The Premiera A1VU is a contemporary integrated Hi-Fi stereo amplifier of class AB, featuring a built-in MM phono stage, DAC, and Bluetooth, with a nominal output power of 51 W per channel.
Its design is both discreet and functional, with the front and rear panels organized according to the unspoken standards of quality electronics. While the overall aesthetic is restrained, a hallmark of all Premiera products, the A1VU distinguishes itself with analog VU indicators in place of a traditional display on the front panel. This design choice imparts a neo-vintage appeal that is currently in vogue.
Despite the absence of a display and menu, operating the amplifier remains user-friendly; the buttons and universal encoder perform exceptionally well. Even intricate tasks such as tone adjustments, software updates, or restoring factory settings can be executed easily using the encoder and specific button combinations on the front panel.
There are eight possible input sources, including a USB flash drive. This is unusually large, usually no more than five sources can be connected to such devices. There are also two analog outputs – stereo and mono (for an active subwoofer). There is well-developed ventilation on the sides and on top. Apparently, this is a necessary measure, because the Premiera A1VU has a case that is not as deep as that of conventional amplifiers. And the more compact the circuit, the more efficient its cooling should be. Especially considering the AB class. The back panel reveals all the cards: the Bluetooth 5.0 module immediately attracts attention. Next to it are coaxial and optical inputs to the built-in DAC, and below is a set of four pairs of analog RCA inputs, one of which works as an MM phono preamplifier. Of the analog outputs, there is a subwoofer connector and a recording output. Further on is the absolute standard: a pair of terminals for speaker wires and a power input.
The DAC built into the Premiera A1 is based on the AKM AK4432 chip, it has a 32-bit 2-channel architecture and can process PCM up to 32 bit/192 kHz with a signal-to-noise ratio of 108 dB – more than enough for our high-res files on a flash drive. Keep one thing in mind: the amplifier does not work with folders and turns all files on the drive into a list with sorting known only to it. Nevertheless, Premiera A1VU surprisingly quickly read and launched more than 2,000 tracks from the flash drive, which are scattered across 2,000 folders. Both track rewinding and track selection by file number work here. But, as mentioned earlier, this amplifier assigns the file number itself, and searching for the desired track in the music library in this way is an exciting quest in itself. But you can be guided by the fact that if there are albums on the flash drive, then all the tracks from it will go in a row.
For convenience, a remote control with a numeric keypad is included. Check out the layout of the numbers: it differs from the standard layout on all similar devices. Because of this, every time you want to select a track by number, you have to study the remote control carefully. You can do anything you want with it, including adjusting the bass and high frequency levels in the range of ±10 dB, adjusting the balance, turning the loudness on or off – or you can press the Direct button and listen as is. It turns out that the Premiera A1 has everything to withstand competitors in this price range. Moreover, it is class AB, which can currently be considered a rarity for the budget segment. Everything else is a bonus: wide functionality, flexible settings and inconvenient numbers on the remote control.
Premiera A1 VU Specifications
- Number of Channels: 2
- Power Amplifier Class: AB
- DAC: AK4432 (AKM)
- 32-bit 2-channel architecture
- Processes PCM data up to 32-bit / 192 kHz
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 108 dB
- Nominal Output Power: ≥ 2 x 51 W (8 Ohm)
- Damping Factor: > 200 / 8 Ohm
- Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 50 kHz, ±0.5 dB
- Channel Separation: > 80 dB
- THD+N: < 0.07% (20 Hz – 50 kHz, 2 x 45 W, 8 Ohm, stereo mode)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Linear Input): > 100 dB
- Inputs:
- 3 x RCA (analog stereo line level: CD, Aux, TAPE)
- 1 x RCA stereo MM phono preamplifier
- 1 x Digital coaxial (S/PDIF), up to 32/192
- 1 x Digital optical (Toslink), up to 24/96
- 1 x USB-A for flash drives/hard drives
- Supports MP3, WAV, AIFF, FLAC
- Resolution: up to 24-bit / 48 kHz
- FAT32 file system
- Outputs:
- 1 x 6.3 mm stereo headphone output
- 1 x RCA analog line-out for recording
- 1 x RCA mono subwoofer output
- Bluetooth: Version 5.0
- Nominal Sensitivity (Line Inputs): 650 mV
- Max Signal Level (Line Inputs): 2.5 V
- Sensitivity at Phono Preamp Input: ≥ 3 mV
- LF Equalization: ±10 dB at 100 Hz
- HF Equalization: ±10 dB at 10 kHz
- Mains Power Supply: 220–240 V, 50 Hz
- Power Consumption: Up to 300 W
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 434 x 110 x 280 mm
- Weight: 5.8 kg
