Some preliminary thoughts on comparing the Enleum and Aavik.
First, of course, these are two very different architectures and different wattage output. About the only things they have in common are they're not heavy giant beasts, neither offers balanced inputs, and they're both modern-looking design-wise. They are about equally easy to use, posing some minor interface/UX quibbles. So this by necessity is just how they sound in my particular system and room, to my ears, using my admittedly limited audiophile lexicon.
[And oh yeah, what the hell is with these remotes? C'mon guys, do better - this kind of $ and the remotes are a joke (Apple TV remote for the Aavik, and a piece of lightweight cheap-feeling plastic I'm pretty sure will break the first time my dog steps on it, for the Enleum. Someone from Lumin please show these people how to do a remote right!].
Observations
Enleum (class a/b, 25w into 8ohms, satri circuit): a bit more sparkle in the upper registers that's highly addictive. Perhaps a wee bit etched on occasion if something gets particularly treble-y and suddenly louder. Given my older ears, these are not drawbacks to me, they work well. Soundstage is exceptionally wide, to the point I sometimes find myself sitting upright wondering if someone is outside my side windows (around 180 degrees either side). Instrument separation and placement feel about average to me, compared to other amps I've considered good. Overall a very musical, natural sounding amp with great PRAT and not the least bit fatiguing. I find myself listening to full songs much more often on this amp than any I've owned, and I regularly just get lost in the music and spend way more time listening. Bass could be a little more taught and extended. Attack, transients, instrument timbre and voice all sound very natural to me, on the relaxed side, while still very resolving - more-so than the Aavik. I can hear it in things like piano trills being more distinct.
Mixed reviews on aesthetics. When I first got it, I really liked it, but frankly I like it less now, reinforced by comparing it to the aesthetics of the Aavik. The female better-half prefers it. It sure is small, which makes fitting it where I need it an easy thing. Don't let it's size fool you though; I can't turn it past about 60% in my room before it simply gets too loud, and it doesn't ever feel strained in getting there, the sonics are very consistent at all but the lowest volumes. Overall the best way I can describe the Enleum is that it just feels very natural, very musical, and a joy to listen to.
$5k
https://enleum.com/
Aavik (class D/UMAC, many design innovations, 300w into 8ohms): this amp has incredible punch; it's fast and transients are noticeably more discernable both in attack and trail-offs. It feels a bit smooth on the top but not veiled, just sort of more mellow. It has iron-fisted control of the speakers, you just get a sense that it's pushing the speakers to do what it thinks they need to, to play the music the way it wants them to. Hard to describe but I'm sure some of you know what I'm getting at. Bass is superb. The only amp I've personally experienced with such extended, taught, controlled, punchy bass was my Ayre MX-R Twenties. (I actually think it's a little too much bass for my room). Yet the Aavik produces that bass in a more musical, less clinical way than the Ayre, and more distinct than the Enleum. Overall the Aavik just does everything well, does it with simplicity and style. Soundtage is less wide than the Enleum, extending to just a little beyond the speakers, but a bit taller, and smidge deeper. Instrument separation/placement is noticeably superior. Instrument timbres I'd say are about average for amps I've enjoyed, with an edge to the Enleum. Vocals sound as in-person as I've heard in any system, with the singer sounding more literally in-the-room than I've experienced before.
Plenty has been written elsewhere about the evolution and state of Class D. After hearing this amp at the Expo I was not scared off Class D at all, in fact my interest grew as my favorite rooms by a long shot were Class D amplified. This ain't your father's Class D. Again, grain of salt, cause I certainly haven't heard all the Class A/B amps out there, certainly not most of the "Tier 1" ones. But I don't think this amp has anything to be ashamed of in it's engineering, and compares favorably to any amp I've heard. And it's a beauty.
$11k
Aavik I-180/280/580 Integrated
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