AVM PA 8.3 Preamp, SA 8.3 Power Amp, A 8.3 Integrated Amp
SA 8.3 Power Amp
The Ovation SA 8.3 is a stereo power amplifier with XLR and RCA inputs. With fully DC-coupled signal routing and 24 MOSFET transistors per channel, it delivers continuous power of 250 W at 8 Ω, 450 W at 4 Ω, and up to 60 amps of current, with pulse peaks over 450 W at 8 Ω or 900 W at 4 Ω, ensuring powerful impulse peaks and effortlessly driving even the most demanding loudspeakers while maintaining a pure signal path.
Two 1000 VA toroidal transformers and two separate power supply units with large energy storage units with over 136,000 μF capacitors per channel ensure a stable, loss-free power supply to the power amplifiers and the processor unit.
Unusually for a powerful transistor power amplifier, the SA 8.3 has a tube input stage. The tubes are maintenance-free, and there are no user settings to be made. Upon pressing the power button, the amplifier runs a self-check routine to ensure the tubes are ok and then simply switches on.
The SA 8.3 can be regarded as an improved, more powerful version of the SA 6.3, which is also part of the Ovation range but omits the tube input stage. While the SA 8.3 is AVM’s top-of-the-line amplifier, there is also a bridged-mono version, the MA 8.3, that delivers over 1,000 watts of power.
A 8.3 Integrated Amp
The A 8.3 is AVM’s top-of-the-line integrated amplifier. Visually identical to the A 6.3, the A 8.3 is also technically identical, with the addition of the exclusive Ovation 803 T-tube technology. According to AVM, the A 8.3 tubes impart more richness to the sound, whereas the A 6.3 offers outstanding clarity and neutrality with its transistor pre-stage. Hence, both models cater to different sound preferences.
The A 8.3 and A 6.3 share numerous features, including the powerful Class A/AB MOS-FET technology with 20 transistors per channel, delivering 2 x 200 W (8 Ω) or 2 x 330 W (4 Ω). Both amplifiers feature dual-mono architecture, fully DC-coupled input stages, and a highly stable power supply with a 1000 VA toroidal transformer.
Above Left: A 6.3; Right: A 8.3
The same high-quality, chrome-plated, ball-bearing rotary controls included with the PA 8.3 preamp are used here, offering a solid, heavy, and precise feel during operation. The step size of the volume change depends on the rotation speed. Slow rotation changes the level in 0.5 dB steps, while fast rotation changes the volume in 2 dB steps.
There are five high-level inputs (1 XLR, 4 RCA), five digital inputs (1 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB), and Bluetooth 4.2. For maximum flexibility, they offer two variable preamplifier outputs (XLR and RCA) and a fixed line-out.
Digital signal processing is up to 384 kHz/32-bit, plus DSD128 support over USB. Additionally, the amplifiers are equipped with a separate Class-A headphone amplifier accessible via a 6.3 mm jack on the front. A parametric loudness function, tone control with bypass, and the ability to integrate a home theater setup (AV bypass) provide exceptional versatility. Like all Ovation components, the A 8.3 has an easy-to-use display and provides extensive menu options, such as customizable input sensitivities and the option to name individual inputs, enhancing user personalization.
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