TEAC – AX-505 Integrated Amplifier

Small Size, Tremendous Performance: TEAC AX-505 Integrated Amplifier Delivers Muscular Power From a Compact Chassis with Elegant Meters

The AX-505 is a stereo integrated amplifier that delivers 130W + 130W of output power but occupies just an A4-size footprint. In the power amplifier section, it incorporates a cool-running and energy-efficient option: a TEAC-tuned Ncore module by Hypex from Netherlands. Its clear sound with low distortion and high Signal-to-Noise ratio reproduces Hi-Res audio content with true dynamism and musical verve. In addition, the AX-505 provides high-quality headphone listening, via an integrated headphone amplifier, one that that supports ‘ground separate’ connection.

Admittedly more ‘eye-candy’ than a functional necessity, a pair of eye-catching level meters on the front panel track musical volume levels as they ebb and flow. The user experience is further enhanced by the presence of a well-damped volume control finished with a machined aluminum knob for precise volume adjustment. A Passive-cooling design, for completely silent operation, allows the listener to focus on their music without the distraction of irritating fan noise.

The AX-505 is based around a high-performance, energy-efficient Hypex Ncore power amplifier module that delivers 130W+ 130W of output power from a small unit. This isn’t a standard Ncore module: It has been carefully tuned by TEAC engineers to deliver maximum musical expression.

From MUSE op-amps in the analog section (which fundamentally determines the amplifier’s sound quality) to ladder-resistor type volume controls, TEAC has carefully selected key components from ‘made for hi-fi’ ranges, wherever possible.

The AX-505 is equipped with a pair of XLR balanced analog audio inputs, designed to help minimize external noise picked up as an analog audio signal travels down the interconnect cable.

The AX-505 is also equipped with a 4-pole headphone output jack that supports ‘ground-separate’ connection for excellent channel separation during headphone listening. The CCLC (Coupling Capacitor-less Circuit) headphone amplifier circuit design, meanwhile, eliminates coupling condensers in the circuit’s output stage. This reduces sonic coloration during processing, thus delivering a more authentic audio signal to your headphones.

In the power supply section, the AX-505 employs a high-capacity toroidal-core power transformer along with Schottky barrier diodes in the rectifying circuit. The advantage of Schottky barrier diodes over conventional types is that they supply cleaner and more stable current, reducing rectifier noise in every part of the amplifier’s circuitry.

It makes no sense for an amplifier to deliver excellent sound to loudspeakers while generating spurious operating noise from a cooling fan. That is why TEAC engineers paid special attention to the AX-505’s circuit and cabinet design, creating a layout that would allow for the natural removal of heat. The result is a brilliant, compact, and remarkably powerful amplifier that doesn’t require a cooling fan.

It’s not just the front panel that’s firmly attached to the robust steel inner chassis; the top and side panels are affixed to it, too. This high standard of construction significantly reduces mechanical vibration. A compact design with an A4-sized footprint, the AX-505 fits comfortably into even the smallest of modern spaces.

On the rear panel, connectors are located with a wide pitch between them, in order to allow the use of interconnects with bulky plugs. Three sets of RCA analog inputs offer you the potential of creating a full-scale hi-fi system, even if you start off using the AX-505 as part of a relatively minimalist desktop PC audio setup. The AX-505 is also equipped with a set of wide-pitch, diagonally offset (for easy wiring) screw-type speaker terminals, capable of accommodating high-quality AWG8 gauge cables and banana plugs.

In order to provide a more tactile response, the AX-505 employs a volume control with a machined aluminum knob for precise volume control, while a classic toggle is used to switch the amplifier on and off. The remote control, topped with a luxurious aluminum cover, allows you to adjust volume in 0.5dB steps at moderate volumes.

A pair of level meters that dance in time as volume levels change help add a visual dimension to your music while enhancing the amplifier’s considerable aesthetic appeal. A 4-step dimmer, which can disable the meters or further emphasize movement (by increasing sensitivity by +20dB), can be chosen according to preference. Even if the level meters are disabled and the backlight is switched off, you can still easily tell if the unit is turned on or off from distance, simply by noting the position of the toggle-type power switch.

And, like all Music Direct products, the TEAC AX-505 Integrated Amplifier comes with the 100% Music Direct Satisfaction Guarantee.

“The first thing I noticed about the TEAC AX-505’s sound was the total lack of any coloration. The transparency was stunning. The amp adds nothing and takes away nothing from the source. It does its job of amplifying the source and delivering the signal to the speakers almost as if it wasn’t there…. For those of us who simply want superb sound in a small form factor—without the eye-watering electricity bills—the TEAC AX-505 is a superb piece of kit and has to be one of the best Class D amplifiers I’ve ever clapped ears on.”
—Mark Sparrow, Consumer Tech, Forbes