Ayon audio Ayon Spirit III
The Ayon Spirit III pairs live-wire dynamics with fast, solid bass, delivering valve texture without the usual softness. HiFi Advice found its KT150 power, precise imaging and richly detailed midrange equally convincing, while the excellent onboard preamp adds a deeper, more three-dimensional stage. A formidable Class-A integrated for speakers that reward control and energy.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Connectivity
85/100
Value for Money
89/100
Pros
Exceptional bass solidity, speed and articulation, with authoritative control over demanding loudspeakers.
Energetic, highly dynamic presentation combines rich tube texture with impressive transparency, linearity and precision.
Precise vocal focus and a deep, three-dimensional soundstage, especially through the built-in preamplifier.
Robust construction and flexible XLR, pre-out and main-in connectivity.
Cons
Its direct, neutral-leaning voicing may not suit listeners seeking a traditionally warm, lush or creamy tube presentation.
Triode mode trades some of the amplifier’s characteristic speed, slam and dynamics for a smoother, more liquid sound.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
The Spirit III is described as a powerful, energetic and emotionally engaging tube amplifier that avoids the loose, overly warm character often associated with the breed. Review listening highlights unusually strong bass definition and control, convincing space, and a notably natural balance of tube texture with transistor-like precision.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
HiFi Advice found that the Spirit III combines tube character with transparency, linearity and precision more commonly associated with transistor amplification. Its lack of mid-bass bloom and its defined bass and lower-midrange presentation further support a clear, controlled sound rather than a soft or veiled one.
Tonal Balance Musicality
93/100
The presentation is described as solid, full-bodied, richly textured and emotionally involving, while remaining utterly natural. Rather than delivering a round or creamy stereotypical tube balance, it offers a more neutral and controlled take on valve musicality.
Dynamics
95/100
The reviewer repeatedly praises the amplifier's power, control and ability to drive Wilson Watt/Puppy 8 and Kroma Carmen loudspeakers with ease. It is characterized as highly energetic, articulate and dynamic, with fast, solid bass and a live-act sense of infectious momentum.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
Vocals are said to lock between the speakers with greater precision, while the space around the loudspeakers becomes more variable and convincing. The built-in preamplifier section was also credited with producing a considerably deeper, more three-dimensional stage.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
HiFi Advice describes the Spirit III as incredibly solidly built, in keeping with its experience of Ayon products. The substantial 38 kg chassis and Class-A valve architecture reinforce the impression of a serious, robustly executed amplifier.
Features Connectivity
85/100
The Spirit III provides three line-level inputs, one balanced XLR input, a direct input, pre-out, and main-in connectivity, making it more flexible than a strictly minimalist valve integrated. Remote operation and switchable 45W triode or 70W pentode modes add useful day-to-day and system-matching flexibility, though there are no onboard digital, streaming, phono, or headphone facilities.
Value for Money
89/100
At $6,895, the Spirit III sits in a premium integrated-amplifier segment, but HiFi Advice considered its extra cost well justified even during the run-in period. That judgment is supported by the reviewer's praise for its authoritative drive, refined control and unusually balanced combination of tube richness and precision.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
No reviews found yet
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Amplifier
- Ayon Spirit-III
- Class of Operation
- Triode* or Pentode mode, Class-A*
- Tube Complement
- KT150 6SJ7 12AU7
- Load Impedance
- 4 & 8 Ohms
- Bandwidth
- 12Hz – 60kHz
- Output Power-Pentode mode
- 2 x 70 W
- Output Power-Triode mode
- 2 x 45W
- Input sensitivity for full power
- 500mV
- Input Impedance at 1 kHz
- 100 KΩ
- NFB
- 0dB
- Volume Control
- MCU based with analog resistor switching circuit
- Remote Control
- Yes
- Inputs
- 3x Line In, 1 x XLR In, 1 x Direct In
- Output
- 1 x Pre out
- Dimensions (WxDxH) cm
- 48x37x25 cm
- Weight
- 38 kg
Manufacturer's Description — Ayon audio
Ayon Spirit III Tube Integrated Amp Also available as a Tube Amp – Pure Class A
Ayon is pleased to introduce the new Spirit -III, a substantial advancement of our already very highly regarded previous “Spirit III” model offering. The new Spirit-III is not a simple update; it is a re-design featuring new operating and protection circuit boards. All the gain and driver stages have been also re-designed and optimized as well to provide for the shortest signal path and the most direct signal flow. It’s fast, airy, dynamic, punchy and controlled bass, clear and holographic soundstage are the strengths of this amplifier.
Refined, but not analytical – organic & natural sonic signature. Wall to wall three dimensional soundstage!
The Spirit III is a new milestone in its price class and categories and the best “Spirit” that Ayon Audio ever built.
The Ayon Spirit III integrated is also available as a pure stereo power amp, the Ayon Spirit P/A – Stereo Amplifier!
Full-featured pure class-A tube stereo integrated amp or pure power amplifier
Switchable between pentode and triode mode
Ideal also for more difficult loudspeaker loads
Vacuum Tubes
The choice of signal and power tubes have a significant influence on the sound and hence on the inspiration and joy of listening. This is not only the decision between good and bad tubes but finally the interaction of the different types of tubes and their combination that are used in the various Ayon amplifiers.
Signal Path
We believe that the simplest circuits work best together with the shortest signal path. The shorter the signal path is, the less possibility of sonic degradation from various sources, including the wire itself. Even on the circuit boards, the copper traces are kept to a very minimum length. The completely redesigned circuit board provides a more straightforward and direct approach to the signal paths.
● Logical sequenced soft-start power up for extended tube life
● Power tube and electronic protection circuit system
● 0dB negative feedback (of any kind )
● Ultra short signal path
● Simplest direct circuit path for purest musical sound and high reliability
● No solid state devices in the signal path
● High current and low impedance design that operates tubes in the best areas their curves
● Minimal discrete wiring for optimum signal propagation
● Automatic and manual bias adjustment
● No followers or buffers in the signal path
● High quality parts throughout
● Selector switch engages relays located near RCA jacks to switch all inputs
Power Supply
The power supplies have been further refined with new components and enhanced AC line noise filtration. Separate power transformers, chokes and filters provide total isolation between the input and output stages which makes this a pure power source. We also use electrolytic capacitors with much larger storage capacity to make up for the loss in filtering when using resistors in lieu of inductors.
● Low noise –insulated power transformers
● Power transformer is encased, excellent damped and RFI/EMI shielded
● Innovative power supply provides a high speed energy delivery on transients
● Choke filtered power supply for driver stage and KT150 power amp section
● Separate and isolated power supplies over each stage of amplification
● High current filament-regulator for pre and driver tubes
● Regulated DC filament supplies with soft start
● AC power line filter to avoid noise and hash from entering into the unit.
● High capacitance energy storage.
● Current in-rush limiting
● Auto sequencing – Power on cycle completes in 1 minute
Dual Grounding System
The modification of the grounding topology leads to increased rejection of noise from the power supply and other areas. The dual grounding topology used in all of our amplifiers is quite unique to the whole hi-end tube amplification industry. Such extensive topology provides for quieter backdrop for which the music can unfold in its entirety. It further establishes the quick and controlled bass response and the full bodied expression of the high frequency. The ground leg of the signal has not been neglected and given meticulous attention in its implementation. The importance of proper grounding cannot be over emphasized.
● Ground switch
● Central one-point star earth grounding
● Dual grounding system (switchable)
Output Transformer
The super-wide bandwidth output transformer’s major strength is that it can deliver the current in the bass, while at the same time maintaining the speed in the high frequencies, dramatically improving the square wave response of the amplifier. The effect is a much more natural and relaxed sound with much better clarity, resolution and fluidity.
● Super-wide bandwidth high performance output transformer
● High efficiency with low insertion loss for optimal current and voltage transfer
● Multiple tight layering and coupling for extended frequency response
● Output transformers are sealed with an anti-resonance compound material
Components
The type of parts used therefore must have a synergistic relationship to the circuit they are placed in. It is this relationship of which type of part to use where, that ranks our products apart from the mass.
● Selected, premium quality passive components used in all applications
● High speed & high quality audiophile grade coupling capacitors
● Special tube sockets with beryllium- copper spring pins, custom made by Ayon
● WBT – NextGen – speaker binding posts
● High quality – RCA input jack
● Neutrik/Swiss – XLR chassis connectors
● Special isolated – internal wiring
● Silver-copper matrix – internal signal cable
● Gold-plated industrial grade PCB
Mechanical Construction
The high grade aluminum chassis impart a richer, more lustrous tonality with a cleaner background and less hash and grain. All brushed anodized anti-vibration-resonance and non-magnetic chassis’s are fully hand assembled to insure the highest level of craftsmanship.
● Improved heat ventilation chassis
● Custom-made machined control knobs
● The aluminium feet are resonance absorbing types
● Backlit “ayon” logo
● All front & rear panel descriptions are engraved
● 4 line inputs & 1 direct input – for pure power amp operation
● Ground switch
● Volume & Mute function – RC
● Metal remote commander
● Chassis finish: black / chrome
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Ayon audio Ayon Spirit III
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- Absolute Hi End — in-store — Ormond, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Ambiance Concert — in-store — Angers, Pays de la Loire, France (website)
- AMPL’HIFI — online and in-store — Nîmes, Occitanie, France (website)
- Audio Gallery — online and in-store — Las Rozas de Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Vinyl — online and in-store — Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (website)
- AUIDOtrend — in-store — Kraków, Województwo małopolskie, Poland (website)
- Ayon audio USA — in-store — Scottsdale, Arizona, United States (website)
- Chameleon Audio — online — Greece (website)
- Class A Audio — in-store — Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia (website)
and 19 more verified dealers
