MARCH 2017
ISSUE 3/2017 (320)HI-FI ● HIGH-END ● TV SETS ● HOME CINEMA
Price 12.90 PLN (including 5% VAT) • INDEX NO 377317 PL ISSN 1230-395X

JapanesemasterMAGICO S1 MkIIThe best two-way
in the world?

REIMYO KAP-777.

Headphones:
Audeze LCD-4
Denon AH-D7200

NAD M32
Digital integrated amp

Ayon S-10

Chord 2Qute DAC

Vacuum-tube streamer

High-end in miniature?

HIGH-END Reimyo KAP-777 power amplifier

Japanese precision
No tubes, no A-class, two ways in one chassis, a modest weight of 31.5 kg and...the sound that I wish I
never had to part with. Here comes Reimyo power amplifier.
❙Text and pictures: Filip Kulpa

As a manufacturer, Combak Corporation issomewhat unusual. The company’s
headquarters is located in Kanagawa
prefecture (central Japan), about 20 km southof Yokohama. The sign at the entrance to asmall building reads: „The Science ofBeautiful Sound and Vision”. Combak doesn’tsell its products under one brand – there isseveral of them. A person that is not familiar
with the branch might think that what we’redealing with is a corporation. But that’s far
from truth – Reimyo deals with electronics,
they have just five devices: a CD drive, A/D
converter, linear preamplifier (tube), power
amplifier and a conditioner. Harmonix has awider offer – cables and expensive
accessories such as stands, bases orturntable mats. There are quite a lot of
products. Recently, a new brand – Hijiri – hascome to life (a bit cheaper cables; Hijiri HGP10R interconnect won the Award of the Year

there are also Enacom sets. What’s the point

and T. Iseki – the head audio engineer atof this division? It’s hard to say. A great

Combak Corporation. According to themajority of audiophiles identify all these

originator of this endeavor, it was a “Highproducts with Kazuo Kiuchi, who has a “high”

Tech Fusion”, which aim was to create arank in Kendo martial art, who regularly visitstransistor power amplifier of top quality. It

Poland and has a devoted Polish distributor,

received a name: KAP-777 – after anotherand – I have to admit – is quite an enigmatic

power amplifier, only this time a vacuum-

person. He comes from the family of musicaltube type, PAT-777, with 300B triodes from

instruments creators, it is a common

Western Electric. Obviously, it was a single-

knowledge that he cooperates with JVC

ended amplifier. Kiuchi’s goal was to create

mastering studio (he is one of the threea transistor amplifier that would retain theengineers there) and that he had his part incharacteristics of a tube, but withinventing K2 and XRCD. His education,

significantly improved versatility, dynamics

however, has nothing to do with engineering or

and bass control. The fine tuning of the amp

electronics. When it comes to his musicaltook 3 years. Finally, it arrived on the market

preferences, he is keen on classical music.

at the beginning of 2011, so it’s no novelty.

It was almost a decade ago when he invited
three specialist to close cooperation. They
were:
T. Kuwaoka – the creator of K2 technology (it isabout preparation and mastering a material for2016 in HighEnd cable category). It’s worth

CDs in 24-bit resolution), Michael Edinger –mentioning thatrecording engineer;

CONSTRUCTION
The manufacturer doesn’t say very muchabout the construction of this beautifully
crafted amplifier. You can learn a bit more bytaking a look at the inside, with its quite
surprising proportions. The power supply
takes about 3/4 of the space. In the front partof the chassis, separated with a steel shield,
there are two 400 VA toroidal transformers(full dual-mono), feeding power to bridge
rectifiers “surrounded” by four RIFA 220 nF
capacitors. From there, the current flows to aquartet of impressive RIFA PEH200
electrolytes with 30 k μF/100 V capacity. Eachof them is shunted with high-class film
capacitors from the same brand (PME 271 M).
All the connections are remarkably robust,screwed, and the cables have high crosssection. It’s really nice to look at. The wholeassembly is characterized by extreme
attention to detail and robustness. On thecurrent input, there is an integrated noise filter(LC) manufactured by TDK.
Voltage gain sections are located inside
cages made of perforated steel, so it is almost
impossible to see the circuit. But it is theoutput stage that constitutes the heart of theconstruction. It is built on the basis of a single
pair (on each channel) of industrial MOSFETs
marked TL9656 SP1005

34

HIGH-END Reimyo KAP-777 power amplifier

400 W per channel (at 4 Ω) from one pairof output transistors is possible – butthey are not something you can normallysee in audio sets.

Attention to detail is also visible
when you look at the connectors –truly amazing. The copper terminals
are from Mundorf.

KAP-777 is a full dual-mono withperfectly manufactured power supply
and neat assembly.

The manufacturer highlights that they used
Harmonix internal cables and high-quality
Mundorf TPCU870C binding posts, made ofpure OFC, characterized by excellent
conductivity. They come with “jewelry” custom
design nuts. It’s worth mentioning that a pairof such (standard) terminals from Mundorf
costs 150 euro (but for the price you only getplastic nuts). These are one of the best
mechanical terminals that I’ve ever seen in an
amp. The precision with which they turn istruly impressing. It should be a standard inpower amplifiers that cost 100 k PLN. The
good news, however, is that the KAP-777
price has been recently reduced to 95 k PLN.
in ISOTOP/SOT227B case, offering 200 W of

The classic-form, yet highly tasteful andpower at 8 Ω and, reportedly, twice aselegant chassis is made of thick blocks ofmuch at 4 Ω. According to the manufacturer,

anodized aluminum (the golden top is as

the amplifier remains stable already undermuch as 7 mm thick, whereas the front

load above 1.5 Ω, which makes this power

is 10 mm thick). The heat sinks are made ofamp even more outstanding. The transistors

the same material. As a whole, it looks very

are attached directly to massive heat sinks

stylish – it can’t be denied that the amp’s

made of aluminum, which constitute the amp’s

price is clearly visible. The device isn’t verysides. Two of the output transistors carry

big – it is 20 cm high and less than 50 cm“passengers” – high-voltage transistors,

deep, which

MJE340G (ON SEMI), providing thermal
stabilization of the quiescent current.

36

The noise from the mains issuppressed at input.

allows to easily fit it in a high-class audio
stand – such as our Rogoz Audio 4SPB/ BBS.
Its weight of 31.5 kg also doesn’t pose any
problems.
KAP-777 features two important elements asstandard equipment, one of them being a fullset of anti-vibration feet from Harmonix. They
are marked TU-505EXMkII and consist of aflat aluminum base and a top part, which is a
bit narrower and made of hard wood. The
manufacturer calls such elements “Tuning
Feet”, and also uses terminology such as“resonance control”. As a physicist, I’m notsure what resonance control should consist inwhen it comes to a passive element made oftwo rigidly connectedDISTRIBUTOR Moje Audio, www.mojeaudio.pl
PRICE 95,000 PLN
Available colors: silver

HIGH-END EVALUATIONTECHNICAL DATA
Inputs: RCA, XLR
Outputs: speakers (1 pair)
Output power:
200 W per channel (at 8 Ω), 400 W per channel(at 4 Ω)Frequency range: 5 Hz-100 kHz
Input sensitivity and impedance:
0.77 V / 40 kΩ (XLR)
Permissible driving load: >1.5 ΩPower consumption (at standby/idle):
95 W (at idle)
Dimensions: 430 x 200 x 460 mm
430 x 220 x 492 mm (incl. feet and terminals)
Actual weight: 31.5 kg

EQUIPMENT CLASS A

RCA and XLR inputs have no switches. If you use RCA inputs (which makes sense, because
the amp is unbalanced), don’t forget to use the supplied XLR plug with pins 1 and 3. The wingnuts are super convenient.

hard materials (which, admittedly, have

jumpers for XLR inputs (including ground andFinally, two more pieces of practicalconsiderably different characteristics). But“cold” pins), which are to be used every time

information. The manufacturer gives a 12-

let’s leave this aside. What’s important iswhen you use asymmetric outputs.

month warranty. The main power button isthat the feet are there and that they look

Otherwise the amplification level is reduced bylocated at the bottom of the chassis, close to

great. As we all know, it’s not uncommon tohalf (6 dB). It is because pins 1 and 2 of XLR

the lower front edge of the amp. It’s easy tosee solutions that shouldn't be working at all

inputs are shorted to RCA inputs, whereas pinreach, so there is no need to put the KAP onwork miracles in high-end systems...

3 (“cold”) either has to receive signal froma dedicated

The other important element that comes asa standard ispreamp, or has to be shorted to ground.

HIGH-END Reimyo KAP-777 power amplifier

PlaybacksystemROOM:

30 m2, acoustically
adapted, considerably
insulated, columns placed
far away from walls

SOURCES: AuralicAries (FW. 4.1.0) (USBaudio out) + Meitner MA1 DAC, Audionet Planck,
T+A PDP-3000HVPREAMPLIFIER:
Conrad-Johnson ET2

REFERENCEAMPLIFIER:
Audionet AMPI V2

SPEAKER SETS:
Wilson Audio Yvette,
Magico S1 Mk2, Zoller
Temptation

INTERCONNECTS:
platform, away from the main stand. And it’ssome compromise. The price of good

becomea blessing. Although those who like “altar-“musicality” is usually reduced precisionsuspicious. As it

type” arrangement will probably put this

and/or dynamics, or also resolution,

turned out, thisStereovox HDSE, Albedo
Metamorphosis, Hijiri
HGP-15R, WireWorldGold Eclipse 7

amplifier on some expensive anti-vibrationsmoothness and tone quality. Personally, I’mtime it was

SPEAKER CABLES:

platform, making it a central point of the

not a fan of such “tuning”. What I value in acompletely

system. I’m sure it’d be a good idea.

high-end equipment is realism, but not at theunnecessary.

KBL Sound Red Eye
Ultimate, Equilibrium
Equilight / Sun Ray

It is also worth mentioning the cables. It’s nocost of inferior range, deprived of tone color

KAP-777 is an

ACCESSORIES:

secret or surprise that the cables fromor emotions. In line with this principle, I’ve

amplifier, which I

Harmonix / Hijiri match KAP very well,built my own system, which gives me lot ofwould never countstands: Rogoz Audio
4SPB/ BBS, StandART
STO, platforms: PAB

creating a synergistic composition.

satisfaction – both objective (technical), andas a “manipulator”

POWER SUPPLY:

purely musical. This configuration – which I– a device that

EVALUATION CONTEXT

haven’t changed for years (except for

fakes something

In the manual, as well as on the

recently replaced power and speakerin order to exert

manufacturer’s website, you can find a brief

cables) – is not based on contraries, thecertain effect on a

description of amplifier’s sound, in which

weaknesses of some elements aren’tlistener. Reimyo

emphasis is put on the notion of musicality

compensated with advantages of otherpresents musical(the adjective “musical” appears two times –elements. It’s not how it should be – I think.

excellence, it’s aalmost one after another). On the one handAt times I deal with expensive equipment,
which, plugged into my system, has anegative effect on its quality, bothobjectively and subjectively. Most
audiophiles would call this a mismatch. But
in fact, a mismatch relates to situations
where the negative qualities of devices
overlap, producing an undesirable effect.
Whereas a situation where a given amp“narrows” the soundstage, thins bass,
distorts trebles (without changing their
quality), softens transients, etc. is not amismatch, but rather an expression of
objective limitations of the amp.

device that is

it might seem ridiculous (after all, the users
will evaluate that themselves), on the other
hand – it inspires a thought, that occurred tome after the first two hours of listening. The
word “musical” is quite ambiguous, as it canhave very different, and sometimes evencontradictory meanings. It is somewhat
paradoxical, because in general sense,“musical” refers to something that
accentuates the quality of music being
played, its beauty and emotions of theperformers. However, when it comes to theparticular, it often turns out that “musicality”

20 A dedicated powerline, power strips:
Furutech f-TP615,
GigaWatt PF-2 (forswitching power
supplies), power cables:
KBL Sound Red Eye
Ultimate, Spectrum,
Zodiac, Harmonix XDC350M2R

exhaustive and fully harmonious in its
nature. And at the same time, it’s extremely
sophisticated when it comes to all soundqualities. What can be observed here is avery desirable effect of absolute equilibrationof individual sound qualities – and not on agood or even very good level, but rather
excellent or phenomenal. At this point, I musteliminate potential guesswork: it is not thebest amplifier I have heard or tested, but it ispretty close. Even though a lot of time has
passed, the reference system remains thesame, and this allows me to assume thatthat stands for a particular audio

SOUND
Fortunately, this problem doesn’t apply tomanipulation. The most typical effects

Reimyo’s transistor power amplifier. I have tosensational and euphonic quality as theinclude edge smoothing, bass or mid range

say that I’m not allured by hyper-resolution orstereophonic Momentum Dana D’Agostino

boost (or reduction), treble rounding, etc.

extraordinary dynamics when they are not in(its first version). Nevertheless, I put this amp

Another expression of musicality is attaining

tune with (or are achieved at the cost of) the(I’m talking about Reimyo now) on thean “extraordinary” level of rhythmical andremaining sound qualities. This is why, whensecond place in my private ranking, equal tomotoric qualities. Such tuning always entails

someone talks about musicality of a high-end

is an artificially introduced quality of devices

amplifier, pointing it as its advantage, I

38

KAP-777 doesn’t reach the same level ofsystemHIGH-END Reimyo KAP-777 power amplifier

Harmonix TU-505EX aluminum and woodfeet are quite an expensive accessory.
Here we get them for “free”.

the second version of Dana D’Agostino (Classic
Stereo). I don’t want to judge here which ofthese different-sounding amps is better. I justwant to set a level for further reference andconsideration, so that it is clear to the reader.
It would be difficult for me to point thecharacteristics, or rather observations madewhile listening, which were dominant in theimpressing whole. Here, everything
contributes to a coherent, absolutely musicalunity. I guess it would be easier to point what
KAP-777 doesn’t do, rather than what it actually
does with audio signal. Well, to my surprise, I
haven’t noticed any softening. Excessive warmth,
in its stereotypical understanding, is also absent.
I wouldn’t say the sound is anyhow artificiallyfattened – also it’s not flattened for sure. What’smore, in the Japanese power amp, you won’t
find any aggression, hardness or error ofommisison. Not for one second did it occur to me
that Reimyo might exaggerate some range of
frequency, or that it might decrease anything. So
are we dealing with a perfect amp? Not really,
because I can imagine that everything that

Reimyo does excellent – so basically everything– theoretically can be done “even better”.
Reaching back to the moment when I replaced
Audioneta AMP1 V2 with Momentum Stereo, I
can conclude that it was even a greater leap andunforgettable experience – especially when it
comes to sound quality, soundstage and overall
freedom. Yet I do have an impression that KAP777 is better at controlling deep bass comparedto the good old d’Agostino. But these are justmemories, so let’s leave them aside in favor of
the specifics deriving from the wonderful musicalexperience provided by the product ofcooperation between four engineers.
The key to the boasted “musicality” ofthe best of the potential of purely audiophilethis amp is its broadly understoodedition of “Sogno Barocco” album by Anne

openness. Midrange, highs and bass

Sophie Otter and Cappella Mediterranea, I

combine into one continuum characterized

could fully enjoy the master craft of theby remarkably coherent quality. Details areproducers from Naïve. The lightness andretained everywhere, in every sub-range,

openness of soundstage stemming directly

and they are of very high quality. Yet, notform superior reproduction of the high range

records, including Hi-Res material, but it still
provides much joy out of listening to ordinary
music – like for instance the brilliantly
performed song by Ania Rusowicz, “W comam wierzyc” (from “Sztuka Kochania”
soundtrack). The Japanese device faithfully
reproduces the spirit of records from the 60s
and 70s – also the Polish ones. The breakout
hit, “Gdybys Kochal, Hej”, brings backnostalgic memories of the unique charm ofPolish blues. With Reimyo, I could appreciatereally good quality (in this case I was using
TiDAL). Whereas when listening to 24-bit fileeven for one moment, does it turn into

(there’s so much air!) in combination with live

exaggerated directness, sharp edges or

emotions expressed by the artists performing

harshness. When it comes to sound quality,

work pieces from early Italian opera (16thKAP-777 plays with astonishing ease. It

and 17th c.), impressed me so much that I

seems to focus more, but only slightly, onjust couldn't stop listening, even though

the midrange, which has all the qualities you

normally I don’t fancy such music. What’s

would expect from a prominent amplifier. It is

more, I came back to these recordings

by no means syrupy, overly warm or veiled.

several times! I could go on and on about

Instead, we get perfectly palpable singers

how great the successive songs and albums

and instruments, fully convincing harmonics,

sounded. Practically each of them was

as well as – which is very important –superior in the area of absolute quality of

impeccable speed and precision. The same

reproduction compared to what I normallyapplies to bass reproduction, which is mostcome across. And this was all done solely byingenious. It doesn’t overwhelm with power,

the tested amplifier, although the recently

it doesn’t want to surpass the size of theadded KBL Sound (Red Eye Ultimate)room or the speaker capabilities. It doses

speaker cable also made some contribution.

every impulse with precision, perfectly

By the way, it perfectly supplements

balancing the proportion between transient

Reimyo’s capabilities.

content and edges, showing really high levelin both these aspects. Where it is necessary,

IN OUR OPINION

basses can be really brief, tight, and at other

I don’t know to what extent this whole story oftimes they are convincingly filled, perfectly

engineer collaboration under Kazuo Kiuchi’s

reproducing the power and presenting theirlead is true, nevertheless, the effect of thisfull length, which was audible in “The Martian”

collaboration is an amplifier that is truly

soundtrack. The attack and clarity, combined

outstanding. It is a very expensive device,with brilliant sound reproduction in the low

which provokes a difficult question: is therange were clearly audible in “Abie” song

sound worth spending 95 k PLN? Taking intofrom Avishai Cohen’s album, “Fromconsideration the fact that the only (slightly)

Darkness”. By the way, this power amp canbetter amplifier I know costs today almost

really effortlessly express the differences intwice as much, and none of the cheaper

the quality of the same material on the

power amps I know of, excluding theexample of TiDAL’s Hi-Fi (16/44.1) vs. Hi-

ingenious D’Agostino Classica Stereo (73 k

Res (Masters) streaming. The latter sounded

PLN), offers such musical nirvana, I have noa whole class better – despite the lack of

choice, but to reply in the affirmative. At the

MQA decoding (FLAC 24/48 data reading).

same time, I’m giving the amp my formal

Although it is undoubtedly very clear, KAP-

recommendation. If you have the chance, try it

777 is by no means a device that degrades

out – without prejudice. You might betechnically imperfect songs. Sure, it makes

surprised of what semiconductors can donowadays.■40