Description: Solid state, streaming integrated amplifier. Analog inputs: 2 single-ended line-level (RCA), 1 single-ended MM phono (RCA). Digital inputs: 2 optical S/PDIF (TosLink; up to 24/96), 2 coaxial S/PDIF (RCA; up to 24/192), Bluetooth (A2DP Audio profile with SBC, aptX & AAC codecs), Ethernet/ BluOS. Supported audio formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS, MQA, FLAC, WAV, AIFF (supports converted DSD playback via the BluOS desktop app only). Supported operating systems (minimum spec): Windows 7 SP1, macOS 10.9 Mavericks, iOS 9.3, Android 5.0 Lollipop, or above. Supported Cloud services: Amazon Alexa, Amazon Music, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Deezer, Qobuz, HDtracks, HIGHRESAUDIO, Murfie, Juke, Napster, Slacker Radio, KKBox, Bugs, TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, Calm Radio, Radio Paradise. Analog outputs: 1 pair speaker binding posts, 1 pair RCA (Pre-out/ Sub), 3.5mm stereo mini-jack headphone. Output power (both channels driven, THD+N <0.1%): 80Wpc into 8 ohms (19.03dBW), 130Wpc into 4 ohms (18.13dBW). Maximum headphone output: 7.5V RMS. Transformer rating: 400VA. No other specifications listed. Supplied accessory: remote control.
Dimensions: 17" (432mm) W × 3" (76mm) H × 14.7" (373mm) D (incl. connectors). Weight: 23lb (10.48kg).
Finish: Black or silver plated-steel chassis and anodized aluminum front panel.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 5452110101169. Firmware version: MCU: 3.2.1 FIX: ebb67b7. "Designed in Britain. Made in China."
Price: $3399. Approximate number of US dealers: 21. Warranty: 5 years on parts/labor against manufacturing defects in material or workmanship only.
Manufacturer: Roksan/Monitor Audio Group, 24 Brook Rd., Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7XJ, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0) 1268-740580. Web: roksan.com. North American distributor: Kevro International Inc., 902 McKay Rd., Unit #4, Pickering, ON L1W 3X8, Canada. Tel: (800) 667-6065. Web: kevro.com.
 | |||||||||||
|
|
| |||||||||
COMMENTS
I enjoyed reading this review, but was disappointed Mr. Atkinson could not find a step up transformer to listen and review the phono section of this amp. As an owner of one of their turntables, I was keen to read how well it could sound. I am hopeful for a follow-up.
I enjoyed reading this review, but was disappointed Mr. Atkinson could not find a step up transformer to listen and review the phono section of this amp.
I appreciate your point. However, it is fundamentally important for a product being reviewed that the reviewer not change anything else in the system. If I had borrowed a moving-magnet cartridge or a step-up transformer, there would then be another change to the system in addition to the Roksan amplifier.
John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile
John: True, but some (several?) buyers who have a moving coil cartridge might be likely to add a step up transformer, even if it were a “basic” unit, if they were to buy the Altessa, so that is a real world configuration and it would be valuable to a review.
The step-up transformer pair could have been kept in the comparison(s), using the same turntable, MC cartridge, step-up transformer pair in the LP playback subsystem, and using the MM inputs to the phono preamplifiers in both systems under comparison. No?
Maybe could have also tested the accuracy of the phono preamplifiers' RIAA filters using something like (James) Hagerman Audio Labs' iRIAA2 ($49+s/h).
Maybe in some future tests? This probably won't be the last device with a phono preamp on your test bench.
edit: I want to clarify that I do appreciate your subjective reviews and your efforts in including useful and interesting objective testing to the subjective reviews (yours and others), and do not want my disagreements, comments and suggestions to be misinterpreted as complaining about anything in your efforts in this. Sincere thanks for what you do provide. I just sometimes want more.
I believe it is an art form to design a good back panel, as well as the front panel.
In this example the speaker posts are tucked away into corner, cramped together along with a ground post.
A very poor design indeed.
Hi
I do not agree. BACK panel is for connection terminals. Function is the top priority over "art form" !
This is a pretty decent back panel design: right hand side for digital &
left hand side for analogue connection terminals to reduce RFI/EMI noise emitting from the digital side to the analogue side inside the amp & the connection cables outside the amp.
"cramped together with a ground post" qtd Kunsun.
With audio output power only 80Wrms @8ohm/channel, no need large gauge size ground cable at all. So why "cramped together" ???
Jack L
The manual for the Roksan Attessa states that loudspeaker cable assemblies terminated with 4mm banana plugs are the Roksan's recommended method of connecting loudspeakers to their amplifier. The binding posts each have a 4mm banana jack/receptacle at the end with a plastic plug which must be removed to accept the banana plug. The manual also mentions the alternative method of using unterminated loudspeaker cable with wire ends stripped bare and inserted into the binding posts, and further states that the binding posts may accept no larger than 12AWG wire, and they recommend using no smaller than 16AWG.
To your point, there is plenty of clearance if the recommendations stated in the manual are followed.
as I design/build phono-preamp & power amps for decades.
The problem is many readers here just want spit out whatever like or dislike without the right knowledge.
Jack L
Roksan's Attessa integrated amplifier is available without the network attached streamed digital audio receiver-processor functionality for significantly lower price. That wasn't mentioned in the review, but a very cursory web search turned up some online vendors. I only looked at pricing from the first online vendor in the search results.
Without that added functionality, the vendor's asking price is $2.1k. With that functionality, $3.2k (article mentions $3.4k MSRP). Both versions include the DAC and Bluetooth. The networked streamed audio functionality could be provided by a separate component rather than the integrated internal component.
When this is out of warranty, out of production, an obsolete product, out of active support, no longer receiving regular updates/patches to software/firmware, the integrated amplifier functionality may continue to function for several decades until some internal electronics component eventually fails. Unpatched software/firmware in the network attached hardware may cause some big problems beyond the audio playback setup.
I am not confident that the network security patches will be promptly released as new malware and network security vulnerabilities continually emerge, especially after the product is no longer offered for sale new by the manufacturer. I wouldn't want something attached to my LAN sniffing packets and skimming passwords and other account credentials on my network. I would rather have a separate nonproprietary device providing this networked streaming functionality, something I can easily update and eventually upgrade or replace separately from the audio amplifiers, control preamplifier, DA converter, etc.
Hi
BINGO ! Great minds think alike !?
That's exactly what yours truly cheapskate has done since day one of streaming: no costly brandname all-in digital preamps/integrated amps which are always prone to obsolescene sooner if not later.
Being a vinyl addict, why should I spend any decent money for any digital audio ? So with very little money, I got a dirt-cheap no-name DVD player with LAN/streaming function/auto-upgradable firmwares, + a dirt-cheap DAC (24bit-192KHz). Yet they both serve me nice & neat on playing music CD/DVDs & allow me to watch any on-line classical music programmes - FREE via say, YouTube.
Play smart is the name of the digital game - never spend big bucks in it due to its every changing "vulnerabilities".
Listening is believing
Jack L
| Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources | |
Analog Sources Accessories Featured | |
Music Columns Retired Columns | |
Show Reports | |
Features Latest News Community | |
Resources Subscriptions |
© 2024 Stereophile
