Integrated Amp Reviews

Audia Flight FLS10 integrated amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Digital sources: Aurender A20 streaming D/A processor, Grimm Audio MU1 streamer, 16" MacBook Pro M1 Max running Roon 2.0, Roon ROCK (Lenovo ThinkCentre).
Preamplifier: Benchmark HPA4.
Integrated amplifier: Anthem STR.
Power amplifier: Krell FPB 200c (recapped).
Loudspeakers: Focal Utopia Scala EVO, Estelon X Diamond MkII, Diptyque Reference.
Cables: Loudspeaker: AudioQuest Thunderbird Zero and Bass. Power cables and interconnects: AudioQuest WEL Signature (AES3), AudioQuest Coffee (coaxial S/PDIF), AudioQuest Vodka (TosLink), Clarus Crimson (XLR).
Accessories: Townshend Seismic Podiums, Finite Elemente Pagode HD-10 amp stand, AudioQuest PowerQuest PQ-707 power conditioner, Puron plug-in AC enhancers.
Listening room: Custom-built 21' × 15' space with 10'-tall walls and a 16' cathedral ceiling. Hardwood floor over gravel and concrete. Rubber subflooring. 16' x 12' wool rug on felt pad. Four bass traps, two skyline diffusers, and a dozen absorption panels.—Rogier van Bakel

COMPANY INFO
Audia Flight
Via Alfio Flores 7
00053 Civitavecchia (RM)
Italy
info@fidelityimports.com
(609) 369-9240
fidelityimports.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on January 23, 2025 - 8:04am

I want this for every reason elucidated in the review, but the 63hz hum gives me pause and the fascia/design for the casework isn't my style. But whatever, everything else about it is exemplary!

The price point is lofty, but one I think meets its performance envelope communicated from the review. For it to challenge a long held reference via the Krell's proves it's pedigree for RVB (and in kind is an insightful observation for the reader).

I will have to hear this again at this year's show!

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on January 23, 2025 - 1:14pm
Glotz wrote:
I want this for every reason elucidated in the review, but the 63hz hum gives me pause . . .

It's not hum at 63Hz but hum at –63dBV, ie, 0.07% ref. 1V into 8 ohms.

John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on January 23, 2025 - 5:28pm

I was thinking 63dB down but was distracted at work. ;)

The 3rd photo made me pause earlier as there is another smaller logic transformer over the really huge transformer underneath. That thing is monstrous! As mentioned, but what can you do with a large integrated?

It was awesome when I heard it, but a few minutes isn't really enough time. I'll hold off on strong opinions. I'm sure I'll be smiling at AXPONA...

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on January 23, 2025 - 5:34pm

It does remind of Calatrava's Milwaukee Art Museum, but not enough! Lol. I would have loved even more sculpting! I think for $15k a little more artistic expression is important.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on January 23, 2025 - 12:44pm

Paul:"Moreover, there's sufficient capacity in that huge PSU to sustain 265W, 500W, 885W, and a full 1385W (37.2A) into 8, 4, 2, and 1 ohm, respectively, under dynamic conditions"

(37.2A)? Peak or continuous.
The use of the word "sustain" to me says (continuous) wattage, but after that you say it's just "under dynamic conditions"(peak)???

Cheers George

kai's picture
Submitted by kai on January 25, 2025 - 2:26pm

You wouldn’t want 37 A continuously run through your speakers.
It would make them shine bright - literally.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on January 25, 2025 - 4:22pm

"You wouldn’t want 37A continuously run through your speakers.It would make them shine bright - literally."

If it's 37a peak, old NAD 3020 will do something like that

All about running out of breath into very low impedance load, + it's a bridged amp which makes it even more less tolerant of low or low epdr loads, like Class-D's can also.
Amps like Gryphon and D'Agostino won't do that as they can go to 100+ amps.

Cheers George

kai's picture
Submitted by kai on January 25, 2025 - 11:19pm

At “a full 1385W (37.2A) into … 1 ohm” there’s not much to worry about this thing running out of steam.
I have yet to see a speaker that can handle this without going into overload one way or the other.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on January 27, 2025 - 12:17pm

When Gryphon's Krell's and Dagostino's etc etc can do 100A with less 8ohm wattage, we all know know which will be the one running out of breath first.
As for the 1385w, I can get a 6000w Crown amp for just $1000!!! but it won't drive high end speakers with nasty loads like the ones above can.
Cheers George

kai's picture
Submitted by kai on January 27, 2025 - 10:24pm

There might be a little misconception:

The 37 A, or 100 A or whatever Ampere are only drawn if an amp is driving a very complex load that goes down to 1 Ohm, at full power.

37 A into 1 Ohm equals 1,369 W.
100 A into 1 Ohm equals 10,000 W.

In reality both of these powers are way high enough to melt every existing speaker’s voice coil.
But at home use the quality of the first one Watt is what counts, most speakers need less than this for normal listening.

Like having a car that can go 250 mph, then asking for one that can go 500.
In reality driving at a max. of 55 mph.

High power semiconductors BTW are slower, it’s easier to build a quality smaller amp.

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on January 28, 2025 - 11:01am

Ah that's quite a big no!
Into speakers like the the Wilson Alexia a 150w 100A Gryphon/Krell/D'Agostino etc will sound more powerful with better drive/control and dynamics into that load than a Crown that has 6000w!!! and only <30a peak.

Cheers George

Cheers George

kai's picture
Submitted by kai on January 28, 2025 - 3:12pm

The 6,000 W Crown is made to power PA systems at live music events in big halls.
It‘s intended to be used in it‘s upper power range.

Typically those amps are not suited for home use, where their fan‘s noise might blow louder than the music sounds people want to listen to.

Reducing an amp to it‘s current capabilities falls very short anyway.
Tube amps e.g. don‘t have any current capability above their nominal power.
Does this make them sound weak?

The strongest Class D Crown amp I found on a quick glance was the Crown Xti 6002.
6,000 W into 4 Ohm, mono bridged.
At a price point around 2K take 2 and you got enough power to blow the roof from your house.
Current capability BTW at least 39 A RMS, for the nominal continuous power.

Is it this one you heard?

kai's picture
Submitted by kai on January 25, 2025 - 2:22pm

If you look at the densely stuffed internals, interconnected with a dish of spaghetti (wires), you know where the advantage of a separated pre-/power-amp design lies:
This thing is close to unrepairable once any of it‘s cramped parts breaks.

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on January 26, 2025 - 1:20pm

... either the E-4000 or E-5000 (along with the optional analog disc and DAC boards) from Accuphase.

https://www.accuphase.com/model/e-4000.html

https://www.accuphase.com/model/e-5000.html

If the reviewer is going to be making a comparison to a Krell class-A amp, then he should be reviewing the Pass Labs INT-250 (along with the XP-17 phono stage and one's choice of DAC).

https://www.passlabs.com/products/int-250/

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/pass-labs-int-250-integrated-amplifier/

https://www.passlabs.com/products/xp-17/

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/pass-laboratories-xp-17-phonostage/

unitygain's picture
Submitted by unitygain on January 27, 2025 - 9:17am

I had similar concerns during the time I owned mine, but it’s a great amp. Sonically, it was exceptionally vivid and controlled while I had it – with remarkable leading edge precision, a humongous soundstage, and unflappable control (at the aruguable expense of slam) when delineating even the lowest bass registers.

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