Today's Fresh Catch: The SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier from Japan!

Today's Fresh Catch is the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier from Japan - it is a beauty!

I picked up the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier from FedEx on my way home from the laboratory last night, and was immediately impressed upon unpacking it.

For one thing, the packaging was absolutely superb, being nicely double boxed, with foam inserts that held it in place in a protective 'clam shell' arrangement, with the amplifier being wrapped in a thin foam sheet to protect it. The entire box was also wrapped in layer of protective bubble wrap, and it arrived here in the States after its long journey from Japan with nary a scuff.

I was also very impressed with the Operation Manual, which is the finest Operation Manual I have ever seen come with designer audio electronics. The obvious attention to detail in the packaging and the Operation Manual really impressed me.

First impressions matter, and the attention to detail in the shipping, packaging, and Operation Manual suggests an attitude of excellence that is first rate. I am impressed.

When I removed theSPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier I was also very impressed with the very high quality of the fit & finish and attention to detail - it is a beautiful amplifier!

The SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier is designed and manufactured by Mr. Sirokazu Yazaki, a professional audio designer whom I shall be telling you all about in due time.

Mr. Sirokazu Yazaki has a particular love for 300B vacuum tube amplifiers, and desired to design a higher powered solid-state amplifier (60 watts into 8 Ohms) that could offer the sound quality of a fine 300B amplifier for those music lovers who needed more power, and desired the low-maintenance and trouble-free operation of solid-state amplification.

Mr. Yoshi Hontani (who exports Leben and Acoustic Revive), a music lover of particularly refined tastes, has been telling me for quite some time how wonderful this amplifier is, so I am really pleased to have the opportunity to tell you about it.

Mr. Sirokazu Yazaki's RSA-M3 EX amplifier can be used either as an integrated amplifier or a power amplifier, and I'll be looking forward to trying it in both applications.

The RSA-M3 EX is a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) class-D amplifier that utilizes power MOS-FETs to achieve current switching in the power stage, and high-voltage gate driver ICs for excellent time-axis control.

The components utilized in the RSA-M3 EX are all first rate: custom paper-in-oil capacitors from Arizona Capacitor, Inc., R-core transformers, and newly developed silicon carbide Schottky diodes for rectification, for example. Everything about this amplifier exudes quality and attention to detail.

The internal structure of the RSA-M3 EX utilizes complete electromagnetic shielding for ultimate performance, with the transformer, power amplification circuit, and the low -pass filter all having dedicated shielding enclosures.

Mr. Sirokazu Yazaki utilizes tonewoods in the chassis and insulators to get the best sound & musicality. Solid laminated European spruce is used for the chassis to damp undesirable vibrations of the mainframe. The footers are maple from Hokkaido in Japan.

Mr. Sirokazu Yazaki has carefully voiced every aspect of the RSA-M3 EX's materials & circuitry to have "the sweet and rich tonal character ... of the best triode tube amplifiers".

I'll be working closely with Mr. Sirokazu Yazaki and Mr. Yoshi Hontani as I develop the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier feature article for Positive Feedback Online over the next month or so. I'll also be making blog posts here at Jeff's Place as I get it installed into various hi-fi settings, and I'll be updating you about its performance and the developing story as I go.

Thanks for stopping by!

Update

I just finished installing the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier into my Leben/Harbeth system in place of my beloved Leben CS-600 integrated amplifier, so I can get some run-in time on it.