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The amplifier has a softened warmed-up treble whereby lesser recordings receive a bit of needed warmth and humanity. The Jackson disc was good as was the musically fantastic but sonically compromised Al Green caper Lay it Down. That was warm, thick but also quite dynamic. However certain things this amp cannot do and dynamics will always be softer than with amplifiers of higher power. That must be faced without getting upset. Musical intimacy however is simply sublime. The user interface is somewhat unusual and functionality minimal (only two inputs and no remote). But in the end and despite its not inconsequential price, this amplifier is a phenomenal proposition. Unique, different from anything else, with outrageous soundstaging and very coherent timbre – that’s the Musica amplifier.
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Description: The int1000s is a hybrid integrated amplifier which already at first glance is different from 99% of the competition. I believe that only my beloved Leben Hifi Company offers similar units. Musica has its own readily recognizable style based on a specific external design and internal construction concept. The first relies on a round glass window in the middle of the fascia to show the vacuum tube behind it; and round top cover vents. The second item of distinction is the lack of any knobs or buttons on the Indian Rosewood front panel. Power switch, input switch for two sources and a volume slider are located on the belly, the latter highly unusual. Sliders used to be very popular with graphic equalizers but are now almost exclusive to studio gear where every mixing console is fitted with dozens of such potentiometers. Musica’s has no markings as they believe that only what we hear counts, not what we see.
On the back plate we have two pairs of gold-plated input sockets next to which reside the pre-out and main-in sockets. The unit can work as an integrated amp or separate preamp or amp via a small switch. The loudspeaker terminals are single and without gold plating, quite typical for Japanese manufacturers, meaning they look worse than they perform. The power socket is a classic IEC but with Rhodium-plated pins surrounded by a locking collar to securely capture the power cord, a nice detail.
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The input employs a double triode that looks to be of Chinese providence but has all its markings erased. This is a buffer, not an amplification stage - gain factor is 1. This tube is placed on a separate PCB with its own power supply including many capacitors. Due to this tube, the int1000s is formally a hybrid. Musica also offers such buffers separately because they claim that impedance mismatches between sources and amplifiers have the biggest sonic influence.
The signal from the gold-plated RCAs travels over long shielded cables to the source selector switch, then to the buffer, then the potentiometer. Via more cable, the signal then enters the power section where dual mono architecture begins. In the middle of the chassis are two big transformers, one per channel but bolted together. Their construction is atypical for this application by being neither classic EI or toroidal but more like double C-core types.
These trannies are expensive and sourced from a Japanese specialty supplier.
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Heat sinks mount to the sides, albeit not of classical profile but somehow resembling a chair to whose center indent bolts the output stage board.
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The circuit itself is very minimalist and we can see deliberation to avoid all non-essentials. Taking into account that this is a circuit without negative feedback, it’s quite an achievement. The circuit is fully discrete with MOS-FET outputs, Toshiba 2SK1530+2SJ201 pairs in push-pull class AB class which get quite warm. Adjacent capacitors address mains ripple with two 4700μF Nichicons per side. All other electrolytics are top-notch Sanyos. Resistors are precision metalized jobs. Let's also add that the top and side panels are damped with thick layers which look like bitumen but are probably carbon-fiber based.
It can be clearly seen that the circuit was designed by listening, with specific parts and a deliberate layout. I am a bit worried by the long flying leads and the tube in the buffer being of only medium quality. The lack of tube markings is a pity as it discourages valve rolling. Except for these nits, the Musica is a prime example of Japanese hand-made hifi gear at its finest.
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Technical data according to manufacturer:
Power: 120W/4Ω
THD (20Hz-20kHz): 0.1%
Frequency response (-3dB): 10Hz - 40kHz
Power consumption: min. 80W, max. 360W
Dimensions (WxHxD): 300x148x306mm |
opinia @ highfidelity.pl
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