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The most obvious difference was power. At 210wpc into 4Ω the Abacus was 5 x as potent. And in the treble it played it crisper. In a direct A/B this had more jump particularly at higher levels. Tonally however the Asgard countered with a fat mark in the vocal range. I recently unearthed a CD I’d not heard in ages - Zwesche Salzjebäck un Bier by the pseudo Kölsch rockers BAP. I never really liked the band but two cuts "Bahnhofskino" and "Sendeschluss" always did it for me. Particularly the latter is so sad and melancholic, you’d have to have a heart of stone not to feel touched. And the entire album is really exceptionally well produced.
"Sendeschluss" exploits the contrast between a classic concert guitar and fat orchestral string section. Where the Ampollo laid out the symphonic forces with a bit more depth and covered the guitar harmonics with more light, I had the stronger emotional response with the Asgard. I can only guess at why. Did the strings have better flow? Was the concert guitar better differentiated and detailed? Hard to say. At low to medium volumes the amps were tonally not that different. The Asgard held its magnification loupe on the midrange whilst the Ampollo felt ruler flat but applied an extra dose in the treble. Dynamically both were highly engaged. On soundstaging the Asgard had more width, the Ampollo more depth. As you can tell, I hesitate to declare a clear winner.
As I said before, the Asgard is a real character, not a universal solution for all situations. It’s less for forensic research into mastering decisions or ultimate depth layering. It’s more for pleasure seekers who wish to escape the daily humdrum to tune in and drop out. It’s a successful synthesis of common valve and transistor values. And finally it’s very well built and made (by hand) in Germany.
Psych profile for the Jawil Audio Asgard…
• builds up the aural scenery from a highly differentiated midband where it’s clearly in love with detail. The transition into the bass is seamless. Here the amp exhibits a brilliant amalgamation of speed and extension well in excess of expectations based on its power rating.
• the upper end veers into the mild without sacrificing the ability to finely distinguish – most suitable for long sessions.
• micro and macro dynamics are typical for its price class.
• stages more broadly than deep to create sufficient space for individual performers.
• plays it lively and very colour rich.
• is neither a mastering tool nor FX machine but a small yet fine amp with character.
Facts.
• Concept: Integrated amplifier configured for either two or four (biamp) channels, phono optional
• I/o: 4 RCA inputs, one configurable as phono, biwire speaker terminals
• Power: 2 x 40 watt into 4Ω
• Dimensions: 420 x 65 x 235mm W x H x D
• Weight: 10kg
• Warranty: 2 years
• Website
