StereoNET: AVM Audio Evolution A3.2 Integrated Amplifier Review

JUNE 2017

AVM AUDIO

EVOLUTION A3.2 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

REVIEW / AVM AUDIO / EVOLUTION A3.2 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

AVM AUDIO

EVOLUTION A3.2 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

Distributor: NAG Distribution $6290 RRP (Silver or Black), $7990 RRP (Chrome)

For a brand that has been around for over 30

Opting for a more purist approach to sound,

years, you could be forgiven for either never

AVM are all about keeping things simple in

having heard the name AVM, or even getting

their designs by maintaining a short, straight

it confused with any number of other brands

signal path.

sporting three letter names or acronyms.

While AVM are pitched at the higher end

Head over to Europe and it’s a different

of the audio market, they have three core

story. At the 2017 High End Show in

ranges: Inspiration, Evolution and Ovation.

Munich, Germany, the AVM brand was well represented and their electronics are the choice for many speaker manufacturers.

You see, AVM are an audio manufacturer born within the land of chocolate. The land of chocolate you ask?

These ranges cover a broad price range from $1,499 for their Inspiration Phono Stage right up to $44,000 for their Ovation Series Monoblock Amplifier.

The subject of this review, the Evolution A3.2 Integrated Amplifier sits at a not unreasonable

Cue a short clip of a Homer fantasy courtesy

$6,290 (Silver or Black finish, and for those

of a classic Simpsons episode and of course

wanting the most premium look, Chrome is

the country I am referring to, is Germany.

also available for $7990).

AVM Audio is headed up by Udo Besser,

Like every other AVM Hi-Fi product, the A3.2

an Electrical Engineer who took over the

is designed, manufactured, and assembled

company in 2010 after being the Managing

in Germany with locally sourced parts

Director at luxury audio brand, Burmester.

and components.

“keeping things simple in their designs by maintaining a short, straight signal path�

Features Like all AVM amplifiers, the A3.2 is a class

In the case of the A3.2, it is equipped with

AB design.

three slots for optional upgrades such as a

It features a power output of 100 watts into 8 ohms and solid output into 4 ohms of 175

USB DAC, Phono Stage or FM Tuner allowing you to flavor it to taste.

watts, indicating it can drive a good majority

Each separate module will set you back

of speakers with ease.

an additional $999; likely much less than

Damping factor is specified reasonably high too at > 200. The A3.2 also boasts quite a high signal to noise ratio of 101dB (Line Input).

Props have to go to AVM for forward thinking too, by building the A3.2 as a modular design.

For those that don’t know, modular designs allow for a manufacturer to leave ‘blank plates’ if you will, on the rear panel of a component.

These blank plates can be filled with a ‘module’ that can offer a variety of different features.

One of the key benefits of this design is typically future-proofing, as you can add modules as they are required, or as technology is further developed.

the cost of purchasing an additional, separate component.

Special mention must also be given for the supplied AVM remote. While the buttons are quite small, the machining of the remote is excellent and it certainly looks and feels like you would expect at this price point.

“meticulously well packaged” Setup To my surprise, the A3.2 didn’t have much

a banana plug to attach to the end of your

heft to it, weighing in at a relatively meager

turntable’s grounding wire.

9kg.

Typically, in my own system I would connect a

The review unit appeared to be a repack /

MacBook Pro with an AudioQuest Jitterbug in

display model, but came meticulously well

line with a WireWorld Platinum Starlight USB

packaged in its original box. The supplied unit

cable, terminating at my Vincent CD-S7 DAC.

was already fitted with the optional phono and DAC modules.

I seemed to be experiencing digital noise alongside the music, and after using a

While the Phono Module is able to handle

process of elimination, I discovered that the

both MM and MC phono cartridges, the

DAC module on the A3.2 appeared to be

grounding terminal appears to have been

sensitive to the Jitterbug. Once removed, the

made specifically for a banana plug type

noise disappeared so in this case I finished

connection only. You’ll likely need to source

the review without the Jitterbug.

Listening Even from early listening I

This playlist gets a workout in

Everything I heard via the DAC

Resorting to a typical hi-fi analogy,

could tell that the A3.2 was

my place regularly as for some

module indicated to me that it

I feel as though it’s safe to say

something special.

reason, it really helps knock my

is of excellent quality and could

that the AVM simply got out of the

little toddler out and in turn gives

very easily pass the test for those

way and let the music flow.

me a couple of hours of peace

looking for a high quality, single-

and quiet. Priceless.

box solution.

It features some great modern

Dirty Projectors’ second,

contemporary artists such as

self-titled release is one of my

Olafur Arnalds, Ludovico

picks for quality of production

Einaudi and Max Richter, and

this year. I just recently picked

I have warmed to it greatly over

myself up a vinyl copy and gave

the past year or so.

it a spin. Having heard how great

It seemed to be analytic without sounding clinical, and musical without seeming lush, striking a good balance.

The A3.2 immediately offered up noticeably greater depth than my usual Vincent SV-237 and projected an obviously wider soundstage too.

Perhaps the only place it felt slightly short was in the expressiveness in the lower registers. The Vincent seems to have more weight down there, albeit being a touch looser and less controlled.

Controlled. That is actually a great word to describe the AVM A3.2. Tight, controlled, precise.

Ultimately, exactly what I would expect from German engineering.

Verses (Olafur Arnalds & Alice Sara Ott) sounded lovely,

sounds, I had high hopes …

‘Up In Hudson’ was another example where a lot of different instruments and different phrases were sequenced together and rather than sound confused, the AVM broke it all down, put each one in place, portraying it all beautifully.

Angus & Julia Stone’s ‘Down

displaying a full-bodied sound

Playing via my Marantz TT-

with a striking bite in the strings.

15s1 turntable equipped with

Separation of instrumentation

an Ortofon Quintet Bronze and

was excellent, particularly in

played back via my Phono Box

crowded phrases of the song,

RS/Power Box RS combination,

not letting any one element

the A3.2 never failed to deliver the

drown out another.

dynamics I’ve come to expect.

Richter: Path 5 (delta) was bare

I would go as far as to say that

certainly didn’t take any missteps

and intimate. Hearing each

this is now my favorite version of

in its own portrayal of it.

sequence play out was a delight.

this album.

As one instrument faded out,

Using my MacBook Pro via

another would come to take

Audirvana Plus as the source,

its place. The serenity of this

I streamed Tidal’s “Classical

track certainly was not lost on

Relaxation” playlist. I’m no

the A3.2.

classical buff, not by any means.

the digital version of this album

And flow it did.

the Way’, a modern classic for production quality, played back via CD on my CDS7 DAC sounded as pretty as I’d ever heard it. The recording is already an intimate insight into the recording studio, and the A3.2

The acoustic guitar on ‘Yellow

The opening track ‘Keep Your

Brick Road’ had just the right

Name’ offered up excellent

amount of twang and Angus’ own

imaging, a full bodied vocal and

vocal, had a warm, full-bodied

a huge bass hit.

presence.

“the learning curve should only take a few minutes”

In Comparison

Conclusion

Of the two amplifiers I use

I dare say for digital sources,

AVM is a brand that should

As the market is beginning to shift

regularly at home, the A3.2 falls

the NAD wins for ultimate

certainly be considered more

away from racks of components,

closer in line price-wise with my

transparency, however, the M2

seriously in Australia.

purchasers would be very happy

NAD M2.

has very limited connectivity

This amp of course is a very different beast from the AVM, being considered more a ‘Power-

for analog sources and unlike the AVM, cannot be upgraded with modules.

Dac’ using Class D amplification

I would argue too that the AVM

rather than a typical design.

is a more engaging and musical

Sonically however, I found that there are more similarities than not, with both offering up a clean, wide soundstage.

too, with a hint more bite on instruments, for example, the ringing out of guitar strings had longer extension.

The level of quality provided for the reasonably modest outlay is most impressive and with the A3.2, AVM have certainly hit the nail on the head.

In the world of high end audio, and that what this is, $6000 is not a lot of money for what the AVM delivers.

If the DAC module is anything to go by, the modular architecture and optional modules

opting for something like this as a single box solution. Simply add the modules you need, and add more as necessary at a later date.

If you’re shopping for an all-inone solution and this fits within the budget, I strongly urge you to audition the AVM A3.2. Like me, you’ll be pleasantly surprised and likely need to spend quite substantially more, for better.

Highly Recommended.

appear to be of excellent performance quality.

WORDS/IMAGES: Tarkan Ceviker