The German company AudioValve announces new headphone amplifier. The name is RKV Mark III.

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The major Japanese manufacturers of surroundreceivers that have ambitions to participate in the game for a while, introduce a new model range every year, where the new models are always better than last year's model by far. This is how we understand the world is speeding on its way forward. Thus, when the traditional German company AudioValve now comes with a Mark III to its headphone amplifier, where its predecessor Mark II was launched in the early 80's, we are a little confused. Have they completely fell asleep in class, or have they discovered something that goes under the radar of the Japanese giants?

We will not give a definitive answer on this, just note that this is an exceptional case load, and the predecessor is highly valued in the hifi press still, the 30 years notwithstanding. The newcomer is designed by Helmut Becker, and November is the launch month.

I common with some other headphone amplifiers we have just written about, the AudioValve RKV Mark III have far more qualifications than running a headphone. In addition to a wide range of balanced and unbalanced inputs, we find both pre-out for the power amplifier, and a set of speaker outputs. RKV Mark III has given power of 5.8 watts at 220 ohms, but do not know the effect with normal speaker loads. It is doubtful though that you can bother the neighbors crazy with this used as an integrated amplifier.

On the front we find an impedance-selector that goes in steps from 8-128 Ohms. There is also a separate mode selector. This Headphone Amplifier is produced both in the traditional black finish, and a new ivory finish.

Price in Norway is currently unknown to us. Importer's The Party Audio / Hifi Norwegian Centre .

Read More at AudioValve.

See video presentation of the Audio Valve Mark III here: