Tone Publications

Issue 117, May 2023

Jeff Dorgay from Tone Publications reviews the JAVA HI-FI Single Shot Integrated Amplifier.

JAVA Single Shot Integrated Class-D perfected. $8,995 -$9,495 (finish dependent) Javahifi.com Spoiler alert. The Java Integrated is a Class D amplifier. Just in case you're predisposed to a certain idea of how Class D is supposed to sound, you need to abandon it, or stop reading. To be fair to Java's Martin Bell, I've always been Class-D adverse, but I keep investigating. I didn't like coffee until I was 50, and then one day it all clicked. Ironically, this amplifier is called JAVA. Weird.

Taking advantage of the latest GaN-FET power amplifier module technology, the JAVA amplifier rewrites the book on whatever degree of harshness you've associated with Class-D designs. Remember how awful digital audio used to sound? 20 years' worth of development and it sounded pretty darn good. If you can think of this in the same vein, it makes sense.

Cursory break in with a pair of vintage E SS AMT-1 b speakers immediately feels different in an ear perking way. The vintage AMTs are merciless with amplification that is even the slightest bit harsh, so this is a great torture test. Passing this test with ease, moving on to the main system with the new YG Acoustics Cairn speakers in for review is equally interesting- the Cairns are not overly bright in delivery, but highly resolving. Again, any frequency response or tonal anomalies will be instantly revealed. This is a fantastic combination.

Click here to download issue 117 and read the full Java review starting on page 46