and immediacy. The A-2 ver.2 is tuned entirely by ear, prioritising a vivid, three-dimensional sound over textbook numbers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan the A-2 ver.2 be used as a power amplifier or in bi-amp mode?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It offers four modes: stereo integrated, bi-amp monaural integrated, stereo power amplifier, and bi-amp monaural power amplifier. In power-amp mode it bypasses the selector and volume control for the highest signal-to-noise ratio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it drive difficult speakers?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts power supply is deliberately engineered for instantaneous current into low-impedance loads, and the four-stage Darlington driver gives strong control — so despite its \"80 watt\" rating it grips demanding speakers with authority.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSoulnote A-2 ver.2 Technical Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntegrated amplifier, completely non-NFB, fully balanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePower output\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e80 W × 2 (8 ohms); 160 W × 2 (4 ohms)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOutput stage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eParallel push-pull, hFE-matched high-speed TO-3P transistors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVolume control\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRelay-switched balanced attenuator, high-precision resistors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStereo integrated \/ bi-amp mono integrated \/ stereo power \/ bi-amp mono power\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0.16% (1 W, 8 ohms)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency response\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 Hz – 240 kHz (±1.0 dB)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignal-to-noise ratio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110 dB (IHF A)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePower supply\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNon-impregnated large toroidal transformer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFour-layer 70 µm PCB; direct-soldered wiring; chimney heatsink; floating top cover\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions (W × H × D)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e430 × 160 × 423 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~20 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinishes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePremium Silver or Premium Black\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMade in\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJapan — Soulnote\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Soulnote","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":62842069450911,"sku":null,"price":13990.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Silver","offer_id":62842069483679,"sku":null,"price":13990.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/5532\/6111\/files\/A-2ver2_black_front_2000x2000_35b2ebec-67d4-46ca-89c4-c312ad867955.jpg?v=1785530724","url":"https:\/\/altitudoaudio.ca\/products\/soulnote-a-2-ver-2-integrated-amplifier","provider":"Altitudo Audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}