Aavik M-880 – Powerful Mono Blocks from Denmark

The high-end audio manufacturer Audio Group Denmark has unveiled the reference-class Aavik M-880 monophonic power amplifier, designed and hand-assembled in Denmark. The amplifier was created to meet the demands of modern loudspeaker systems and occupies the top position in Aavik’s current power amplification lineup. The premiere took place at Audio Group Denmark’s headquarters in Aalborg. The amplifier was demonstrated with the one-million-euro Børresen M8 Gold Signature loudspeakers, which we covered earlier.

Michael Børresen, co-founder and one of the key designers at Audio Group Denmark, noted: “The M-880 is the result of a pursuit of absolute performance without compromise, while breaking visual conventions in the recognizable style that only Flemming (Rasmussen) can create. For the M8 Gold Signature loudspeakers, anything less would have been insufficient – and I’m proud of what we achieved.”

According to Audio Group Denmark, the Aavik M-880 power amplifier was developed to satisfy the stringent amplification requirements set by the Børresen M8 Gold Signature loudspeakers. As loudspeaker systems have evolved in speed, resolution, and scale, the company states that traditional stereo amplifiers have ceased to be sufficient. Therefore, the Aavik M-880 is conceived as a “true” mono amplifier, where the priorities are complete channel independence, power/supply stability, and loudspeaker control as part of an overall system approach.

The Aavik M-880 mono block employs an upgraded amplification stage operating in pure Class A. Instead of a conventional Class A implementation, the output stage maintains a bias that remains constantly 0.63 V above the required current level. According to the designers’ intent, this approach ensures continuous Class A operation regardless of current load and signal conditions, while reducing operating temperatures compared with traditional Class A amplifiers, in order to improve long-term stability and reliability.

The Aavik M-880 power amplifier delivers up to 400 W into an 8-ohm nominal load, 800 W into 4 ohms, and approximately 1,300 W into 2 ohms. The output impedance is described as exceptionally low, providing a damping factor of more than 1,000 into 8 ohms. These parameters are intended to ensure a high level of control when driving complex (difficult) loudspeaker loads.

Instead of a traditional linear power supply, the Aavik M-880 uses four high-speed, low-noise switching power supplies, each rated at 500 W / 20 A. They are complemented by a local energy storage bank of 266 mF, with a stated energy capacity of up to 1,050 J and a peak discharge current of up to 130 A. Reduced heat dissipation allows the storage bank to be placed closer to the output stage, shortening current paths and, by design, reducing noise and improving efficiency.

Noise control is implemented via a combination of Aavik and Ansuz proprietary technologies, including Active Tesla Coils, Active Square Tesla Coils, third-generation Analogue Dither Technology, and Anti-Aerial Resonance Coils used in the internal wiring. The recommended retail price of the Aavik M-880 mono block in Europe is €100,000 per amplifier.