Flagship Genes, Entry Price: Soulnote A-0 ver.2

Don't let the modest 10 watts fool you. The Soulnote A-0 ver.2 takes the exact design philosophy of Soulnote's flagship A-3 — a completely non-NFB circuit that, in the company's own words, is "essentially a power amplifier equipped only with a selector and volume control" — and distils it into the most accessible integrated amplifier Soulnote makes. Founded by ex-Marantz engineer Norinaga Nakazawa and voiced "100% based on the actual sense of hearing," the A-0 ver.2 chases the same vivid, alive, three-dimensional sound as its far pricier siblings.

Purist Circuitry, Punchy Reality

A full discrete, non-NFB (no negative feedback) design uses a single push-pull output stage with TO-220 transistors in a four-stage Darlington configuration — delivering 10 watts per channel into 8 ohms with the immediacy Soulnote is famous for. Those watts go further than the number suggests: a frequency response reaching an astonishing 350 kHz and a 115 dB signal-to-noise ratio speak to how clean and fast this little amplifier really is. A non-fixed top cover and direct mechanical grounding through spike feet keep vibration away from the music.

More Than an Amplifier

The A-0 ver.2 also drives headphones properly (3.0 W × 2 into 32 ohms) and offers an enhanced pre-out with High/Low mode selection on both RCA and XLR — so it can grow into a preamp or a source feeder as your system evolves. One small box, a genuine taste of the Soulnote flagship experience.

Why You'll Love the Soulnote A-0 ver.2

• Flagship A-3 philosophy — the same completely non-NFB, purist circuit thinking
• 10 W of fast, clean power — frequency response to 350 kHz, 115 dB S/N
• Full discrete non-NFB design — single push-pull, four-stage Darlington
• Real headphone amp — 3.0 W × 2 into 32 ohms
• Flexible pre-out — High/Low mode on RCA and XLR
• Sound-first build — non-fixed top cover, spike-foot grounding, ~8 kg
• Hand-built in Japan — Premium Silver or Premium Black

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 watts enough power?

With efficient, easy-to-drive loudspeakers in small-to-medium rooms, yes — and the A-0 ver.2's clean, fast, non-NFB design makes those watts sound bigger than the number implies. For harder-to-drive speakers or larger rooms, step up to the A-1 ver.2 or A-2 ver.2.

Can it drive headphones?

Yes — it has a dedicated headphone output delivering 3.0 W × 2 into 32 ohms, enough for most demanding headphones.

How is it related to the flagship A-3?

It shares the A-3's core philosophy: an extremely simple, completely non-NFB signal path with just a selector and volume control ahead of the power amplifier, tuned entirely by ear.

Soulnote A-0 ver.2 Technical Specifications