Esoteric Esoteric A-80 User manual

The knowledge, wisdom, and expertise behind
ESOTERIC`s mastery of the essence of tube technology.
Vacuum Tube Stereo Power Amplifier
Model A-100
A preamp that combines
exquisite quality with simplicity and sets
a new high end standard!
Stereo Linestage Preamplifier
Model C-03
TEAC ESOTERIC COMPANY
1-47 Ochiai, Tama-shi, Tokyo 206-8530, Japan
Fax: [phone]
www.teac.co.jp/audio/esoteric/
Please note that Esoteric products are available at limited distributors in respective countries. “Esoteric“is a trademark of TEAC
Corporation. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. ©2008 TEAC
Corporation. All Rights Reserved. All text, images, graphics and other materials on this catalogue are subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of TEAC Corporation.
These materials shall not directly or indirectly be published, reproduced, modified or distributed in any medium. Design and specifications
are subject to change without notice.
PRINTED IN JAPAN 0708L05•TECD-0000
English version
General
Power supply Europe model : AC 230 V, 50 Hz
U.S.A./Canada model : AC 120 V, 60 Hz
Korea model : AC 220 V, 60 Hz
Power consumption : 200 W
Weight : 31 kg (69 lb)
External dimensions ( W x H x D ) : 250 x 219 x 430 mm ( 9 7/8" x 8 5/8" x17" )
Audio Features
Maximum useful output power : 200 W ( 1 kHz, 8 Ω) 400 W ( 1 kHz, 4 Ω)
Frequency response : 10 Hz to 100 kHz ( 1 W, 8 Ω, +0/-3 dB )
Signal-to-noise ratio : more than 110 dB ( Awgt )
Total harmonic distortion : 0.05 % ( 1 kHz, 160 W, 20 kHz LPF )
Input sensitivity : 850 mVrms/160 W ( 8 Ω)
Input impedance : 200 kΩ( RCA )
- Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
- Weight and dimensions are approximate.

Mono-block amplification recreates
the master tape experience!
Master Sound Works
The ultimate challenge: “reproduce every drop of recorded material that lives
and breathes within the master tape.”
For over twenty years, ESOTERIC has drawn on TEAC’s extensive heritage
in audio reproduction to forge state of the art sound technologies. These efforts
have now come to fruition in ESOTERIC’s Master Sound Works product category.
The design of the A-80 mono-block power amplifier is focused on one thing—
the re-creation of a masterpiece. The A-80’s power supply, housing and circuitry,
with a superior 1kVA toroidal transformer, exemplify this uncompromising design.
The A-80’s spectacular sound quality reproduces richly blended symphonies
and soundtracks, the passion of the musicians, the atmosphere of the concert hall,
and the true to life experience of any known acoustic venue.
The A-80 redefines the capability of an amplifier and represents the latest innovations from Master Sound Works.
1kVA high-capacity toroidal transformer
The explosive sound delivered by the A-80 made this
power capacity a prerequisite.
ESOTERIC began by thoroughly enhancing the power supply used
for Master Sound Works power amplifiers. A-80’s main
transformer is a powerful1kVA high-capacity toroidal transformer
that supplies loudspeakers with a dramatically increased level of
power. This highly efficient transformer provides, in addition to low
noise and low distortion, enough power to instantaneously follow
every nuance of a sound signal.
The A-80 employs a dual transformer structure which
incorporates an R Core Transformer as its sub-transformer.
With no voltage fluctuations in the circuit design even at high
power, the A-80 eliminates the need for a constant-voltage
circuit within the amplifier stage. This purifies the power line,
obtaining a more expansive and detailed sound quality.
Two large 33,000µF smoothing electrolytic capacitors, with low
etching magnification for electrode aluminum foil, give the
A-80 more than enough headroom capacity. By placing the
amplifier stages and control circuits on the upper side of a
9mm thick steel plate dividing the housing, and the power
supply including the transformers on the lower side,
ESOTERIC has been able to prevent noise interference between
the circuits at rectification, improving S/N measurement and in
actual listening. We used a Schottky barrier diode for
rectification in each circuit helping to refine the soundstage. By
eliminating noise from the circuit principally in recovery phase,
we’ve achieved acoustic reproduction with an extremely high
quality and purity.
Wide range, high speed, and high drivability with an
amplifier circuit design to achieve the highest quality in
acoustic reproduction
A circuit that is focused solely on sound quality is one of the A-80’s
outstanding features. The amplifier’s two-stage Darlington
configuration provides current amplification that will drive any type
of speakers without compromise. With a three-step parallel push
pull system for the output stage, the A-80’s breaking ability and
refinement is further enhanced.
The voltage amplifier consists of a differential amplifier circuit with
Cascode connections for the first stage, and a grounded-emitter
amplifier circuit with Darlington connections for the second stage.
Both are supplied with high idling current and are designed for
extremely high speed and wide band capability. Furthermore, by
applying an up/down symmetric push pull action at all stages, the
A-80 is able to achieve straight forward clip character and stable
drive at the high current amplifier stage.
High grade parts without compromise. A prerequisite for
exceptional sound quality.
Every component of an ESOTERIC amplifier is selected from a
high-end perspective and is carefully chosen based on its
attributes and exhaustive listening tests. ESOTERIC’s original RCA
input terminal boasts high reliability and contact performance,
while the speaker terminals incorporate pure copper and gold
plating in the core of WBT’s nextgen: WBT-0710Cu conductor.
This implementation achieves high conductivity and low
resistance boosting overall signal purity. Furthermore, the A-80’s
metal-film resistor, high frequency low impedance electrolytic
capacitor, and output transistors are all of the very highest quality.
With this uncompromising attitude to overall system quality, we
have extracted pure amplifier performance that minimizes the loss
of signal information and maximizes transmission capability.
Unique chassis structure integrating
accuracy & vibration control
All of the A-80’s structures are fixed to a precisely engineered
main chassis of 9mm steel plate. The amplifier’s pin-point feet
are directly connected to the chassis for mechanical grounding.
Suspending the transformer and capacitor on the lower part of
the main chassis and locating the substrate on the upper part
eliminates leakage of magnetic flux and shields the
components from the influence of vibration.
Like the A-80’s state of the art chassis, the outer housing is
also worked to the highest level of precision at our machining
center. Such precision allows a massive reduction in the
difference in vibration levels between amplifiers when two or
more A-80s are used together.
• Unique pin-point foot to support the housing
Steel pins of 30 mm diameter are directly connected to the 9
mm steel plate that forms the A-80’s base providing a three-
point mount. This design disperses vibrations generated by the
transformer, capacitor, etc., while simultaneously eliminating
negative effects caused by vibrations due to acoustic pressure
from loudspeakers or other external influences.
• All of the A-80’s panels—including the 20 mm thick front
panel—are formed from precision-worked aluminum alloy. The
front and the sides are firmly attached using a three-board splice
technique used for high grade furniture. With this structure, the
housing limits unnecessary vibrations as much as possible.
• Large vibration free heat sink with 10 mm thick base
Each heat-sink fin is supported by a 4 mm diameter stainless steel
pin limiting any noise influence that may generate from the fins.
• The A-80’s input and output terminal panels are firmly fixed
to a 10 mm thick aluminum alloy panel to minimize the
negative effects of vibrations from both inside and outside the
amplifier. Unnecessary vibrations are further reduced by
attaching the power transformer to a 5 mm thick steel plate.