The Flagship's Beating Heart: Soulnote A-3 Core

The Soulnote A-3 Core distils the power section of Soulnote's flagship thinking into a pure stereo power amplifier — 120 watts per channel of completely non-NFB, GND-separated muscle, built by ex-Marantz engineer Norinaga Nakazawa's team and voiced "100% based on the actual sense of hearing." It is engineering as obsession: every choice, from grounding to heatsink to suspension, made in the service of blur-free, three-dimensional sound.

GND Separation and a Copper Backbone

Its headline technology is complete separation of the left and right channel grounds — achieved through non-NFB circuits and meticulous layout — which unlocks a startlingly wide, stable soundstage. A single push-pull SEPP output stage using TO3 bipolar transistors keeps the signal path short and honest, while a newly developed Type-R circuit uses ultra-high-quality naked foil resistors for high, clean single-stage gain. A massive copper bus-bar heatsink does triple duty as heat sink, power distribution and structural spine.

Two Transformers, No Compromise

Dual 700 VA unimpregnated toroidal transformers with fast SiC rectifier diodes feed a high-speed non-NFB power supply, and the entire amplifier block floats on a three-point titanium slider suspension to keep vibration out of the music. At 29 kg, the A-3 Core is a serious amplifier for anyone building around a top-tier preamp or DAC-preamp.

Why You'll Love the Soulnote A-3 Core

• 120 W + 120 W (4 ohms) — completely non-NFB stereo power
• Full L/R GND separation — a wide, rock-stable soundstage
• Single push-pull SEPP, TO3 bipolar — short signal path, blur-free delivery
• Dual 700 VA toroidals + SiC diodes — high-speed, high-current supply
• Copper bus-bar heatsink — heat, power and structure in one
• Titanium slider suspension — vibration kept away from the music
• Hand-built in Japan — Premium Silver or Premium Black, 29 kg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the A-3 Core an integrated amplifier?

No — it's a dedicated stereo power amplifier. It takes line-level input from a preamplifier or a DAC/streamer with volume control (such as the Soulnote D-3) and drives your loudspeakers directly.

What is GND separation and why does it matter?

By keeping the left and right channels' grounds completely separate, the A-3 Core prevents cross-channel interference, which sharpens imaging and widens the soundstage — a core part of the Soulnote sound.

What preamplifier or source pairs with it?

Any high-quality preamplifier, or a DAC-preamp like the Soulnote D-3 that can output a controlled line-level signal.

Soulnote A-3 Core Technical Specifications