RSA-EX1000

Reviewer: Simone Ragionieri
Source: Generic 5G router into Taiko Audio network switch both powered by a Zayin Audio Suprareg; Taiko Olympus XDMI Server; LampizatOr Horizon 360 DAC
Headphone amplifier: Riviera Audio Labs AIC-10
Headphones: Spirit Torino Valkyria, Raal 1995 Immanis
Loudspeakers: Diesis Audio Aura SE
Cables: complete Faber's Cables La Potenza loom
Power delivery: Faber's Cables La Potenza power distributor and ground box, Furutech NCF AC wall plugs on a dedicated spur
Room size: 5 x 4.5 x 2.7m
Room treatments: Eight ceiling diffusers, floor-to-ceiling acoustic curtains on sidewalls, Vicoustic VicTotem Ultra VMT in front corners
Review component retail: €32'232

"Hello Simone-san, I understand about your interest to review our MG3000 but there's actually a newer model I'd most like for you to cover. It's the RSA-EX1000, currently our most highly rated and best-selling model. The MG3000 was released six years ago while the even smaller EX1000 is just one year old. Best regards, Shuzo Ishimi." And so it came to pass that our man in Florence/Italy was directed at today's 200wpc class D amplifier with remote control over its volume, a classic linear power supply and real-wood dress code. Or as Simone put it to me, "I have always been curious about SPEC class D designs, having heard them multiple times within nice-sounding systems at shows. It will be another step in my learning curve about the dilemma between high/low power and tubes/transistors in my own room/system." Long-time readers may remember how Marja & Henk, proud owners of Audio Note's big Meishu 300B amp on their 109dB Avantgarde Duo hornspeakers, loved SPEC because their class D really does model itself on tube sonics. Simone's current amplifier is a 10wpc class A tube-hybrid Riviera Audio Labs AI-10. Now you appreciate his comment to me. Might a high-power transistor amp of low output Ω and high current voiced for valve sound romance his open-baffle Diesis speakers beyond what two handfuls of watts can do? – Ed

… to be continued…