Предусилители — AVM OVATION SD 6.3 + 8.3

The Ovation SD 6.3 and SD 8.3 are twin streaming DAC preamplifiers in AVM's Ovation line, the German company's upper tier of separates. AVM describes them as Streaming DACs, a category that places an analogue preamplifier, a network streamer, a DSD-capable converter and a Class A headphone amplifier in the full-size cabinet of its modular PA 8.2 preamplifier. The two share their digital platform and differ in the line stage, which is fully transistor-based in the SD 6.3 and valve-based in the SD 8.3.

Key specs that matter

Input impedance is 20 kohm balanced and 10 kohm single-ended. Output impedance is 94 ohms balanced and 47 ohms single-ended. Rated response extends from DC to 70 kHz, signal-to-noise (unweighted) exceeds 98 dB, and THD+N is below 0.02%. There are two analogue line inputs, one XLR and one RCA, and six digital inputs. The chassis measures 430 x 122 x 350 mm and weighs 12 kg.

Engineering and use context

Conversion uses two ESS 9018 K2M Sabre32 DAC chips per channel, so the digital section runs in balanced mode before the analogue stage. The DACs have separate voltage regulators, and their supply is regulated twice, which isolates them from the rest of the digital circuitry, while high-precision clocks drive the conversion. The streaming engine supports AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, UPnP and web radio, is Roon Ready and can be updated, with Bluetooth 5.0 for mobile devices. The DAC section accepts PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD128. A multiroom and Party Sync mode links several AVM streaming units in a house. The headphone output has its own Class A amplifier. Operation runs via the RC X app, and an RC 9 remote with colour display is available as an option. In the SD 8.3, the Ovation valve line stage replaces the solid-state gain stage of the SD 6.3 without changing the digital section. Because both share the PA 8.2 cabinet, they line up visually with AVM's Ovation power amplifiers when stacked or placed side by side.

Pairing

The low output impedance lets either unit drive long balanced runs to monoblocks or the input of an active loudspeaker without level loss. AVM designed them to partner its SA 6.3 and SA 8.3 stereo amplifiers or the MA 6.3 and MA 8.3 monoblocks, but any power amplifier with a standard input of 10 kohm or more is a suitable load. A phono stage must be added externally.

Alternatives

AVM's Ovation PA 8.2 is the modular analogue preamplifier that shares this cabinet and can be configured with phono and DAC cards.