Reprinted from the official WeChat account of HIFI Say.

[Contributed by Likao Audio]
As the official distributor of ATC loudspeakers in China, Likao Audio has an in-depth understanding of ATC’s technical traits, pairing requirements and sonic signature. To unlock its ultimate sound potential, Likao has spent years experimenting with countless premium overseas amplifiers and the peak performance of ATC has long won wide recognition among enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, Likao Audio has also strived to lower the barriers and costs for domestic ATC owners when choosing matching amplifiers. For this purpose, it has partnered with Zhongshan-based Shengya Audio in recent years. The two brands collaborate to develop cost-effective amplifiers tailored for various models in the ATC lineup.

A-238 II Class A Balanced Hybrid Amplifier

As we all know, Zhongshan Shengya Audio enjoys an excellent reputation in China’s audio market, and its products are widely regarded as premium domestic Hi‑Fi treasures.

Backed by years of accumulated know‑how and established production capacity for audiophile amplifiers, Shengya has earned recognition from a renowned German amplifier brand, which authorised Shengya as its OEM manufacturer. This attests to Shengya’s unique strengths in developing high‑end audiophile amplifiers in China, especially in the field of hybrid tube-and-solid-state amplifiers.

On the left is the Shengya A-238 II, and on the right is the Shengya A-238.

After years of efforts, Shengya Audio has developed several dedicated amplifier versions for the ATC loudspeaker models distributed by Likao Audio. Among them, the Shengya A-238 Fully Balanced Hybrid Tube Stereo Integrated Amplifier (Class A) stands out as a true classic and flagship representative. Building upon the first-generation model, the newly upgraded A-238 II brings substantial refinements, component upgrades and sonic improvements.

Although the rated output power remains unchanged from its predecessor, side-by-side listening reveals noticeable gains in refinement, resolution, definition and musicality — an improvement also reflected in its higher cost and retail price.

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Exterior Changes

The A-238 Mark II retains the same chassis dimensions as the first‑generation A-238. This allows Shengya to reuse much of the existing production setup for the original model, substantially reducing additional development costs. The most prominent difference between the two lies on the front panel, a deliberate design element intended to create a clear visual distinction between the first and second generations.

Upgraded Exterior & Status Indicator Meter

The meter monitors operating conditions in real time. Red reading indicates Class‑A operation, while green reading indicates Class‑AB operation.

At Laco’s listening room, the first‑generation A‑238 and the A‑238 II were displayed side by side for comparison, revealing a striking difference on their front panels. The new A‑238 II features a circular viewing window with an operating status meter for real‑time monitoring. The indicator glows red when the amplifier is switched to Class A and green for Class AB. By contrast, the original A‑238 uses strip‑style indicator lights, following the design language of earlier Shengya models.

The control layout also differs considerably. The first‑generation A‑238 has two Power switches. One is the main power switch, and the ATC Power switch selects between Class A and Class AB — implying that this mode delivers optimum performance when paired with ATC loudspeakers. On its right side are paired volume adjustment keys for up and down. Surrounding the status display are controls for channel input, gain and bass.

By comparison, the front‑panel layout of the A‑238 II is much cleaner. The main power switch and the Class A / AB selector are symmetrically placed on either side. Channel selection and volume control are now handled by knobs instead. The A‑238 II presents a simpler layout with more intuitive operation.

Shengya A-238 Class A Balanced Hybrid Amplifier

Internal Upgrades Focused on Core Key Areas

In terms of power output, there is no fundamental difference between the two generations. It delivers 100W per channel into 8Ω and 200W per channel into 4Ω. When switched to Class A mode, it still outputs 100W per channel into 8Ω.

Building upon the foundation of the first generation, the A-238 II features further refined upgrades and fine‑tuning of internal components and circuitry, aiming for superior tonal performance. For the power supply, it retains the strengths of its predecessor. Separate power supplies serve the pre-stage and power stage. A tube-and-solid-state hybrid precision high-voltage regulator supplies the preamplifier for outstanding voltage stability. 

Each channel is equipped with dedicated audiophile-grade filter capacitors and rectifiers. Some of these capacitors are Japanese ELNA ForAudio 10000μF / 50V electrolytic capacitors, with a total capacitance of 120,000 microfarads. The high-power toroidal transformer is housed in a shielded compartment. It uses a Nippon Steel core and is epoxy potted, which greatly suppresses vibration and hum interference from the transformer — a key contributor to the amplifier’s refined sound.

Shengya A-238 Class A Balanced Hybrid Amplifier

The preamplification stage adopts an imported ECC83 vacuum tube in a common‑cathode configuration, while an imported ECC82 vacuum tube functions in an SRPP circuit for drive amplification. 

The power amplification section consists of 32 high‑power Toshiba transistors forming a 0dB current amplification stage. It drives a wide range of loudspeakers effortlessly and has ample reserve for the SCM7 used in this pairing.

For volume control, it employs the Cirrus Logic CS3310 electronic volume chip. It keeps the channel level mismatch within 0.5dB, outperforming the ±3dB tolerance typical of four‑gang mechanical potentiometers. Premium WIMA MKP audiophile‑grade non‑polarized film capacitors from Germany are used for tube coupling and decoupling.

The Shengya A-238 Class A Balanced Hybrid Amplifier comes in two variants. The first version has no subwoofer output, while the second one is equipped with a subwoofer output for 2.1 or 2.2 channel setups.

On the rear panel, there are both XLR and RCA input terminals (WBT from Germany and Neutrik from Switzerland). The speaker binding posts are also WBT, and the IEC inlet is a gold‑plated Furutech from Japan. Every component is selected to exacting standards.

It is also worth noting that the A‑238 II can operate as a standalone power amplifier. For instance, when using the Line 5 high‑level input, volume can be controlled via the ATC CDA2 preamplifier.

The launch of the A-238 II coincided with the 30th anniversary of Shengya Audio. The brand rolled out this comprehensive upgrade as an anniversary tribute.

Laco Audio had both generations available for my comparative audition, a rare opportunity. The test pairing was a pair of ATC SCM19 bookshelf loudspeakers, fitted with a mid‑woofer close to 6 inches in diameter. Many audio enthusiasts find the SCM19 relatively demanding to drive and tricky to get right. This setup therefore served as a stern test for the second‑generation A‑238.

To unlock the full sonic potential of ATC bookshelf loudspeakers, Likao Audio has designed a dedicated speaker stand. Built with a hybrid structure of metal and wood, it skilfully balances the tonal characteristics of both materials.

After comparison, I found that the A-238 II delivers noticeably more refined and delicate tonality. This sonic gain comes at the cost of higher investment, achieved through repeated listening evaluations and component fine‑tuning. It perfectly illustrates the old audiophile maxim: you get what you pay for.

When playing tracks from Wang Jingwen’s album Sky, the A-238 II running in Class A brought out the tenderness and beauty of her voice. The decays are subtle, mellow and inviting. The SCM19 presents a solid foundation with full-bodied vocals and well-balanced frequency response, with no roll-off at either treble or bass extremes. Accompanying instruments sound rich and substantial with fine air, making the vocals stand out with greater emotion and warmth.

In side-by-side listening, the A-238 II achieves convincing reproduction of the recording. Vocals form a tightly defined image on the ATC SCM19. You can discern subtle shifts in vocal timbre and breath details, as if the singer is right in front of you. Even with eyes closed, you can perceive the clear presence and outline of the performer.

Paired with the custom stand from Likao, the ATC SCM19 bookshelf loudspeaker effectively reduces mutual interference caused by vibration transfer between the speaker and the stand. Its high‑strength base provides a solid foundation. The four‑point support combined with robust spikes keeps the speaker rock‑steady, even for heavy bookshelf models weighing dozens of kilograms.

Next up was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. Thanks to the generous Class‑A power reserve of the A‑238 II, the bass and impact were reproduced impressively — it did not disappoint. The tonal presentation lives up to high‑end benchmarks, delivering both richness and refinement.

Within this medium‑sized listening room, the A‑238 II rendered convincing width and depth of soundstage. When driving the SCM19, its control and transient response over subtle micro‑dynamics were truly impressive. The amplifier handles the music effortlessly and with great poise.