AP20
£25,800
Elegance. Finesse. Resolution. Grace.
If ever Aristotle’s adage: “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” is applicable in audio, it applies to AP20. And, given the quality and quantity of parts in this equation, that’s saying a lot.
AP20 delivers unprecedented audio performance from an integrated amplifier. It includes the world’s best Class D amp modules in a dual-mono configuration, an analog R2R relay-based volume control and preamp section, Aurender’s best DAC, a master clock input, a headphone output, a suite of digital and analog inputs and outputs, and the most sophisticated linear power supply block Aurender has ever deployed.
The result? An audio component that paints every musical timbre with full-bodied realism. With a delicate touch that's backed up by enormous headroom for transients and dynamic swings, AP20 drives even the most demanding speaker loads and casts a soundstage that is both expansive and laser-focused.
All of this performance, with the heart of an Aurender.
Other integrated amplifier solutions on the market may offer support for app-controlled streaming, but in nearly every case, the user experience, library management, and software playback engine are an afterthought requiring third-party software and hardware to get the job done. In AP20’s case, more than 10 years of industry-leading experience has made Aurender the digital source component of choice in the world’s finest audio systems. Now, that same holistic digital playback engine and user experience is available from an integrated amplifier that completely removes the need for more components and cables.
Just add speakers, and enjoy a premium HiFi experience, without all the HiFi boxes.
Ultra High-Performance Class D Amplifiers
There's Class D, and then there's ridiculously good Class D. AP20 utilizes the finest amplifier modules available. Designed by renowned engineer Bruno Putzeys, the Purifi Eigentakt 1ET400A amplifier is free of digital harshness, edginess, and grain. Featuring impressive specifications that are reflected in its extraordinary audio performance, AP20's dual-mono amplifier section represents the state-of-the-art of Class D amp technology.
Aurender's Best DAC
Aurender designed the AP20 for those seeking the simplicity of an all-in-one unit without sacrificing a high level of resolution, transparency, and inner detail. Built around an integrated dual-mono AKM4497 DAC module, AP20's best-in-class DAC section delivers high-resolution PCM, DSD, and MQA full-decoding at the highest level.
OCXO Precision Clock
AP20's OCXO based precision clock generation system incorporates a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with sub 100fs jitter-reducing clock generator to precisely time digital audio data transmissions and minimize jitter to below negligible levels.
Digital Connectivity
With a variety of digital inputs including 1X RCA SPDIF, 1X BNC SPDIF, and 2X TOSLINK optical interfaces, AP20 is well-equipped to render external digital sources such as a CD transport, media player, or TV via its superior internal DAC.
Dead-Quiet Linear Power Supply
Most Class D amplifier implementations utilize switch mode power supplies because they are efficient, cool-running, and inexpensive. However, this can introduce noise and distortion to the signal path, resulting in an audio presentation that lacks a sense of natural analog grace. So, in typical Aurender fashion, AP20 uses SIX discrete toroidal transformers to power the CPU, left & right DAC boards, FPGA processor, and power output stages, respectively.
Analog Volume Control
In any system, the quality of the audio presentation is significantly impacted by the volume control mechanism of the preamplifier. Remarkably, AP20 employs an analog-domain volume control based on an R2Rstepped-attenuator system. Volume control of this quality is utterly uncommon in digitally-equipped integrated amps, and it is a major reasonwhy AP20 provides such a natural, open sound.
Analog Pass-Through Inputs
The AP20 provides a suite of analog inputs including 1X balanced XLR and 2Xsingle-ended RCA, offering an ideal solution for integrating external analog sources into your audio system. Vinyl enthusiasts can connect their phono stage to an available analog input and enjoy pure analog pass-through without any A/D conversion in the signal path.
Variable Output XLR Output
AP20's high-quality balanced XLR output allows the user to feed a second system such as a distributed whole-home audio installation, or subwoofer(s) with line-level input (XLR-to-RCA adapters may be required in some cases).
Tech spec
Power Supply
Full Linear, 2x 400VA Toroidy Transformers (L&R Power Amp), 2x 50W (L&R Audio Boards), 1x50W (CPU), 1x25W (FPGA)
CPU
Intel Low Power Quad Core
RAM
8GB
Library Storage Capacity
2X 2.5" Compartments (User-Installable Storage)
SSD for System & Cache
480GB NVME
Data USB Ports
2X USB 3.0 (Rear)
Software Suite
Aurender Conductor, A30 Manager
Ethernet Port
Double-Isolated Gigabit LAN
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Yes (Super Capacitors)
Power Consumption
Play (47W), Peak (80W), Standby (6W)
Volume Control
Relay-Based R2R Stereo Attenuator -64dB ~ 0dB., Velocity Sensitive Operation
Analog Outputs
XLR (Balanced)
DAC Chipset
AKM 4497 - Dual-Mono
Audio Word Clock
OCXO
Analog Outputs Supported Format
PCM: Up to 32-bit / 768 kHz; DSD: Up to DSD512
Digital Inputs
1X Coax RCA, 1X Coax BNC, 2X Optical/Toslink
Headphone Section
1 x 1/4" (6.5mm) Unbalanced
Master Clock Input
Coaxial BNC 75Ω - 10MHz
MQA Support
MQA Full-Decoder On Board
Compatible Formats
DSD (DSF, DFF), WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, M4A, APE and others
Amplifier Module
2x Purifi 1ET400A Class D Amplifier Module in Dual-Mono Configuration
Rated Power Output
200 W into 8 ohms / 350 W into 4 ohms
THD (20Hz-20kHz)
0.003 % (1W to 200 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms)
Damping Factor
800 (ref. 8Ω 20 Hz to 6.5 kHz)
Output Impedance
<65μΩ @ 1kHz
Power Configuration
Full linear & Dual-Mono - 2 x 400VA Audio grade Toroidy toroidal transformers
Power Supply Filter Capacitors
Total 80,000uF ( 40,000 uF / channel)
