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Review
BVaudio A300S
BV audio originally designed and
built controls and regulators for
nuclear power plants. They used their
extensive knowledge, expertise and
skills to build audiophile grade
amplifiers. The engineering of the
integrated amplifier – the BVaudio
A300S is derived from their experience
on designing power stations.
It is rated at 110 Watts into 8
Ohms or 170 Watts into 4 Ohms from 4
output devices per channel. Its chassis
measures 17 _ ins x 3 _ ins x 14 _ ins
(W x H x D) and weighs 31 lb. At the
rear, it has a power socket and an on/
off switch directly above it marked ‘0’
and ‘1’. To the right of it are the
binding posts for the right pair of
speakers and at the far left are the
binding posts for the left pair of
speakers. Then there are five pairs of
gold plated RCA connection inputs, a
pair of gold plated tape outputs and
another pair of gold plated outputs for
the preamplifier – all remote controlled.
A heavy-gauge black metal body
covers its chassis with heat sinks
running along the top left and top right
sides. (See picture of front view of
amplifier). It has a brushed silver
faceplate with a green LCD screen
operating interface, which displays the
input, used and balance level.
The BVaudio A300S integrated
amplifier has an impedance correction
circuitry built in. It cannot be
overdriven because anti-saturation
circuits protect it. The A300S has anti-
saturation techniques at every stage. It
features a fully balanced dual-mono
“stereo” amplifier with a sonically
optimized layout featuring two 300-Watt
toroidal transformers, one per channel
and two independent power supplies to
handle the preamplifier and microcontroller. It has L/R gain adjustments
by remote control, zero error cross-talk,
224-step microprocessor volume control
and 0.05 dB channel matching with
exceptional channel separation.
BVaudio uses well known
components like digital controls from
Burr Brown Analogue Devices and
National Semiconductor which the
designer feels is vital to their primary
goal of sonic accuracy in the A300S at
its price point of under US$2,000.00
BV audio A300S
Integrated
Amplifier
Philip Lopez
104
I-Audio Magazine Volume 3 No 4
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The Listening Test
I first played a track from
Amanda McBroom’s ‘Dreaming’ – the
Rose. Her voice was rich and focused
with emotions almost visible. The
amplifier’s presentation of the female
voice was real, unique, transparent and
dimensional. To confirm this further I
chose a track from Anne Murray’s
‘Crooning’’ – “Secret Love”. It was
delivered with accuracy, warmth and
feeling. The high notes, middle and low
notes were richly revealed. This
amplifier handled female voices with a
touch of delicacy, warmth, texture and
detail that was, indeed, truly amazing.
Next, I had to test the male
voice. I played Frank Sinatra’s
“Strangers in the Night” from his best
and swingy performance – I was in
complete surrender, honestly, this was a
great showing!
The A300S really handled both
male and female voices with accuracy
with just the right power and drive.
The Ray Coniff CD ‘Happiness
Is’, track 1, a tune of the same name
was a good song to test voices in
harmony. The presentation was
absolutely thrilling – the voices came
alive with rhythm, swing and just the
right brilliance – no sibilance or ring in
the high trailing voices. It played the
music with no cover-ups or add-ons – it
was voice and music as is.
For instrumentals, I turned to
Chip Davis’ Day Parts – Party (Music that
Cooks). I chose Track 7 – Reggae Manana
its ability to render a piano accurately. I
chose the JVC special lab disc ‘Three
Blind Mice’ featuring Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
on piano. This is an amazing CD with
stunning dynamics. I played track 1,
Stardust and track 2, La Vie En Rose –
two beautiful tunes played on piano
with bass and drums and Strings
support. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto played
great piano – the texture and tone of
the piano was so well presented that I
was forced to sit back and listen. The
BVaudio was in its element, every note,
timbre, emotion and nuance was laid
bare beautifully. If you ever get to hear
this CD, listen to tracks 1 and 2 and if
you do not step out ‘charmed’ – you
have no soul!
This last test was absolutely
collection CD VC 3007. This number was
handled with excellence. “Old Blue
Eyes” sounded absolutely and
refreshingly real – there were no rough
edges in the smooth high notes, middle
and lows. In fact his low notes had just
the right impact, weight and balance.
The total listening pleasure was a feast
– a real concert appearance. I could not
resist the temptation of listening to
Frank’s track two – Summer Wind. This
is one song he delivers like no one else
can – there is swing, a play on lyrics
and a syncopated beat that only he
could do and do it so well. This
amplifier gave such a great, dynamic
Mon for the unusual acoustic treatment
and arrangement and Track 1 for
‘Caribbean Cooler’. The performance
was alright except the weight or
dimension just wasn’t there – you know,
you get that ‘something is missing’
feeling. Feeling a little put off by this, I
next selected a highly recommended CD
– a Reference Recording Sampler – Hi-Fi
Choice, Nimbus Records Track 8, Tropic
Affair (Brock). This session was
awesome. The A300S handled the track
with power, aplomb and attention to
musical detail that was truly an
awakening.
The real test for any amplifier is
phenomenal. I give the A300S top marks
for handling piano music with such
sparkle, warmth, delicacy, weight,
touch, rhythm and detail. I was
enraptured, yes – charmed.
If you’re a piano lover or music
lover, for that matter, you must really
give this amplifier a listen. You will
definitely be impressed. At the end of
all the tests, which lasted almost the
better part of four hours at a stretch,
the BVaudio never lost its cool ( it was
running from cool to lukewarm). At a
price of less than US $2,000.00, I could
safely add that you would not lose your
cool, either!
I-Audio Magazine Volume 3 No 4
105
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