The Esoteric delivers the sonic virtues of very expensive amplifiers on a smaller scale, and at a more moderate price.
The “Finest” Integrated Amplifier You Could Ever Want – The new F Series integrated amplifiers are the culmination of a range of technologies designed to fulfill your ideals.
Incorporating all of the preamp and power amp developments from the flagship Grandioso “X” Edition, the new F Series integrated amplifiers deliver outstanding musicality that captures the rich textures of music in a single integrated amplifier. Despite the fact that the F Series is an integrated amplifier, it delivers a thorough quality and performance that will be the envy of all separate amp users. The F Series is the integrated amplifier that owners of Esoteric’s K and N Series digital players have been waiting for, and it pushes the boundaries of integrated amplifier technology.
Key Features
[Preamplifier Section]
A fully balanced dual mono preamp in the direct line of the Grandioso C1X
"Ultra Fidelity Attenuator System", a stepped attenuator circuit developed by Esoteric
Volume can be adjusted in 0.1dB/1,120 steps with our proprietary attenuator module "UFA-1792" Preamp gain setting: at +12dB
3 inputs of “ES-Link Analog”, a unique and proprietary current transmission system
Two headphone outputs (balanced 4-pin XLR / unbalanced 6.3mm) with built-in fully balanced dual mono headphone amplifier
Dual mono phono stage preamp (RCA x 1, MM/MC)
3-band balanced tone control, independently adjustable for each input source
ES-Link Analog(x1) /XLR (x1) pre-out for connecting the S-05 as an external power amplifier
Dedicated DC power connector for connecting the PS-01F external power supply dedicated to the built-in preamp (to be released later)
Preamp gain can be adjusted in 4 steps (0/+6/+12/+18dB) to match the connected power amplifier
[Amplifier Section]
Simple and straightforward circuit design concept based on Grandioso S1X
Class A 30 WPC/8Ω
Excellent power linearity and driving power (60 WPC/4Ω)
All stages of the power rectification and smoothing circuit are configured with dual monaural design
Powerful bipolar transistor 3-parallel push-pull configuration
Huge 940VA EI core power transformer
Channel-independent Grandioso grade custom block capacitors (10,000μF x 4/ch)
Custom wave-shaped heat sinks to reduce peak resonance
[Other Features]
Independently adjustable input gains (±18dB; 0.1dB steps)
L/R channel balance (0.1dB steps)
AV through output (volume bypass) ensures seamless coexistence with AV systems
Aluminum body remote controller (RC-1339) can also be used to operate Esoteric's SACD players and network players
Displayed source device names can be programed
Mute, dimmer and automatic display-off functions
Control functions (RS-232C, trigger input / output)
Output power: 30Wpc into 8 ohms, 60Wpc into 4 ohms
THD: 0.006% (1kHz, 8 ohms, 30W)
Signal-to-noise ratio: 104dB (IHF-A)
Damping factor: 370
Inputs: Two balanced on XLR jacks, five unbalanced on RCA jacks, external preamplifier inputs (balanced); optional DAC board (OP-DAC1)
Input impedance: 10k ohms (line), 47k ohms (mm phono), 100 ohms (mc phono), 47k ohms (external preamp in)
Outputs: Dual pairs of binding posts with speaker A/B switching; preamp-out jacks (balanced and unbalanced)
Tone controls: +/–12dB at 63Hz, 630Hz, 14kHz in 0.5dB steps
Dimensions: 17.6″ x 7.6″ x 18.5″
Weight: 71 lbs.
The F-03A’s rendering of space was superb, not just in width and depth but importantly in the precise placement of images within the soundstage. Notably, instruments were presented as individual objects spatially and texturally, making it easy to clearly hear individual parts within the whole. That’s one quality that many very expensive amplifiers do well; to hear it to this degree from an integrated amplifier was surprising and rewarding.