John Darko
If you were eyeing Hifi Rose’s ‘totally bonkers’ RA180 integrated amplifier but found its front panel’s numerous switches and dials visually too busy – or if you had little need for its super-tweeter hookups, bi-amp possibilities, DAC or MC phono input – then the South Korean manufacturer wants to tap on your shoulder about a stripped back, more affordable model.
The incoming RA280 offers fewer features than the RA180, a change-up elegantly reflected by the newer model’s more Zen-like front and rear panels. Crucially for some though, the VU meters have been retained. Phew.
On loudspeaker drive, the RA280 promises 250wpc into 8 Ohms and 4 Ohms, all fuelled by GaNFET output devices that, in Class D operation, can be switched faster with lower dead time than the usual MOSFET. Hifi Rose has dubbed its GaNFET amplifier design ‘Class AD’.
From the press release: “The result of this [GaNFET] design is a high-speed, perfectly accurate amplification stage with almost no dead time, allowing it to perform far more naturally, like a pure analogue amplifier.”
One side effect of fast-switching FETs is the high-frequency noise. Tackling this, Hifi Rose has implemented analogue (‘LC’) filtering with -1dB attenuation up to 65kHz and -3dB attenuation around 85kHz.
Want more attenuation? The RA280 offers front-panel bass and treble tone controls that push/pull at 100Hz and 10kHz respectively for up to 15dB attenuation in either direction.
An amplifier is only as good as its power supply. The RA280 takes its power supply design directly from the RA180 with “Silicon Carbide FET technology” and its “high voltage support and heat resistance” for a “high output in an efficient manner with low heat generation”.
On the RA280’s back panel, we note three sets of single-ended RCA inputs, one balanced XLR set and an MM phono. BYO DAC. There’s also a subwoofer output but no word on any bass management.
Pricing? £2999/€3499. Your choice of silver or black.
Further information: Hifi Rose
