Ayon audio Ayon Spirit SE II
The Ayon Spirit SE II pairs rich tube colour with high transparency, delivering intimate vocals, vivid space and surprisingly forceful dynamics from its single-ended Class A design. LowBeats admired its elegant, controlled pressure, tangible imaging and robust finish, while the optional high-resolution USB DAC adds welcome flexibility to this focused, high-end integrated amplifier.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
95/100
Features Connectivity
86/100
Value for Money
95/100
Pros
Elegant, richly coloured and highly transparent sound combines intimacy with convincing large-scale dynamics.
Cultivated bass pressure and spatially tangible imaging remain controlled rather than bloated or aggressive.
Impeccably finished, robust 22kg construction offers exceptional perceived value for a single-ended tube integrated.
Optional USB DAC supports PCM up to 24-bit/384kHz and DSD256, and can be retrofitted.
Cons
Its 15W single-ended output requires high-efficiency, sympathetic loudspeakers and is best suited to smaller or medium-sized rooms.
USB DAC and remote control are optional extras rather than included as standard.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
LowBeats found the Spirit SE II unusually captivating: an elegant, richly coloured single-ended presentation that combines close-up transparency with cultivated rather than aggressive force. Its small-scale intimacy is joined by unexpectedly large dynamics and a clearly present sense of space.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
LowBeats calls the presentation “highly transparent” and describes a brightly illuminated room in which everything shimmers. Detail and analysis are said to be extensive without becoming intrusive, suggesting resolution that remains easy to enjoy.
Tonal Balance Musicality
96/100
The amplifier is described as a master of elegance, with rich colour and a sound that represents “tube at its best.” LowBeats especially praises its cultivated pressure, which is neither bloated nor aggressive, and says it was rare for a tube amplifier to be so completely captivating.
Dynamics
93/100
Despite its modest 15-watt single-ended output, the Spirit SE II delivered what LowBeats calls large-scale dynamics with compact Dynaudio speakers. The review also hears real power and pressure, though suitable speaker matching remains sensible for a low-powered Class A design.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
LowBeats reports strong spatial presence and a bright, well-illuminated acoustic picture. The review supports a vivid, present soundstage, although it provides less specific detail about image placement, stage depth, or layering.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
LowBeats inspected the amplifier closely and found no point of criticism, describing the finish as impeccably clean and flawless. Its construction is specifically called highly robust.
Features Connectivity
86/100
The Spirit SE II offers three line-level inputs and an optional USB DAC, which can handle PCM up to 24-bit/384kHz and DSD256. An optional remote control adds convenience, but this remains a focused analogue-first integrated rather than a comprehensively equipped digital hub.
Value for Money
95/100
At the reviewed €4,250 price, LowBeats describes the Spirit SE II as affordable and almost inexpensive. That praise is especially notable for a hand-built-looking single-ended tube integrated with this level of reported finish and musical performance.
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Specifications
- Amplifier
- Ayon Spirit SE II
- Class of Operation
- Single-Ended, Class A
- Tube Complement
- 2 x KT88 or KT150
- Load Impedance
- 4 & 8 Ohms
- Bandwidth
- 15Hz – 50kHz
- Output Power
- 2 x 12 W or 15 Watt
- Input sensitivity for full power
- 250mV
- Input Impedance at 1 kHz
- 100 KΩ
- NFB
- 0dB
- Volume Control
- Yes
- Remote Control
- Yes (option)
- Inputs
- 3x Line In, 1 x USB-DAC
- Conversion rate for USB-DAC (option)
- Up to 384kHz / 24 bit & DSD256
- Power consumption
- 75W
- Dimensions (WxDxH) cm
- 30x43x23 cm
- Weight
- 22 kg
Manufacturer's Description — Ayon audio
Ayon Audio Spirit SE II Amplifier
The Spirit SE II represents a dramatic rethinking of economic Single-ended vacuum tube integrated amplifier design. The Spirit SE II integrated amplifier combines neutrality, realistic dynamics and power projection, true musicality with high resolution. Perfect finish, elegant discrete design and outstanding sonic performance make the “Spirit SE II” unique, setting a new price-to-value standard in its class.
Features & Design
Full-featured pure class-A tube stereo integrated amplifier
KT150 or KT88 power output tubes
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Current in-rush limiting
- Auto sequencing – Power on cycle completes in 1 minute
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, 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
- High quality – binding posts
- High quality – RCA input jack
- Special isolated – internal wiring
- 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
- All front & rear panel descriptions are engraved
- 4 line inputs
- Volume & Mute function – RC
- Metal remote commander (option)
- Chassis finish: black / chrome
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Ayon audio Ayon Spirit SE II
- 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
