The Non-NFB Philosophy, Made Accessible

Founded by ex-Marantz engineer and director Norinaga Nakazawa, Soulnote designs "100% based on the actual sense of hearing" — and the Soulnote A-1 ver.2 brings that uncompromising philosophy to its most attainable integrated amplifier. Like its bigger siblings, the A-1 ver.2 is a completely non-NFB design: no global negative feedback loop of any kind, prioritising signal purity and transient life over tidy measurements. The result is the vivid, three-dimensional, alive-sounding presentation that has made Soulnote a cult name among the world's high-end listeners.

Perfectly Balanced, Discrete, No Feedback

The A-1 ver.2 delivers 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms (120 watts into 4 ohms) from perfectly balanced, discrete non-NFB circuits. Carefully paired output transistors with low Cob and high Ft characteristics keep the signal fast and clean, while volume is handled not by a conventional potentiometer but by a relay-switching balanced attenuator — preserving purity and channel balance at every listening level. It's an amplifier engineered, in true Soulnote fashion, to get out of the music's way.

Built Like the Reference Models

The ver.2 refinement carries Soulnote's obsessive mechanical engineering down to this price point: direct mechanical grounding via spikes, a symmetrical housing with resonance control, and metallic insulators fitted as standard. Everywhere you look, the goal is the same — drain away vibration and let the circuit sing. With a frequency response reaching from 3Hz to 300kHz and a 110dB signal-to-noise ratio, the A-1 ver.2 punches far above its compact 10kg frame.

Why You'll Love the A-1 ver.2

• Completely non-NFB, perfectly balanced discrete circuitry for vivid, lifelike sound
• 80W into 8Ω (120W into 4Ω) with real drive into demanding speakers
• Relay-switching balanced attenuator instead of a conventional volume pot
• Paired low-Cob, high-Ft output transistors for speed and clarity
• Reference-grade build: spiked mechanical grounding, resonance-controlled chassis, metallic insulators

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "non-NFB" mean and why does it matter?

NFB stands for negative feedback — a technique most amplifiers use to lower measured distortion. Soulnote deliberately omits it entirely, believing a global feedback loop robs music of its transient life and dimensionality. The A-1 ver.2 is a completely non-NFB design, tuned by ear for a vivid, three-dimensional sound.

Why a relay attenuator instead of a volume knob?

A relay-switching balanced attenuator uses precision resistors selected by relays rather than a continuous potentiometer, which preserves signal purity and keeps left/right channels perfectly matched at every volume — an approach usually reserved for far costlier amplifiers.

Will it drive my speakers?

In most cases, comfortably. It delivers 80W into 8 ohms and 120W into 4 ohms, with an output stage designed to supply the instantaneous current that real loudspeakers demand.

A-1 ver.2 Technical Specifications