Review | The Upgraded Shengya A_238II_Evaluation_News_news

Review | The Upgraded Shengya A-238II

Time：2022-07-18

About the Reviewer

Hi-Fi Fever Station, a reviewer on Bilibili. He has tested the Shengya A-238II fully balanced Class A integrated power amplifier. Let’s check out his review.

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Appearance Review

The A-238II is a tube-input, solid-state-output integrated amplifier. It delivers 100W × 2 in Class A mode and can also switch to Class AB operation. It outputs 100W × 2 into 8Ω, and the power doubles to 200W × 2 into 4Ω, making the A-238II a highly capable unit.

There is a story behind the A-238II. Back then, the domestic distributor of ATC was searching for a local amplifier to drive ATC loudspeakers and reached out to Shengya. Shengya developed this amplifier as requested, specifically engineered for driving ATC speakers.

(2019 Shengya Audio ATC Launch Event)

The front panel of the A-238II features a power switch, input selector, volume knob, and an A Power button. When pressed, the amplifier switches to pure Class A amplification, and the centre meter illuminates red. When reverting to Class AB operation, the meter changes back from red to green.

Below are the input and volume displays. On either side of the screen are two special function buttons: BOOST and BASS. When the BOOST button is activated, it adds 2dB of gain for tonal adjustment. Engage it if you prefer a more relaxed and substantial sound. Leave it off for a tighter, more punchy presentation.

The other button is the BASS control. When activated, it gradually attenuates the bass starting from 100Hz down to 25Hz by a total of 1dB. It serves to correct excessive low-frequency buildup caused by room acoustics.

The A-238II comes with one balanced input and four RCA inputs. The first RCA port adopts a WBT connector. There is also an RCA Main Input for connecting an external preamplifier, allowing the unit to function as a power amplifier. It is fitted with two WBT speaker terminals to facilitate bi-wiring connection. The IEC inlet is a gold-plated Furutech socket, and the internal fuse is sourced from Switzerland.

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Component Review

As for its internal components, you will find a large toroidal transformer. The transformer is sealed with epoxy resin and secured by screws onto an isolated platform. This reduces vibration so it will not interfere with other sections of the amplifier. Moreover, metal partitions are used inside the unit to separate different circuits, minimizing crosstalk between them.

The preamplification stage employs ECC83 and ECC82 vacuum tubes with SRPP circuitry for lower noise performance. This amplifier is also equipped with premium capacitors: audio-grade filtering capacitors from Japan’s Elna, oil-filled M-Cap capacitors from Germany, and Wima MKP series audio capacitors. In addition, 32 Toshiba power transistors from Japan deliver ample output current. With such high-quality components, it is clear that this amplifier is by no means a cost-cutting product.

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Sound Performance Review

We used the A-238II to drive three loudspeakers of different brands. Though it is a tube-input, solid-state-output amplifier, it does not carry an overpowering tube flavour. Its sound is neutral with minimal colouration, enabling the sonic character of the speaker to shine through naturally. The A-238II delivers a thoroughly neutral sound signature, without artificial embellishment. Overall, the A-238II performs wonderfully not only with ATC speakers but also with other brands. Thanks to its neutral sonic nature, it can reveal the inherent characteristics of different loudspeakers, boasting excellent compatibility.

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Technical Specifications

Output Power: 100W + 100W (8Ω), 200W + 200W (4Ω)

Class A Output Power: 100W + 100W (8Ω)

Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz ± 0.5dB

Low-Level Input Sensitivity: 150mV

High-Level Input Sensitivity: 400mV (LINE 5)

THD: ≤0.1% (1kHz, 1W)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >90dB (Wideband)

Input Impedance: 47kΩ

Dimensions: 427 × 212 × 482 mm

Weight: 28.5 kg