INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER

● AAVA volume control ● Power amplification stage with bipolar transistors in

double parallel push-pull configuration ● Rated for 180 watts into 4 ohms and
120 watts into 8 ohms ● High damping factor of 500 ● Power amplification
stage configured as instrumentation amplifier ● Current feedback amplification
topology in power amplification stage ● Logic-control relays for shortest
signal paths ● Strong power supply with massive high-efficiency transformer
and large filtering capacitors ● Protection circuitry using MOS-FET switches
 Integrated Amplifier With More Output Power and Further Evolved Performance
The E-380 realizes a 20% increase in rated output power thanks to a reinforced power
amplification stage and power supply. The further evolved AAVA volume control system
allows music enjoyment at any level without even the slightest degradation of signal quality.
The power amplifier section utilizes the instrumentation amplifier principle to achieve
outstanding S/N ratio. Low impedance design of the output circuitry results in a damping
factor of 500, ensuring that the potential of every speaker can be brought out to the fullest.
Enjoy a musical performance of amazing transparency and dynamism.
Innovation ‒ At the leading edge of technology
■ AAVA volume control
AAVA is a revolutionary type of volume control that completely does
■ How AAVA works
away with any variable resistors in the signal path, using instead a Output
combination of 16 V-I converter amplifiers with different gain. Unlike
Output of 16 V-I
in conventional volume controls, the music signal is not being converter amplifiers is
attenuated by a rotary resistor, so that optimum S/N ratio and low combined for volume
distortion can be maintained over the entire volume range. The 0.5 control action
signal degradation and impedance changes of older designs are now
a thing of the past. The E-380 uses four maximum-gain V-I converter
amplifiers, followed by two amplifier circuits in parallel configuration, 0.4
which doubles the total output current capability and halves the
circuit impedance to further reduce noise.
0.3

Current ratio
0.2

0.1
■ AAVA volume control assembly that minimizes noise

V-I converter amplifiers

0 enable finely graded
【AAVA features】 control
● Purely analog principle avoids the inherent noise of digital circuitry 16 types of
1−
1−
V-I converter amplifiers 2 1−
● Excellent S/N ratio at any volume level position 1−
22
1−
1 23
1−
2 24

1−
No change in sound quality over the entire range
3 25 Minimum value for

1−
● Music signal is 4 26

1−
5 27 control current is

1−
converted into 16 types 6 28

1−
7 2 9
1/65,536

1−
● Finely graded volume adjustment steps of weighted currents 8 210

1−
9 211

1−
10 212

1−
11 213
Input

1−
● No volume differences between left and right channel 12
13
214
215
14 216
15
● High channel separation 16

● Left/right balance adjustment and attenuation also realized with AAVA

Sound quality ‒ Simply aiming for the best

■ Power amplification stage with bipolar transistors
The power amplification stage features bipolar transistors in a
double parallel push-pull configuration.
■ 25% improved damping factor
Balanced Remote Sensing and MOS-FET switches result in a Bipolar power
damping factor of 500, representing a 25% improvement over the transistors
predecessor model.
■ Power supply circuitry designed for optimum stability
The large transformer and massive 33,000 μF filtering capacitors
with 10% more capacitance provide rock-stable high-quality power.
■ 20% more rated output power
Two power amplifier units for left and right mounted directly to large heat sinks
deliver ample power, rated for 120 watts into 8 ohms or 180 watts into 4 ohms.

200
200
290

180
150
130
Output power (W)

Massive transformer 100 120

50

Max. output power

Rated output power
8 4
Impedance (Ohms)

Output power characteristics Power amplifier assembly

Large filtering capacitors
Advanced features
■ Logic-control signal switching relays for shortest
signal paths ❹ ❺ ❻ ❼
■ Five line level and two balanced inputs
■ Line input and output connectors for a recorder
■ Individual phase setting for each input
■ Stereo signal can be switched to monophonic
operation
■ Left/right balance control also realized with AAVA ❶ ❷ ❸ ❽ ❾
■ Convenient attenuator is useful for example when
❶ Speaker output selector ❻ Mono / stereo selector button Balance control
operating an analog record player
❷ Bass control ❼ Loudness compensator on / off button Preamplifier / power amplifier
■ Loudness compensator enhances low end presence
■ Tone controls using summing active filters ❸ Treble control ❽ DAC input selector button separator switch
■ Power amplification stage employs instrumentation ❹ Tone control on / off button ❾ MC / MM selector button Recorder selector
amplifier principle ❺ Phase selector button Display mode selector button
■ Current feedback amplification circuit topology
assures excellent phase characteristics in high range
■ Speaker output protection circuit guards against
short-circuiting
■ Protection circuitry using MOS-FET switches
■ Two sets of large speaker terminals
■ Preamplifier and power amplifier sections can be
used separately
■ Preamplifier outputs also support bi-amping connection
■ Power amplifier inputs allow use of that section only Line input and output connectors Balanced input connectors
■ Dedicated headphone amplifier designed for
optimum sound quality
■ Two rear panel expansion slots allow use of option
boards
■ DAC input selector button for use when digital
input board (DAC-40 or DAC-50) is installed
■ Numeric indication of digital signal sampling
frequency (when DAC-40 or DAC-50 is installed)
■ High-sensitivity
analog peak
power meters Protection circuitry with MOS-FET switches Speaker terminals with thick,
MOS-FET switches short connecting shafts and protection circuitry

■ Supplied Remote Commander

RC-230
Allows volume adjustment,
input source switching etc.
 Bi-amping for further enhanced sound Option Boards
In a bi-amped setup, the speaker units for the LOW frequency Rear panel expansion slots allow use of Analog Disc Input Board AD-50
range and the HIGH frequency range are driven by separate three types of option boards (DAC-50,
AD-50, LINE-10). Up to two boards can Features a high-performance phono
amplifiers with equal gain, which enables playback with
be inserted, according to requirements. equalizer for playback of analog records.
even higher sound quality. Left speaker Right speaker
● Supports MC and MM cartridges
■ The following option
＊The speakers must have a ● Load impedance selector button (for MC only)
boards can also be used:
built-in crossover network ● Subsonic filter
and separate inputs for Digital Input DAC-10/DAC-20/ Cartridge MC MM
the LOW and HIGH range. Board DAC-30/DAC-40 Gain 66 dB 40 dB
○
− ○
＋ ○
− ○ ○
− ○
＋ ○
− ○ Analog Disc AD-9/AD-10/ 30 ohms
＊The example shows a ＋ ＋ Input
100 ohms 47 kilohms
Input Board AD-20/AD-30 Impedance
setup with an additional HIGH LOW HIGH LOW DAC-50 300 ohms
AD-50 Line Input LINE-9
power amplifier for the low
frequency range. Photo shows an option board installation example. Board AD-50

RIGHT LEFT
E-380 Digital Input Board DAC-50 Line Input Board LINE-10
− ＋ − ＋
High-performance DAC with two
Connection example AK4490EQ chips from Asahi Kasei
Microdevices driven in parallel.
Digital component Input Signal Sampling frequencies Number of bits Provides an
2.8 MHz additional
Coaxial digital cable 5.6 MHz
set of unbal-
From PRE OUT DSD 11.2 MHz 1-bit
USB
11.2 MHz: anced line
LEFT RIGHT Optical fiber cable ASIO only level inputs.
− ＋ − ＋
Analog PCM 32 to 384 kHz 32-bit
outputs USB cable OPTICAL PCM 32 to 96 kHz 24-bit
To INPUT
COAXIAL PCM 32 to 192 kHz 24-bit
PC
DAC-50 LINE-10
CD player Power amplifier

Front Panel Rear Panel

Input Power Remote Level / frequency Function Volume Line input connectors Recorder input / output Preamplifier output Power amplifier input
selector meters sensor display display control TUNER / CD / LINE 1, 2, 3 connectors REC / PLAY connectors PRE OUT connectors MAIN IN

Power switch Speaker Balance Recorder Button for Headphone Option board Balanced input AC power
output selector control selector opening sub panel jack installation slots connectors CD-BAL / BAL supply connector
Bass control Preamplifier / power amplifier Attenuator Pin ② (‒), Pin ③ (+)
Treble control separator switch on / off button * Can be changed with Speaker terminals A / B (2 sets)
Tone control on / off button phase selector button
on front panel Supported Spade Max. 16 mm
Phase selector button Loudness compensator on / off button lug dimensions (0.63”
)
DAC input selector button Display mode selector button
Min. 7 mm (0.28”
)
MC / MM selector button Mono / stereo selector button

Guaranteed Specifications [Guaranteed specifications are measured according to EIA standard RS-490.]

Continuous Average 8-ohm load 120 W Turnover frequency %DVV+] “G% +]
Output Power ERWKFKDQQHOVGULYHQ Tone Controlsand adjustment range 7UHEOHN+] “G% N+]
௅+] 4-ohm load 180 W
/RXGQHVV&RPSHQVDWRU G% +]
7+' Attenuator
ERWKFKDQQHOVGULYHQ 4 to 16 ohm load 0.05% -G%
௅+]
,QSXWVKRUWHG $ZHLJKWLQJ 61UDWLR
,QWHUPRGXODWLRQ'LVWRUWLRQ 0.01% Input
61UDWLRDWUDWHGRXWSXW  (,$
+,*+/(9(/,1387 * ௅+] G%
Frequency 615DWLR +,*+/(9(/,1387 G% G%
Response * ௅+] G%
0$,1,1 %$/$1&(',1387 G% G%
At 1 watt output: ௅+] G%
0$,1,1 G% G%
'DPSLQJ)DFWRU  ZLWKRKPORDG+] Power Meters /RJDULWKPLFW\SHSHDNOHYHOGLVSOD\RIRXWSXWLQG%RUSHUFHQW
Input sensitivity Input
Input 2XWSXW/RDG WRRKPV WHUPLQDOV$RU%GULYHQ
For rated output )RU:RXWSXW (,$ Impedance Impedance WRRKPV WHUPLQDOV$DQG%GULYHQVLPXOWDQHRXVO\
,QSXW6HQVLWLYLW\
+,*+/(9(/,1387 P9 P9 20 kilohms
Input Impedance 6WHUHR+HDGSKRQHV Suitable impedance: 8 ohms or higher
%$/$1&(',1387 P9 P9 40 kilohms
Power Requirements 999$& YROWDJHDVLQGLFDWHGRQUHDUSDQHO +]
0$,1,1 9 P9 20 kilohms
Idle 46 W
2XWSXW9ROWDJH 35(287387 9 Power Consumption
,QDFFRUGDQFHZLWK,(& 292 W
Output Impedance 35(287387 50 ohms 0D[LPXP'LPHQVLRQV :LGWKPP ´ [+HLJKWPP ´ ['HSWKPP ´
+,*+/(9(/,1387ĺ35(287387 G%
*DLQ 1HW NJ OEV
0$,1,1ĺ287387 G% Mass
In shipping carton NJ OEV
*: At rated continuous average output

Remarks
★ This product is available in versions for 120/220/230 V AC. Make sure that the voltage shown on the rear panel matches the AC line voltage in your area.
★ The 230 V version has an Eco Mode that switches power off after 120 minutes of inactivity.
★ The shape of the plug of the supplied AC power cord depends on the voltage rating and destination country.
Supplied accessories
● AC power cord
● Remote Commander RC-230

● The specifications and appearance of this product are subject to change without notice.
K1905Y PRINTED IN JAPAN 850-2216-00（B1）