Soul Note A-0, A-1 & A-2 ver.2
In the hi-fi industry, a new generation of amplifiers is generally expected to deliver more of everything. More power, more features, better specifications, and, inevitably, a higher price. Manufacturers love being able to announce that their latest model produces another twenty or thirty watts per channel, even if the actual benefits are considerably less obvious than the numbers might suggest. Soulnote has never been particularly interested in playing that game. The Japanese company has now introduced substantially revised versions of three of its most important integrated amplifiers, the A-0, A-1, and A-2, each carrying the ver.2 designation. Their familiar names and understated appearance might suggest relatively modest updates, but the changes go considerably deeper than a few upgraded components. All three have received revised output stages, bias circuits, and power supplies, while the more expensive models incorporate technologies developed for the flagship A-3. Most surprisingly, the new A-2 ver.2 actually produces less power than its predecessor. This isn't a cost-cutting measure or a technical setback. Soulnote has deliberately traded some maximum output voltage for greater instantaneous current delivery, believing that the result will be a more capable amplifier when connected to demanding loudspeakers. It's a decision that tells us quite a lot about the company's approach to audio engineering.