TEAC - AX-505 Stereo Integrated Amplifier

From MUSE op-amps in the analogue section - which fundamentally determines the amplifier’s sound quality - to ladder-resistor type volume controls, our engineers have carefully chosen all key components from ‘made for hi-fi’ ranges, wherever possible.

The AX-505 is equipped with a pair of XLR balanced analogue audio inputs, designed to help minimise external noise picked up as an analogue audio signal travels down the interconnect cable.

The AX-505 is also equipped with a 4-pole headphone output jack that supports ‘ground-separate’ connection for excellent channel separation during headphone listening. The CCLC (Coupling Capacitor-less Circuit) headphone amplifier circuit design, meanwhile, eliminates coupling condensers in the circuit’s output stage. This reduces sonic colouration during processing, so delivering a more authentic audio signal to your headphones.

In the power supply section, the AX-505 employs a high capacity toroidal-core power transformer along with Schottky barrier diodes in the rectifying circuit. The advantage of Schottky barrier diodes over conventional types is that they supply cleaner and more stable current, reducing rectifier noise in every part of the amplifier’s circuitry.

It makes no sense for an amplifier to deliver excellent sound to loudspeakers while generating spurious operating noise from a cooling fan. That is why our engineers paid special attention to the AX-505’s circuit and cabinet design, creating a parts layout that would allow for the natural removal of heat, so achieving a compact but powerful amplifier that doesn’t require a cooling fan.

It’s not just the front panel that’s firmly attached to the robust steel inner chassis . the top and side panels are affixed to it, too. This high standard of construction helps reduce mechanical vibration via heavy parts. A compact design with an A4-sized footprint, the AX-505 fits comfortably into even the smallest of modern spaces.

On the rear panel, connectors are located with a wide pitch between them, in order to allow the use of interconnects with bulky plugs. Three set of RCA analogue inputs offer you the potential of creating a full-scale hi-fi system, even if you start off using the AX-505 as part of a relatively minimalist desktop PC audio set-up.
The AX-505 is also equipped with a set of wide-pitch, diagonally offset (for easy wiring) screw-type speaker terminals, capable of accommodating high quality AWG8 gauge cables and banana plugs.

In order to provide a more tactile response, the AX-505 employs a volume control with a machined aluminum knob for precise volume control, while a classic toggle is used to switch the amplifier on and off. The remote control, topped with a luxurious aluminum cover, allows you to adjust volume in 0.5dB steps at moderate volumes.

A pair of level meters that dance in time as volume levels change help add a visual dimension to your music while enhancing the amplifier’s considerable aesthetic appeal. A 4-step dimmer which can disable the meters or further emphasise movement (by increasing sensitivity by +20dB), can be chosen according to preference.
Even if the level meters are disabled and the backlight is switched off, you can still easily tell if the unit is turned on or off from distance, simply by noting the position of the toggle-type power switch.