EPISODE · Jul 18, 2025 · 15 MIN
Best Integrated Amps Series: Esoteric F-01 Class A Amplifier
from The Absolute Sound Podcast · host Nextscreen, LLC
Some products that we review do special things that are almost immediately obvious in a controlled environment like we use for testing. Some products also present a challenge to our preconceived notions of what works in audio. The Esoteric F-01 integrated amp does both. Let’s take a look. This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/ 6 Major Problems of Believability: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-six-major-problems-of-audio-believability/ 00:00 Esoteric F-01 00:51 Overview 04:13 Sound Quality 07:55 Voicing 10:43 External Power Supply 12:16 Features 14:07 Summary Tom's reference system: Aurender N20 Streamer/Server Roon Nucleus server Mac Mini (M2) server Wiim Pro server/DAC Bluesound Node server/DAC Topping D70 Pro DAC dCS Lina DAC/Master clock Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input module MSB Premier DAC J Sikora Initial Max turntable Technics SL-1210G turntable Kuzma 4Point 9” arm J Sikora KV12 tone arm DS Audio 003 cartridge Benz Gullwing SLR cartridge Hana Umami Blue cartridge Hegel V10 phono preamp Musical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preamp DS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizer PS Audio BHK 600 mono power amps MBL N51 integrated amp Audio Research 160S power amp Magico A5 speakers Perlisten S7t speakers Wireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cables Shunyata Omega digital cables Shunyata Venom power cables and director Audioquest Niagara 3000 power conditioner (for analog) Audioquest Niagra 7000 power conditioning Rediacoustic diffusers and absorbers Rediacoustic bass traps PSI Audio AVAA active traps Salamander racks Solidsteel Turntable rack Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2025, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
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Some products that we review do special things that are almost immediately obvious in a controlled environment like we use for testing. Some products also present a challenge to our preconceived notions of what works in audio. The Esoteric F-01 integrated amp does both. Let’s take a look. This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/6 Major Problems of Believability: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-six-major-problems-of-audio-believability/00:00 Esoteric F-0100:51 Overview04:13 Sound Quality07:55 Voicing10:43 External Power Supply12:16 Features14:07 SummaryTom's reference system:Aurender N20 Streamer/ServerRoon Nucleus serverMac Mini (M2) serverWiim Pro server/DACBluesound Node server/DACTopping D70 Pro DACdCS Lina DAC/Master clockBerkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input moduleMSB Premier DACJ Sikora Initial Max turntableTechnics SL-1210G turntableKuzma 4Point 9” armJ Sikora KV12 tone armDS Audio 003 cartridgeBenz Gullwing SLR cartridgeHana Umami Blue cartridgeHegel V10 phono preampMusical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preampDS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizerPS Audio BHK 600 mono power ampsMBL N51 integrated ampAudio Research 160S power ampMagico A5 speakersPerlisten S7t speakersWireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cablesShunyata Omega digital cablesShunyata Venom power cables and directorAudioquest Niagara 3000 power conditioner (for analog)Audioquest Niagra 7000 power conditioningRediacoustic diffusers and absorbersRediacoustic bass trapsPSI Audio AVAA active trapsSalamander racksSolidsteel Turntable rackNewsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesoundSubstack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.comWhat Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2025, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
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Best Integrated Amps Series: Esoteric F-01 Class A Amplifier
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