Driving the Peak Consult Sinfonia speakers with my long-time reference, the Octave V110SE and Super Black Box combination, it’s easy to forget separate amplifiers and preamplifiers, especially regarding tubes. This amplifier takes commanding control of these speakers, and the extra power supply capacitance provided by the SBB allows even better bass control, resolution, and a slightly lower noise floor. Due to the small footprint of the SBB, this technically makes the Octave a 1.25-box solution. Either way – well worth it.
Starting serious listening with the title track from Massive Attack’s Blue Lines tells the story immediately. So many things are happening here, showing what a complex musical piece this is – layered vocals, an ethereal keyboard floating in the background, and a deep, tight bass groove, peppered with finger snaps. These snaps will tell you when the V80SE is warmed up all the way (about 45 minutes) because when the amplifier is cold, they feel truncated, yet when fully warmed up, the snaps trail off way, way into the background. Nice.
A quick swap of the connections brings the V80SE front and center, revealing more music everywhere, especially in the lower registers. The Sinfonias are capable of digging deep, and good as the V110SE is, this amplifier is clearly a step up. The lowest bass notes at the beginning of Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” hit harder and with more resolution – the bass delivered has more detail. Tracking through the recent MoFi release of RUN-DMC’s self-titled debut offers up the same joy. More extension and more zoom.
It’s not just about bass, though that would be enough reason to justify the increased cost of $9,500 for the excellent V110SE to the $13,500 now asked for the V80SE. It’s not about the 20 additional watts per channel (now 130 watts per channel into 8 ohms vs. 110 for the V110) – if that’s all you’re looking at, it’s not enough. These two amplifiers are a perfect example of the shortfall of specifications. Though the specs are nearly similar, the V80SE and V110SE are completely different amplifiers.
Octave’s founder and chief designer, Andreas Hoffman, is an understated man who goes about making fantastic amplifiers even better without saying a lot. In a world where many claim to be “the best,” Hoffman delivers the goods. Like the engineers at Porsche, who keep finding a way to extract even more power from their engines, Octave is the same. At first glance, other than two small rotary switches on the front panel, the V80SE looks almost identical to the V110SE, though it is virtually a different amplifier under the chassis.
Input versatility
In more ways than one, the V80SE is one of the most flexible amplifiers we’ve enjoyed using. An additional $1,250 adds a solid-state phono stage that is based on their outboard Phono EQ.2 (Which costs $1,950). While our review sample did not have the phono card installed, we have reviewed the PhonoModule in the past, and it is an excellent choice here. Octave’s John Quick tells me that the module built for the V80SE is improved over the one available for my V110SE (It can also be used in the V70 amplifiers). Should you decide to add this later, your Octave dealer can install this module for you.
The internal phono board is only available as MM or MC, and you must decide which when adding it, as the MC has a fixed input impedance of 500 ohms. If you take this route, choose your cartridge to match, or consider going MM and adding a step-up transformer later.
In perspective, it is not a destination phono stage; in the sense of something with a five-figure price tag, you would connect a turntable/arm/cartridge combo to the $10k-50k range. Music lovers with a system more weighted towards digital, where you have perhaps a great $5,000 (or less) table and a few hundred albums, this is the perfect way to go, providing great system flexibility, and fewer cords to deal with. It would also make for a great second phono input.
Please keep in mind that the V80SE’s overall performance is high enough that it is worthy of going there, should you be a mega analog enthusiast. Using the balanced input with the Nagra Classic Phono ($17,000), the Pass XP-27 ($11,000), the BAT VK-P12SE ($12,000), the SME 20/SME Iv.VI/Hana Umami Red, and the Luxman PD-191/LX5 proves a lovely combination for those wanting more from their analog section.
The rear panel also features RCA inputs for AUX, CD, and tuner, as well as tape record and play. There is a preamplifier out, should you want to assemble a bi-amplified system or use a powered subwoofer requiring line-level output. I can envision a new Revox B-77 sitting on a shelf with this amplifier! The aesthetic would be perfect, but I digress.
Speaker versatility
130 watts per channel is enough to drive all but the most inefficient speakers to high levels. This amplifier has no issues driving the new Magnepan 2.7X speakers in for review or the vintage pair of Acoustat 2+2 ESLs. The MartinLogan ESL 9 Classics ($7,499/pair) also make a fantastic combination with the V80SE.
During the latter part of this review, the spectacular Clarisys Auditiorium Plus full-range ribbon speakers ($149k/pair) arrived. Again, the V80SE is more than up to the task, but I would suggest getting the SBB should you go down this path. Any audio enthusiasts of a certain age might shudder at the idea of a tube amplifier driving full-range ribbon speakers, but the V80SE passes this test with ease.
If you think pairing this amplifier with $70k – $150k speakers is crazy, the highly resolving Peak Consult and Clarisys speakers show just how much music the V80SE can reveal. This is one impressive integrated and sonically worthy of the world’s finest speakers.
Quick setup
While many of today’s tube amplifiers have adopted self-biasing circuitry, the Octave V80SE requires its four power tubes to be biased manually. This is straightforward and easy to do thanks to the LEDs on the front panel (and a very thin screwdriver). To be clear, I prefer this, but your experience may be different.
Where the VT110SE came with KT88 tubes from the factory, with the option of rebiasing for KT150s, the VT80SE comes with KT88s as standard Once the tubes are installed and the unit is powered for about 20 minutes, it’s a great time to double-check the bias. As with any tube amplifier, Check this weekly until a couple hundred hours have passed. At that point, it’s okay to check on this monthly to be safe.
However, my experience with the V80SE has been just like all the other Octave amplifiers we’ve reviewed. after about a month they all are very stable regarding tube use. And, I have found Octave amplifiers to be very easy on tubes. This is not always the case with vacuum tube amplifiers, so a real plus here. With only four power tubes, and three small signal tubes, replacement will not be incredibly expensive. As you can see from the photo at the left, Octave makes the coolest remote control ever. Volume up and volume down. I love it.
Amplifier versatility
Should you use more than one set of speakers occasionally, or just feel in the mood for a different sound, the bias switch on the back of the Octave can be set to low power. This cuts output power to about 70 watts per channel, allowing the option of swapping in a set of EL-34 tubes, extracting a slightly mellower sound from the same amplifier. This versatility is a real bonus, allowing this amplifier to be more conducive to listening with a pair of single driver speakers, a pair of Quad 57s, or even some LS3/5a’s. Versatility in a five-figure component is terrific, making the V80SE something you can keep forever, or at least a long time.
So the remaining question is the box—the Super Black Box, that is. This $3,500 accessory holds additional capacitance and simply plugs into the back of the amplifier. Make sure it is turned off and powered down before connecting!
Octave claims the Super Black Box increases the power supply capacity “by a factor of ten, and makes the amplifier significantly more independent of load.” While we do not measure amplifiers here, verifying this was simple.
Playing acoustic music at low volumes, the Super Black Box serves more delicacy. Strings have more natural decay and richer tonality. At medium to high volume levels, drum-heavy jazz and rock music selections are delivered with more control. Dynamic music can now enjoy more headroom and a more lifelike presentation. With at least a dozen speakers here to explore this, there wasn’t a single speaker not improved by adding the Super Black Box.
Again, Octave gives you the opportunity to grow your system without the agony of losing money via the trade-in process. That said, the older V110SE with Super Black Box begins to approach the sonic prowess of the V80SE, but the V110SE with Super Black Box is a completely different movie. I find it hard not to suggest buying the V80SE with Super Black Box right away if it makes sense for your budget.
More listening
Putting this amplifier in perspective sonically, it’s slightly more neutral than the VAC amps but not as etched as current Audio Research Reference amplifiers. My favorites from Manley and PrimaLuna are definitely warmer and more “tubey,” and the current BAT amplifiers reviewed, slightly darker in overall presentation.
However, what I like most – and please keep in mind that choosing an amplifier, especially a tube amplifier is a very personal choice. It is also a system-dependent choice, but in the context of the sonic signature, I prefer the other gear I own and use; I love the way Octave amplifiers render the music. With enough warmth and tonal saturation, you know you’re listening to tubes, yet very resolving and refined, with plenty of drive and dynamics.
In a word, perfection—at least for me. Is this the sound for you? You’ll have to visit a hifi show or an Octave dealer to be sure. This is one of the few integrated amplifiers I’ve experienced that delivers “separate component” refinement.
For now, I’m keeping my V110SE/Super Black Box, but when the upgrade bug hits me, I will probably be trading up. I must admit being very fond of Octave. And, it comes in silver too. (photo courtesy of OCTAVE)
$13,500 (silver or black) w/KT88 power tubes
$14,300 w/KT150 power tubes
Super Black Box $3,500
