INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER

● AAVA volume control ● Power amplification stage with bipolar transistors

in double parallel push-pull configuration ● Rated for 120 watts into 4 ohms
and 90 watts into 8 ohms ● High damping factor of 500 ● Power amplifica-
tion stage configured as instrumentation amplifier ● Current feedback
amplification topology in power amplification stage ● Logic-control relays for
shortest signal paths ● Strong power supply with massive high-efficiency
transformer and large f iltering capacitors ● Protection circuitr y using
MOS-FET switches ● Two rear panel expansion slots allow use of option boards
 Integrated Amplifier with Scalability that Exceeds the Imagination
The AAVA volume control builds upon the knowledge of high-end equipment to control volume
without loss of information. The power amplification section utilizes the instrumentation
amplifier principle to create an ideal speaker driver. The low impedance design of the output
circuitry brings out the full potential of every speaker. Two option boards can be added for
improved expandability. The E-280 sound performance will defy the imagination.

Innovation – At the leading edge of technology

■ AAVA volume control
AAVA is a revolutionary type of volume control that completely does
away with any variable resistors in the signal path, instead using a 16 types (1/2 - 1/216) of 16 current switches Diagram of
weighted current
combination of 16 V-I converter circuits with different gain. Unlike 216 = 65,536 paths total the AAVA Principle
conventional volume controls, the music signal is not attenuated by V- I Converter
a rotary resistor, so that low distortion and an optimum S/N ratio can be 4 rows
maintained over the entire volume range. The E-280 utilizes maximum 1
gain in 4 parallel rows and secondary V-I converter circuits arranged 2
in 2 parallel rows, which doubles the total output current capability
2 rows
and halves the circuit impedance to further reduce noise.
1
4
High Voltage
Current Feedback
Amplifier
I-V Converter
1 Current re-converted to voltage
8
I-V
INPUT OUTPUT
Adds current

5-MCS

1 LEVEL DISPLAY
■ The noise-minimizing AAVA volume control assembly 32768

【AAVA features】 1
65536
● Purely analog principle avoids the inherent noise of digital circuitry
● Excellent S/N ratio at any volume level position
● No change in sound quality over the entire range Turn the volume control and
the sound level position is detected
● Finely graded volume adjustment steps CPU turns current
switches ON or OFF ・Volume
● No volume difference between left and right channels to correspond with CPU ・Balance
the position of the
volume control
・Attenuator
● High channel separation
● Left/right balance adjustment and attenuation also realized with AAVA

Sound quality – Simply aiming for the best

■ Reinforced power amplification stage
A power amplification stage with two bipolar transistors in a double
parallel pull-push configuration for the left and right channels mounted
directly to large heat sinks. Rated output of 90 W into 8 ohms or 120 W
into 4 ohms of high power.

■ 25% improved damping factor

Balanced Remote Sensing and MOS-FET switches result in a damping
factor of 500, representing a 25% improvement over the predecessor model.

■ Power supply circuitry designed for optimum stability

The large transformer and massive 30,000 μF filtering capacitors provide
rock-stable high-quality power.

Massive transformer Large filtering capacitors

Bipolar power Power amplifier assembly

transistors
Advanced Functions

❶ ❺ ❻ ❼ ❽
❷ ❸ ❹ ❾

❶ Preamplifier / power amplifier ❸ Recorder selector ❻ MC / MM selector button ❾ Bass control Mono / stereo selector button
separator switch ❹ DAC input selector ❼ Phase selector button Treble control Loudness compensator on / off button
❷ Speaker output selector ❺ Display mode selector button ❽ Tone control on / off button Balance control Attenuator on / off button

Advanced features
■ Logic-control signal switching relays for shortest signal paths
■ Five line level inputs and one balanced input
■ Line input and output connectors for a recorder
■ Individual phase setting for each input
■ Stereo signal can be switched to monophonic operation
■ Left/right balance control also realized with AAVA
■ –20 dB attenuator
■ Loudness compensator enhances low end presence
■ Tone controls using summing active filters
■ Power amplification stage configured as
an instrumentation amplifier Line input and output connectors
■ Current feedback amplification circuit topology assures
excellent phase characteristics in high range
■ Speaker output protection circuit guards against
short-circuiting
■ Protection circuitry using MOS-FET switches
■ Two sets of large speaker terminals
■ Preamplifier and power amplifier sections can be
used separately
■ Preamplifier outputs also support bi-amping connection
■ Power amplifier inputs allow use of that section only Balanced input connectors Protection circuitry assembly
■ Dedicated headphone amplifier designed for optimum
sound quality
■ Two rear panel expansion slots allow use of option boards
■ DAC input selector button for use when digital input board
(DAC-50 or DAC-40) is installed
■ Numeric indication of digital signal sampling frequency
(when DAC-50 or DAC-40 is installed)
■ High-sensitivity analog peak power meters

Two rear panel expansion slots allow use of option boards Speaker terminals with thick, short connecting shafts

■ Supplied Remote
Commander RC-250
Allows volume
adjustment, input
source switching,
etc.
 Bi-amping for further enhanced sound Option Boards
In a bi-amped setup, the speaker units for the LOW frequency Rear panel expansion slots allow use of Analog Disc Input Board AD-50
range and the HIGH frequency range are driven by separate three types of option boards (DAC-50,
AD-50, LINE-10). Up to two boards can be Features a high-performance phono
amplifiers with equal gain, which enables playback with even
installed, according to the requirements. equalizer for playback of analog records.
higher sound quality. Left speaker Right speaker
● Supports MC and MM cartridges
■ The following option
＊The speakers must have ● Load impedance selector button (MC only)
boards can also be used:
a built-in crossover network ● Subsonic filter

and separate inputs for the Digital Input DAC-40/DAC-30/ Cartridge MC MM

LOW and HIGH range. Board DAC-20/DAC-10 Gain 66 dB 40 dB
＊The example shows a ○
− ○
＋ ○
− ○
＋ ○
− ○
＋ ○
− ○
＋ Analog Disc AD-30/AD-20/ 30 ohms
Input
setup with an additional Input Board AD-10/AD-9 100 ohms 47 kilohms
HIGH LOW HIGH LOW DAC-50 Impedance
AD-50 300 ohms
power amplifier for the Line Input LINE-9
LOW frequency range. Photo shows an option board installation example. Board AD-50

RIGHT LEFT
− ＋ − ＋
Digital Input Board DAC-50 Line Input Board LINE-10
E-280
High-performance DAC with two
Connection example
AK4490EQ chips from Asahi Kasei
Microdevices driven in parallel.
Digital component
Input Signal Sampling frequencies Number of bits Provides an
2.8 MHz additional
Coaxial digital cable 5.6 MHz set of unbal-
From PRE OUT DSD 11.2 MHz 1-bit anced line
USB
LEFT RIGHT Optical fiber cable 11.2 MHz:
level inputs.
− ＋ − ＋ ASIO only
Analog
outputs PCM 32 to 384 kHz 32-bit
USB cable
To INPUT OPTICAL PCM 32 to 96 kHz 24-bit
PC COAXIAL PCM 32 to 192 kHz 24-bit
DAC-50 LINE-10
CD player Power amplifier

Front Panel Rear Panel

Option board Recorder input / output Power amplifier input
Input Power Remote Level / frequency installation slots connectors REC / PLAY connectors MAIN IN
selector meters sensor display Volume control Line input connectors Preamplifier output
TUNER / CD / LINE 1, 2, 3 connectors PRE OUT

Power switch * Please see the previous page Headphone AC power Speaker terminals A / B (2 sets)
Balanced input connectors
for details on these functions. jack BAL CD Pin ② (‒), Pin ③ (+) supply connector Max.
Supported 16 mm
* Can be changed with the phase spade lug (0.63” )
selector button on the front panel dimensions Min. 7 mm (0.28” )

Guaranteed Specifications [Guaranteed specifications are measured according to EIA standard RS-490]

Continuous Average Output 4-ohm load 120 W Turnover frequency and Bass: 300 Hz ±10 dB
(both channels driven) Tone Controls
Power (20 – 20,000 Hz) 8-ohm load 90 W adjustment range Treble: 3 kHz ±10 dB
THD Loudness
(both channels driven) 4 to 16 ohm load 0.05% +6 dB (100 Hz)
௅+] Compensator
Intermodulation Distortion 0.01% Attenuator -20 dB
At rated continuous Input shorted (A weighting)
BALANCED INPUT 20 – 20,000 Hz (+0, -0.5 dB) S/N ratio
average output Input
S/N ratio at rated output (EIA)
At rated continuous
Frequency LINE INPUT 20 – 20,000 Hz (+0, -0.5 dB) S/N Ratio
average output BALANCED INPUT 96 dB 97 dB
Response
At rated continuous LINE INPUT 107 dB 98 dB
௅+] G%
MAIN IN average output MAIN IN 122 dB 102 dB
At 1 watt output: 3 – 150,000 Hz (+0, -3.0 dB) Power meters Logarithmic type peak level display of output in dB or percent
Damping Factor 500 (with 8-ohm load, 50 Hz) Output Load 1 set of speakers 4 to 16 ohms
Input sensitivity Input Impedance 2 sets of speakers 8 to 16 ohms
Input
For rated output For 1 W output (EIA) Impedance Stereo Headphones Suitable impedance 8 ohms or higher
Input Sensitivity,
BALANCED INPUT 134 mV 14.2 mV 40 kilohms Power
Input Impedance 120 V, 220 V, 230 V AC (voltage as indicated on rear panel), 50/60 Hz
LINE INPUT 134 mV 14.2 mV 20 kilohms Requirements
MAIN IN 1.07 V 113 mV 20 kilohms Power Idle 52 W
Max. BALANCED INPUT 5.0 V Consumption In accordance with IEC 60065 249 W
input voltage LINE INPUT 5.0 V Maximum
Width 465 mm (18.31”) × Height 151 mm (5.94”) × Depth 420 mm (16.54”)
At rated continuous Dimensions
Output Voltage PRE OUTPUT 1.07 V
average output Net 20.4 kg (45.0 lbs)
Mass
Output Impedance PRE OUTPUT 50 ohms In shipping carton 26 kg (57 lbs)
BALANCED INPUT ĺPRE OUTPUT 18 dB
Gain LINE INPUT ĺPRE OUTPUT 18 dB
MAIN IN ĺOUTPUT 28 dB

Remarks
★ This product is available in versions for 120/220/230 V AC. Make sure that the voltage shown on the rear panel matches the AC line voltage in your area.
★ The 230 V version has an Eco Mode that switches power off after 120 minutes of inactivity.
★ The shape of the plug of the supplied AC power cord depends on the voltage rating and destination country.
Supplied accessories
● AC power cord
● Remote Commander RC-250

● The specifications and appearance of this product are subject to change without notice.
B2100Y PRINTED IN JAPAN 850-2221-00（B1）