SA40 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER FROM IOTAVX 

Combining a retro feel with the latest in technologies, Paul Rigby checks out the SA40 integrated amplifier

The SA40 feels like an older, traditional amplifier when you remove it from the box. Full width and full height at 435 x 113 x 315 mm bulky and relatively heavy at 9.7kg. It feels solid.

This is a Class AB amplifier with big bulky toroidal transformers sitting within and it pushes out 150W into 8 Ohms. You can also buy the new PA40 power amplifier to increase the power to a bridged figure of 300W. 

The front of the box features a rotary volume knob on the far right, just above the 6.35mm socket for the built-in headphone amplifier. On the far left is a large, square power push button and a large screen showing with a simple text readout. This screen can be progressively dimmed over several steps, if you wish. 

ON THE REAR

On the rear is a host of inputs and outputs and I’ll let you scan the image here to drink them all in. As you can see, there’s plenty of choice with 5 pairs of single-ended RCAs, a built-in phono amplifier, Bluetooth, a digital section, HDMI ARC and two sets of speakers sockets which you don’t often see nowadays. The unit is switched on, just above its IEC socket, via a rocker switch. 

Even though you can’t see them, there are tone controls but they are selectable in software and adjusted via the screen output. Other features include a 30 minute, auto power off which can be disabled.

So how does this big box sound?

SOUND QUALITY

I brought in my Audiolab 6000A amplifier as a reference for the review. Mainly because the 6000A is a good balanced design, running through music in an even-handed manner so any slight deviation from the centre from the SA40 will be picked up quickly. 

I chose Neil Young’s slow rocker, Stupid Girl, featuring lead and backing vocals, percussion, electric guitar that lives mostly in the upper registers plus bass and cymbal work.

And well, I don’t really know what I expected to hear when running this amplifier but I didn’t believe it would sound quite as good as this. Running through the highlights? This is quite a bass-confidant amplifier. Not overly so, it’s not a bass monster and bass never dominates but bass is prominent in the mix. It’s also focused and precise. It resembles the Advance Paris i-X75 but the SA40 does add extra refined mids. In fact, the tonal balance from the SA40 is impressive indeed. 

And what about the midrange? The low noise performance from the upper frequencies provided a real clarity that allowed subtle noises to easily be heard. A bit like the Fell Amp although the SA40 went further. Reverb tails on those cymbals were more obvious now. The precision from the SA40 as a whole meant that minor details were easily heard because there was always space for them to exist within. Sometimes, midrange blurring can mask information so you never really hear it properly. Not here, the SA40 was in complete control. 

PHONO AMPLIFIER TEST

I then drafted in an Audio-Technica LP5x and played Mighty Baby’s self-titled proto-prog/blues rock album from 1969 and hooked that to the SA40’s internal phono amplifier.

Output was decent without being amazing. A little thin in the mids perhaps while bass was reasonable, maintaining its structure and precision. The internal unit was fine if you only use vinyl occasionally or while you’re saving up for an external unit but look towards an upgrade when funds allow in vinyl is important to you. 

HEAD AMP TEST

I then plugged in my Sennheiser HD620 S headphones into the internal headphone amplifier via the front-mounted socket. The mids and treble were pretty well balanced here, if again slightly thin but the tonal balance was better, when compared to the internal phono amplifier, offering an improved bass response. Again, an external headphone amplifier would be a good upgrade although the internal unit is fine while you save or you only use headphones occasionally. 

ONTO BLUETOOTH

I then hooked my Astell&Kern Kann Alpha to the Bluetooth unit in the SA40 and played Carousels and I Will Not Hide via The Doves via aptX HD. Despite the codec, which I consider fine without being spectacular, Bluetooth via the SA40 was clean, trim and tidy in the mids with impactful bass.

The soundstage was broad while the overall presentation was crisp and sprightly. I must say I was happy to see a full readout of all of this on the SA40’s screen. It displayed the track and group but also the current resolution, current codec and the connected device by name which was a pleasant surprise and very welcome.

CONCLUSION

In use, the IOTAVX SA40 seems to have everything in hand. There’s a feeling that there’s no need to be concerned. Everything is going to be ok. 

This sense of control allows you to relax and enjoy instead of bracing yourself for wayward frequencies or bass boom or midrange slurring. There’s none of that with the SA40.  

There’s a good selection of features from the amplifier, it’s easy to use, I like the feedback from the simple, yet large, output window, the included remote is fully featured yet not too bulky while the amplifier itself feels satisfyingly solid and dependable.

There is a quiet confidence about the SA40 integrated amplifier which is why I am quietly confident in recommending it to you.

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IOTAVX SA40 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

Price: €999

Website: iotavx.com

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GOOD: tonal balance, midrange focus, bass weight, treble clarity

BAD: nothing

RATING: 8

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