Streamers — Axxess FORTÉ

This FORTÉ is the Forté 1, the first step of the Forté line from Axxess, which is the entry-level brand of Audio Group Denmark, the company that also owns Ansuz, Aavik and Børresen. Michael Børresen is credited with the design. Although filed here as a streamer, it combines a network streamer, a DAC, a stereo amplifier and a headphone output within a single chassis. The Forté 2 and Forté 3 share its chassis and connections and differ only in noise suppression parts. Prices were set at GBP 4,999, USD 5,500 or EUR 5,000 at launch in early 2025.

Key specs that matter

The amplifier delivers 2 x 100 W into 8 ohm. The in-house one-bit DAC accepts PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD256 and supports MQA. Digital inputs are Toslink optical, BNC S/PDIF and USB B, alongside one RCA line input, an RJ-45 network port and two USB A ports for storage drives of up to 2 TB. On the output side the rear panel carries single-wire loudspeaker posts and an RCA preamp output, while a 6.35 mm headphone jack is also provided. The case measures 370 x 420 x 110 mm and weighs 7.9 kg, the lightest of the three versions.

Engineering and use context

Power amplification uses two class D modules from Pascal under the UMAC name, and the supply is a resonant mode design derived from Aavik that raises the switching frequency and allows higher peak current. The streaming board is a dedicated audio module with high quality capacitors and no general-purpose microcomputer, which the maker uses to lower internal noise. In the Forté 1 noise suppression is handled by 36 active Tesla coils, 72 square Tesla coils and 3 dither circuits from Ansuz, without the zirconium coils fitted to the higher versions. The base and lid are a thick composite material chosen to damp mechanical hysteresis, forming a sandwich chassis, and the side panels are CNC-milled, powder-coated aluminium.

Pairing

Network playback runs through DLNA and UPnP, with Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect and Qobuz, and control comes from an Audio Group Denmark app based on mconnect. Wi-Fi is available only through an optional USB adapter, and the network port takes a wired LAN cable. The headphone amplifier is a non-switching class A circuit, which the maker specifies for high gain and linearity with low signal distortion. A remote control is supplied in the box together with the power cable.

Alternatives

Apart from the Forté 2 and Forté 3 versions, Axxess currently offers no other streaming model.