Aavik SD-880 Streaming DAC

Powerful with a maximum of musicality

What makes the Aavik SD-880 so exceptional is the revolutionary in-house developed and manufactured Non-switching Continuum Processing DAC, in combination with Aavik’s most advanced streamer technology, noise reduction technologies, and a pioneering enclosure design.

The Aavik SD-880 creates unprecedented authentic and lifelike music experiences. Rooted in Aavik’s persistently strive for the ultimate in authentic musical reproduction and the commitment to perfection.

Technologies and Components

Aavik managed to unlock the positive acoustic synergies between the innovative Non-switching Continuum Processing DAC and the Aavik Streamer. Equipped with all the premium material and electronic components that distinguish the 880 flagship series, the Aavik SD-880 is packed with exceptional sound properties. The result is nothing less than a revelation of digital audio excellence.
With its unmatched and authentic musical performance, the Aavik SD-880 is not only a symbol of the zenith of hi-fi ingenuity, but also an aesthetic masterpiece that visually enhances any hi-fi system with its aesthetic and elegant design.

Resonant mode power supply

Quiet but extremely powerful.
This Aavik series is designed to ensure massive power resources with ultra-low noise. Unlike the square waves used by conventional switch mode power supplies, this Aavik series boast a resonant mode design which is principally driven by sine waves.

When more power is needed, the operating frequency increases, which, in turn, has the advantage that the power density also increases, thus allowing higher peak power when required by the music.

The noise floor in the raw power supply is extremely low but could be even further lowered by the ultra-low noise regulators supplying the different parts of the circuit. The noise of these regulators is measured in a few microvolts respectively nanovolts, which is significantly lower than the noise level of conventional regulators.

The 880 cabinet design

A study of materials and shapes

The exterior design of the Aavik 880 amplifier is the result of Flemming Erik Rasmussen’s artistic and aesthetic work. However, his design philosophy is and always has been that design must serve purpose. The cabinet of the Aavik 880 amplifier was designed primarily with the goal of maintaining the best audio characteristics of the electrical design, i.e. the lowest inductance, reducing hysteresis to an absolute minimum, and ensuring excellent resonance control. In addition, since this was a Class A amplifier that was to be developed, there were some predefined premises for the design. With these goals in mind, the design process became a study of shapes and materials that opened up a unique and constructive synergy between Flemming Erik Rasmussen and Michael Børresen.

In addition, the amplifier features cooling elements on the sides and top that clearly bear Flemming’s design signature. The outer part of the volume button is covered with titanium, and the control panel is designed as a large LCD touchscreen display.

The choice of materials, as well as the interior and exterior design, are the result of Fleming and Michael’s collaboration and are characterized by functionality, but also by a very aesthetic and elegant design.

Bottom plate sandwich construction

The bottom plate is designed as a sandwich construction with a copper plate, a heavy compact laminate plate, and a titanium layer on the bottom. This unique sandwich construction ensures minimum resonance and supports a natural and organic sound.

The solid copper enclosure

Based on Flemming Erik Rasmussen’s fascination with copper for its visual appearance and feel, and Michael Børresen’s insight into the sonic properties of copper, this material was chosen as a fundamental component of the design. As a result, the Aavik 880 amplifiers feature a solid copper enclosure. This results in a further reduction in hysteresis, lower output impedance, lower inductance, a positive effect on the damping factor, and cooler operation of the amplifier. All these components ensure that the music is reproduced with more energy and power.

The Aavik streaming app

Control the music from your iPad.
Enjoy the thrill of being the master of the endless music streaming universe. Choose your favorite music with the Aavik streamer and indulge yourself in the delight of an outstanding streaming-based audio performance. The Aavik app is easy to navigate and allows you to tap into your playlists and various streaming services such as Tidal, MQA, vTuner and Qobuz.

The Tesla coil principle

The principle is to have two coils that are wounded in each direction / a coil and a counter coil. In Ansuz words: “a double inverted coil” – the two coils are both carrying voltage – and when the Tesla coil encounters a voltage spike a counter spike is activated in order to eliminate the noise. As Noise spikes are pure voltage and carries virtually no charge, the cancelation is quite good, but not 100%. By adding more P-TC coils in parallel the performance increases. By implementing this the perceived blackness in the music improves significantly.

Ansuz Tesla coils are available in various types as they complement each other in terms of strengths /weaknesses.

Active Tesla coil

Effective noise killer.
The active Tesla coils are power supplied which secures a remarkable lower impedance and thus a better ability to eliminate noise. The active version is about three to four times more efficient than passive Tesla coils.

Active square Tesla coils

Impressive noise reduction.
The active square Tesla coils are embedded in our circuitry boards – one coil on the top and the counter coil on the rear side. The principle is exactly the same as the active Tesla coil and thus a great ability to eliminate noise than the passive Tesla coil.

Analog dither technology 3rd generation

A 3rd generation of the Ansuz analog dither technology has been developed. Analog dither technology originated in radar, where it ensured a stronger signal and thus greater range. The active Tesla coils send pulsating signals at precisely defined frequencies. These signals are sent in anti-phase. This significantly amplifies the musical signal and eliminates the background noise floor.

Analysis and studies have led to new options – and a lot of listening has resulted in this 3rd generation design which is a further optimization of the most effective frequencies which opens the soundscape even more and with the tiniest details when it comes to reproduction of the recordings.

Active zirconium anti aerial resonance Tesla coil

Based on Ansuz general curiosity on the properties of different materials, Ansuz has implemented a zirconium bar in their anti aerial resonance coil design. This is another impressive upgrade to the Ansuz anti aerial resonance coil technology.

The properties of this zirconium bar allow for unprecedented resonance control resulting in outstanding musical refinement that creates a natural soundstage, unrivalled in its purity, precision and attention to musical detail.

Ansuz Darkz Z2 Signature included

Each of the Aavik 880’s four feet is designed to accommodate an Ansuz Darkz resonance control device. Four Ansuz Darkz Z2s are therefore always included in the Aavik 880 model.

Ansuz Darkz resonance control devices absorb vibrations that are not directly related to the signal path. The absorption results in an audible vibration feedback, which affects the sound quality. Ansuz Darkz consist of 3 discs separated by 3 titanium ball bearings. The Ansuz Darkz Z2S is unique due to the zirconium which is used in it. The resonance control from using zirconium results in an outstanding musical refinement. The Darkz Z2 Signature is further acoustically optimized with the exclusive Ansuz Signature coating on each disc. Finally, the interalyer balls are in Tungsten, which is a premium material in terms of stability and resonance control. The result is an amazing natural soundstage, unrivalled in its purity, precision, and attention to musical details.