Esoteric I-05 User Manual

Integrated Amplifier

I-05

Highly Rigid Chassis Constriction - Inheriting the Philosophy from the I-03

• Highly rigid, low noise chassis construction

The I-05's internal chassis features three separate compartments each accommodating different circuit blocks so as to increase rigidity and reduce interference and noise between these circuits. The power transformer is placed in the center compartment and ﬁxed to the bottom chassis through the

3.2mm thick steel base plate. The entire chassis is supported at three points using Esoteric’s proprietary steel insulators for effective vibration suppression. This new chassis design, which was originally introduced in the K series and the I-03, ensures excellent rigidity and extremely low noise. The orientation of the three compartments allows us to develop circuits with the shortest possible audio signal path.

• Precisely machined aluminum chassis and mechanical parts

The I-05 has inherited the rounded form design of Esoteric's ﬂagship models. Thick billet aluminum materials have been used for the front, top, side panels and front corners. The preampliﬁer volume control and input selector have been machined from one continuous aluminum block. The precisely tooled, rounded ergonomic design offers a sleek appearance as well as an ideal balance for operational control.

• Beautiful rounded form commensurate with ﬁne furniture

The high quality rounded form, inherited from its predecessors and the “slender I-03” design, has been incorporated into this new integrated ampliﬁer. Combined with any of the K series SACD/CD players, which also utilize the round form design, creates a unique look that is similar to a suite of furniture.

Audio expression, symphonic beauty, artistic passion, a concert hall spatial feel and the excitement of the

audience. Esoteric’s Master Sound Works is an audio product concept that recreates all of the music

information in original master recordings with the most state of the art technology available today.

PRINTED IN JAPAN 1212O05•TECD-0159

ESOTERIC COMPANY

1-47 Ochiai, Tama-shi, Tokyo 206-8530, Japan Fax: (042)356-9240

www.esoteric.jp http://esoteric.teac.com/

Please note that Esoteric products are available at authorized distributors in respective countries. " ESOTERIC " is a trademark of TEAC Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries. "Super Audio CD" is a registered trademark. ©2012 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.

PROUDLY MADE IN TOKYO

Speciﬁcations

Speaker Outputs

Rated output power 120 W + 120 W (1 kHz, 6 Ω)

Maximum output power 190 W + 190 W (1 kHz, 6 Ω) (JEITA)

Total harmonic distortion 0.025 % (1 kHz, 6 Ω)

Frequency response 5 Hz - 70 kHz (+1 dB, –3 dB, 6 Ω)

Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) 121 dB (JEITA)

Minimum required impedance

4 Ω

Speaker output terminals Screw type x 1 pair

Analog audio inputs

Connectors RCA x 3 pairs

PHONO x 1 pair

XLR x 1pair

Input impedance LINE: 470 kΩ

PHONO MM: 47 kΩ

PHONO MC: 100 Ω

Analog audio outputs

Jacks RCA x 1 palr

Output impedance 220 Ω

General

Power supply AC 230V 50Hz / AC 220V 60Hz

Power consumption 70 W

External dimensions (W x H x D) 445 x 131 x 389 mm (17 1/2” x 5 1/8” x 15 1/4”)( including protrusions )

Weight 17 kg (37.5 lb)

Included accessories

Power cord x 1

Remote control (RC-1301) x 1

Batteries for remote control (AAA) x 2

Owner’s manual x 1

Warranty card x 1

• This product is available in two different power supply variations as shown in the chart above. Make sure that the voltageshown on the rear panel matches the AC line voltage in your area.

• The shape of the AC inlet and plug of the supplied power cord depends on the voltage rating

and destination country.

• Speciﬁcations and appearance are subject to change without notice.

• Weight and dimensions are approximate.

Integrated Amplier

I-0

Esoteric MSW* Pure Class D Mono Block Power Ampliﬁer

*MSW= Master Sound Works

• Introducing the design know-how of professional studio-use power ampliﬁers

The power ampliﬁer is at the core of our integrated ampliﬁer, the I-05.Esoteric has introduced techniques collected through the trials of designing professional studio-use power ampliﬁers into the power ampliﬁer sections of I-05. The power ampliﬁer of the I-05 continuously balances outstanding drive power along with natural tones and conveys the essence of a master sound recording regardless of the size and efﬁciency of the speaker combinations being used.

• Esoteric's MSW Pure Class D power ampliﬁer with dual mono architecture

The I-05 is equipped with a MSW Pure Class D power ampliﬁer that uses the latest high-speed MOS-FET devices in a 2-parallel conﬁguration to achieve superior speaker drive performance. This circuit uses separate power ampliﬁer blocks mounted in a dual mono architecture.

This allows each channel to obtain a high practical-use maximum output of 190W+190W (6Ω).

• Linear (analog) power circuit supplying strong driving performance

The power circuit is equipped with a high capacity custom EI core transformer that generates tenacious yet silky sound quality.

The smoothing condenser achieves a great balance between high capacity and low impedance by means of a parallel connection of four circuits to each channel. Also, strategic placement of the power ampliﬁer on the board shortens the signal path, which means a faster power supply. Furthermore, the high speed Schottky barrier diode is used for its low noise when rectifying. The linear power source, which boasts low noise and abundant power, contributes greatly to the unit's excellent sound quality. *

The power source of the ampliﬁer is the heart that determines the performance and tonal quality of the ampliﬁer. The I-05 satisﬁes both pure and warm tones along with

strong driving performance by combining the traditional linear (analog) power

source and the latest ampliﬁer stage which easily drives even low-efﬁcient

speakers. This might even give the listener a feeling that there are no speakers at all.

Full-balance Designed Dual-mono Preampliﬁer

•

Full-balance preampliﬁer circuit thoroughly suppressing noise

The preampliﬁer is carefully designed c

arrying over the award-winning

technologies introduced into the C-03. The application of a fullybalanced conﬁguration reduces noise to the limit.

The mounting point is located at the rearmost area of the chassis, which is closest to the input terminal.

•

Esoteric-QVCS

(QVCS = Quad Volume Control System)

By turning the volume knob, the variable volume gain of all four circuits – right and left channels, positive and negative powers – are activated by control signals that are transmitted to the preampliﬁer. In this way, the system keeps left and right audio signals independent from each other and from positive to negative. The beneﬁt being that sounds are heard clearly with good channel separation and accurate phase characteristics. Furthermore, the deletion of a cable from the audio board to the volume device radically shortens the audio signal path and thus stops sound deterioration. The volume device uses the New JRC “MUSES,” tried-and-trusted for its sound quality.

•

Low noise operation capable of reproducing minute dynamics

The control board for the entire Esoteric-QVCS is physically separated from the preampliﬁer board. A measure is being taken here also for downright low noise operation, which is to completely stop the control microcomputer, unless the operation launch is accepted.

•

Functions utilized by the high grade preampliﬁer

The preampliﬁer is equipped with a PRE OUT terminal system, accepts biamp conﬁguration and also serves as a fully-balanced dual-mono preampliﬁer so as to be compatible to future system upgrades. The headphone terminal is available for personal listening using your favorite pair of high-quality headphones.

Sufﬁcient input terminals

(

RCA x 3, PHONO x 1, and XLR x 1

)

Machined copper alloy RCA terminals excellent in

conductivity and durability

Fine-tuning of gain levels available for each of

the right and left channels, balance and inputs



MM/MC PHONO input



AV through function useful in the system environment where two channels,

for AV surround coexist.



Five types of volume curve options

(*)

High grade aluminum remote controller for

the Esoteric SACD/CD player attached

These options allow you to choose an ideal volume curve from ﬁve presets to match with the efﬁciency of your speakers. These options will also offer an ideal operational feel you prefer to drive any types of speakers of different sensitivity.

PROUDLY MADE IN TOKYO

Nothing to add. Nothing to delete.

Luxury is to enjoy the beauty as it really is.

Here are the ultimate audio technologies for music reproduction.

Master Sound Works – Esoteric’s fundamental philosophy – conveys every musical

impression captured in original master recordings directly to ears of the listeners.

This inexhaustible pursuit has given birth to the I-05, Esoteric’s new integrated ampliﬁer.

Preceded by the I-03, in which the technologies and know-how were established

in a separate type ampliﬁer bear fruit, the I-05’s slim chassis contains the essence

of the I-03’s design topology which is rugged yet smooth.

With the I-05, your favorite recordings will sound enhanced – as if you are hearing

the perfect pure beauty of music you have never experienced before.