The Dazzle Integrated Amp is the Definition of a Flagship.
By Steve Huff
The integrated amp I will be talking about today is one that threw me for a loop. When I was asked if I wanted to review the new Vinshine Audio/Kinki Studios collaboration amp called the Dazzle, I assumed it was another integrated amp of the “same old same old” variety. I was not even aware of this piece being launched so I looked it up and found all of the info HERE on the Vinshine website.
Once I saw the details I knew I wanted to get this in, to check it out, take a look and see if it was as good as the Vinshine website made it sound!
The big, bold 76lb DAZZLE is truly an interested amp that DAZZLED ME!
I checked the price of the Dazzle and in USD it should be around $8500. I have to be honest here…this sounds expensive for an amp made in China as I am used to seeing big time deals with Chi-Fi but there is much more than meets the eye here with the Dazzle. This is not just another Chinese made amp nor is it one that is made with low grade parts to sell at a low grade price. In fact I have never seen any integrated amp under $25k built to the level of the Dazzle. This is fact and no, I was not paid for this review, in fact I paid to do this review (will explain later). I just cannot think of any amp that is built to this level that doesn’t cost well over $10k or much more.
Let me think harder. OK, the Luxman 509Z which is now close to $15k retail, wow. That amp is a dream amp and looks and sounds fantastic, though different in sound and approach from the Dazzle, and with less power. The T+A 3100 HV still haunts my memories and that amp was and is the finest made integrated I have seen to date but it’s $27k these days, before tax and shipping. Sound of the T+A, again, quite different from the Luxman and Dazzle. Each amp has their own kind of house sound going on. Build wise though? The Dazzle sits with those big guns that cost much more, EASILY.
Honest Rant: I am tired of amps coning in with cheap builds, buzzing transformers and average sound that cost $6k and up. I do see some of this and when I do, I skip the reviews. There are many “high end” amps and integrated amps that shouldn’t be anywhere near a high end price. I was hoping the Dazzle would not have these issues I see so often. It also needed to have the sound quality to back up its price and insane build. When it came in I set it up quickly to find out what the Dazzle was all about.
I love how they placed the power and mute button on the top to keep the front clean. The one here is silver and it also is offered in a dark grey type of color.
Before I talk about what makes the Dazzle so remarkable let me back up a few years to when I reviewed the Kinki Studios EXM1 integrated amp that back then was an amp I thought was also remarkable, due to its performance vs price tag. It had big power, a cool looking enclosure, big current and a huge damping factor for around $2500. It was such a steal for what it offered but if I have to be critical of the EXM1 compared to the Dazzle that I have been listening to, in comparison…. the EXM1 sounded flatter and duller, did not have the soundstage, depth or imaging of the Dazzle and as good as the EXM1 looks it may just look or feel “cheap” sitting next to the Dazzle. As good as the EXM1 looks and sounds, it cannot match the standards of the Dazzle and this should be the case for what it costs, right?
So yea, you are getting much more with the new flagship Dazzle vs the EXM1 series and this is good.
Attention to detail is extreme with the Dazzle, even using gold plated boards and flame cabling inside of the amp (the good stuff)
The Dazzle is the flagship integrated amp from the duo of Vinshine and Kinki and when you read all that went into this powerhouse of an integrated you will see that they have thought of everything to create what they feel is the best integrated they can make. Whether or not some of these additions makes an audible difference I cannot say but man… they loaded the Dazzle with some amazing tech and parts and yes it sounds amazing. The Dazzle is probably the most tank like built integrated I have had in here since the $27k+ T+A PA 3100 HV integrated amp and that’s impressive. For me the Dazzle surpasses the build of say McIntosh (had a plastic knob fall off of a new $13k amp) and meets even those from Luxman and others when it comes to build, design and quality.
In fact, the Dazzle in the flesh is stunning. It’s a piece of modern day audio art and is heavy as all get out at 76lbs. It’s large as well due to the parts inside that are needed for this to pump out 560 watts per channel, using a Class A/B amp section into 4 ohms. Oh, the first 15 watts may be biased into Class A from what I have read, but will need to confirm.
But let me repeat… 300 WPC into 8 OHMS and 560 WPC into 4 OHMS. That is insane for a Class A/B amp!
So yea, the Dazzle pumps out 300 WPC into 8 ohms and it can drive any speaker known to man. I have torture tested it with a set of 82 db 4 ohm speakers (Vipers) and the Dazzle took them on as if they were nothing, but this amp had 560 WPC on tap for the Vipers so yea, easy breezy. I also tested the Dazzle with the Icon 12 which are 92 DB efficient and it drives them with beauty, grace, details and an addictive rhythmic musical groove with some warmth injected. The Dazzle is not a bright. etched or lit up type of amp but it’s not warm really. It’s more of the solid, dense, effortless power kind of vibe with some body, a little bit of warmth in the mids and still plenty of details being exposed. With some music and the right speakers the soundstage can be very holographic as well. Rich, fluid, big, bold, dynamic…that to me is the Kinki sound. If the Dazzle was a camera, I would say it had a 50MP sensor.
The Vinshine Name on top of the Dazzle
The two metal knobs on the front of the Dazzle are the most luxurious in feel that I have experienced in any amplifier, ever. These dials, the feel of them, put McIntosh knobs to shame, really. Not a dig, just facts. The volume dial is pure silk and feels solid and smooth at the same time, like refined luxury. No resistance or grit yet not sloppy in the slightest, just smooth and silky. The big dot matrix style display is easily seen across the room, even with not so great eyes and the remote is all metal, and custom for the Dazzle. No cheap plastic remote here.
On the rear we will see this is a dual mono amp configuration here with the Dazzle and we will also see the neatly laid out RCA and XLR inputs and outputs. You can also use the Dazzle as a power amp, I tested it with a Galion Navy preamp which is my resident tube preamp used for testing and enjoyment. I will say that the Dazzle makes for one hell of a power anp but the internal preamp is quite stunning as well. This is not a digital amp, but fully analog my friends. The Navy brought out some more of the details which is nice if that is what you are looking for. I enjoyed it but also enjoyed the Dazzle as is because it was made to sound super out of the box. It did take about 50 hours to mellow out though as the first few days showed some “shine” in the treble that smoothed out pretty quickly. The amp also benefits from a 20-30 minute warm up if it has been unused for a while.
The back of the Dazzle is solid. Neatly laid out inputs, outputs and speaker connections. Every input is solid which is great as one $15k amp I took in a while back had awful RCA inputs that were loose. That was not acceptable, Herem everything is solid and looks and feels high end,
It’s NOT the BEST.
Before I get to the listening impressions let me say that no, this is not the best integrated I have heard for all out sound quality with my Icon 12 speakers but it doesn’t matter as I will be buying a Dazzle, this one I have here in fact. I will state why at the end. Yea, I refused to send it back so I told Alvin at Vinshine I had to buy it from him. I will be wiring the funds to him soon. Why would I buy an amp that doesn’t have the “best” sound I have heard with my speakers? Well, that “best” costs $25k and the Dazzle gets close enough for $17,000 USD less and is built better, has more power and is a work of art. When I say it gets close, I mean it. This is not only the definition of a flagship integrated, it’s also a giant killer as it can match, meet, exceed or get scary close to those integrated amps that run in the exotic lane. This is a great time to be into audio my friends. I could care less if the Dazzle was made in China as the quality is here to compete with any USA (or any country) made amp at any cost. Yea, I have even heard some of these integrates that cost close to $50k and didn’t see the value in them. I see massive value in the Dazzle.
So while there may be an amp that sounds a little better with my speakers, I can not justify the added cost of said amps for how close the Dazzle gets me. Also, if I compare the Dazzle to say the Devialet Astra which costs $20-$25k, the Astra is just different so may not always be “better” depending on system synergy. The Astra has a little more treble sparkle and the cool factor as a high end all in one. The Dazzle brings more solidity and bass performance with less treble “shine”. At the end of the day, either sounds incredible but one costs much less. The Astra is a dream amp for me, here on long term loan. I do not own it as I cannot afford the cost of it. The Dazzle, I can swing it and it is also in that “dream amp” category. I will say this…if the Dazzle was made by a big name USA company, it would cost $25k.
SPECS and FEATURES of the Dazzle Integrated Amp
OK, here we go. We already spoke of the immense power that this integrated amp delivers, all in Class A/B so this is not Class A or D. The amp runs warm but not hot and will not heat a room. This one is 76lbs so it is heavy and hefty but very solid in feel. There are two XLR inputs and three RCA inputs on the rear. There is also a preamp in so you can use the Dazzle as a massive power amp. So let us say you have a tube preamp you love…you can hook it up to the Dazzle and make beautiful music while over riding the built in preamp. I will say that the built in pre is quite nice sounding as is.
The Dazzle has so much more so check out this list of what they put into this to make it as good as they could.
“The DAZZLE’s chassis inherits the floating resonance-control structure from the Kinki Studio 79 flagship series.Its suspended isolation design separates the main chassis from the base, guiding internal vibration through directional energy-drain spike feet that discharge mechanical energy away from sensitive circuitry.”
ME: This is why it’s so dang silent. It’s deathly silent when on and running. No buzzes, hums, interference or noise. There is more…
“Every internal circuit is laid on 3U gold-plated PCBs for superior conductivity, ultra-low impedance, and long-term stability. The DAZZLE’s preamp features a direct, ultra-short signal path, minimizing circuitry to preserve every nuance, detail, and dynamic of the source.The preamp section employs an independent voltage servo architecture, ensuring absolute DC precision and eliminating the sonic coloration caused by capacitive coupling.”
To achieve uncompromising performance, the DAZZLE is equipped with:
“Total eight(8) sets of high speed, high current, low noise power supplies dedicated to control, display, protection, preamp, and power amplification stages.”
ME: The last time I saw this many power supplies in one unit it was for a Nagra DAC that cost $100k.
“Dual 800W tightly matched, low magnetic-loss, high efficient Toroidal Transformers delivering a combined 1600W of clean, instantaneous power for the dual-mono left and right channels. These tightly matched toroidal transformers minimize magnetic leakage and noise, providing pure, stable, and dynamic energy delivery — ensuring effortless control even during complex musical passages.”
ME: This amp never gets muddied up with complex passages, so they are right. It has full control at all times.
“The DAZZLE’s power stage uses four large, rare in its class, 10 µF Vishay MKP film capacitors, paired with four 6,800 µF high-endurance, Kinki Studio–tuned reservoir capacitors for AC/DC rectification, per channel. This carefully engineered capacitor bank network ensures clean, stable DC voltage delivery to the amplifier circuits, minimizing ripple and electrical noise. The result is extraordinary transient speed, allowing each note to emerge with clarity, detail, and musical naturalness. From the subtlest harmonic overtones to explosive dynamic peaks, the DAZZLE captures the full depth and texture of every recording.”
“At the heart of DAZZLE lies the all-new SSCLD module (Super Symmetry Current Linear Drive), an evolution of Kinki Studio’s proprietary high-bandwidth topology. This next-generation design delivers:
“Ultra-wide bandwidth, high dynamic range, high voltage swing, ultra-low distortion”
ME: This is what I am hearing exactly with the Dazzle. Wide bandwidth, distortion? I do not hear any. The amp has great Dynamic Range as well. So yea, it delivers.
Also, the Dazzle includes cryogenic treated fuses...“ShoonTH High-End Fuse — cryogenically treated at −196°C for over 120 hours, enhancing conductivity and reducing micro-distortion across the signal path.” This beast of an amp also uses exact express flame series cabling inside, has the AC inlet cryo treated as well as the custom speaker being posts made of pure OFC”
So this integrated amp was made with a purpose, to be the flagship of the Kinki Studios lineup and the enhancements made by Vinshine Audio seems to take this to an all new level, usually not seen in integrated amps of this price. Yes, again, $8500 is a load of cash. For close to this money you can get a Pass Labs INT 60 for $10-11k (though it’s way less power, will not sound better and may even make some transformer noise like the one I had in here did), a Luxman 507Z which is an excellent integrated but again, over $10k and less power with more shine to the treble. Maybe even a nice all tube Cayin SOUL 170i tube integrated with some upgraded tubes but this will be a completely different kind of amp as it is tubed.
There are tons of choices today with integrated amps and what we ultimately land on is usually what we are needing. If you need power, the Dazzle is end game for an integrated. If you need big bass that is tight and explosive, the Dazzle will bring that to you. If you need or desire a luxury build the Dazzle brings this. If you want a dead silent amp and do not want to deal with buzzing transformers the Dazzle will bring this. If you want an amp that has the ability to immerse you in the music, the Dazzle can do this. If you hate brightness and edge, you will love the Dazzle.
What about sound? How does the Dazzle sound?
Listening Impressions
OK, before the Dazzle went in to the system I was having marathon listening sessions with some tube amps such as the Cayin SOUL 170i and the magical SET Cayin 805A. Also, the Devialet Astra and Enleum Amp 54R, which are both simply some of the best solid state I have ever heard. The Amp 54R with my Icon 12 speakers is heavenly, sublime, dreamy and as immersive as I have heard in this room. Yep, the best I have heard the Icon 12 along with the $25k Astra. The Enleum is also a Class A/B amp but puts out 100 WPC and yet has a completely different “dive in and swim around the stage” kind of sound. I can’t afford the $25k Enleum, even if it was a used review unit with a discount. It’s also a unique slim design and with less power. It ran out of steam trying to drive the little 82DB Vipers but man it sounded so sweet with the Icon 12.
So what about the Dazzle? Can it get close to the $25k Enleum or Astra?
The Dazzle, when powered on, reminded me of a souped up and hot rodded/more open and powerful Kinki EXM1 . For sure the Dazzle is several steps up from the EXM1 in sound as the Dazzle presented a wider stage, better imaging and has some nice 3D depth to it as well vs the EXM1+. It still brought that solidity of sound with superb detail retrieval that is not all out “airy” but super balanced from top to bottom. The Dazzle is effortless in delivery and sounds very dynamic and powerful, very clean and clear, yet with body and some solidity. It’s nice as it doesn’t sound bright, hard or harsh/lean. It has super control over every speaker I hook it up to.
The Dazzle sounds like a muscle car that is uber refined and sweet, tuned for power and speed with a big V8 engine. It just has a flow about it and the soundstage is wide as we would expect in a flagship product. The Dazzle has imaging performance that is so right and correct, properly laid out within the stage it does throw but it’s not surgical in its delivery. It’s a stunner in sound indeed and also does spatial recordings very well, with reverb trails easily heard, if your speakers are up to that task. I hear this character no matter the speakers I use, but I did test the Dazzle with a few speakers, starting with the Icon 12.
The Enleum Amp 54R has some magic dust sprinkled inside but is more “lit up” than the Dazzle
Here I was pitting the Dazzle against two amps that are $25k each and it was holding its own in sound and just as good if not better in build than the two more pricey boxes. The Dazzle is indeed the definition of what a Flagship analog integrated amp should be. It appears it would survive being dropped from a plane, lol. Beautiful, refined and yet tough with sound to match its looks.
Bass is tremendous with the Dazzle and it may indeed bring the finest bass performance I have heard in an integrated since the $27k German made T+A PA 3100 HV. I feel the T+A has a more transparent and open sound vs the Dazzle all while keeping the same brilliant bass performance but it is $18k more in cost after all. Bass though? Yea, they may be equal.
The midrange of the Dazzle is magical at times with great recordings and the right speakers. It’s a 3D affair with clarity and snap allowing us to hear the character of the voice, the cracks in the voice and the breaths taken. There is also a smoothness, hinted at, with the Dazzle but it’s not what I would call an all out “smooth” amp as it has some energy and drive to it as well. It is detailed and direct with amazing power and dynamic range behind it. Soft to loud, stunning. Drums are presented with amazing heft and snap with the Dazzle, best I have heard drums actually. Those little Viper speakers do drums so well and with the Dazzle there is snap, crackle and pop!
Speakers
I started with the Icon 12 speakers from O Audio, my faves for warmth, body, detail, speed and that gorgeous effortless flow. They have also been my resident reference speaker for the last year or so. With the Enleum Amp 54R I was in audible heaven with the Icon 12. Such an immersive transparent experience. Going to the Dazzle the sound shrunk a touch next to the $25k Enleum and was a little bit less open and see through. Less of those deep inner details being exposed to the forefront as well. With that said, the Dazzle brought more solidity and a more focused imaging performance. The Enleum has some magic dust inside of its box and the Dazzle has brawn and punch. The Dazzle is also presenting an open stage with depth, but paying $18k more gets you 10% more of this with the Enluem.
If you like the sound and feel of effortless power and drive, the Dazzle will surely Dazzle with speakers like the Icon 12. The Astra lays somewhere in the middle between the Dazzle and Enleum but do know these differences are not HUGE but they are there, and noticeable. Either way, when the Dazzle was in I wasn’t in any kind of hurry to switch to the more pricey boxes as I was enjoying the Dazzle a little more. It has an addictive sound quality about it. Smooth, super refined and the right amount of sparkle and air to make it all wonderfully addictive.
Both sounded divine with the Icon 12, make no mistake, but the $17k more pricey Enleum won the sound quality battle with the Icon 12. I even tested the Heaven 11 Billie MK3 and it also sounded sublime but warmer, less detailed and with some tube goodness from the preamp. The Billie MK3 is around $3k and yes, I own it and have it on hand for when I am in the mood for a hybrid. Seen here with Buchardt E50’s.
Yea, we can enjoy music with lower cost gear for sure. I have always said this. Sometimes though, we reach for magic and for this we will need to go further up the chain. Amps that I have been talking about here today like the Dazzle, T+A, Enleum and Devialet all have magic and deliver it in their own way by being more refined, smoother, never any edge or glare and immersion.
With the Buchatdt E50 bookshelf speakers the sound was fast and quick when the Dazzle was powering them, with superb details and big bass yet again showing me the same solidity of sound. The midrange was thinner than the mighty Icon 12 but super clean and again, spooky at times. The Dazzle did justice to the Buchardt E50’s.
With the Pure Audio Project Duet 15 the Dazzle did AMAZING with a super smooth never edgy top end and big bottom end, just what the Duet’s like. With the Duet 15 horn I was hearing a large stage and a more open sound vs the Icon. I remember hearing these with a Luxman 509Z which is $14k USD new and the combo was so so good. The Dazzle doesn’t bring the same sound as the Luxman, which has a more tipped up treble. The Dazzle is smoother, sweeter and sexier where the Luxman was organic, rich and detail oriented with some treble sparkle. I can’t say which I prefer as I do not know. This means, either will work for me ; )
With the T+A Talis R330 the sound was the most open of all, largest stage of all and probably the 2nd best bass performance sitting behind the Icon. With the T+A I heard more details, more reverb trails and this came with a crystalline top end that was stunning, showing me that the Dazzle can indeed do depth, a holographic stage and bring forth details from the depths of the music. All depends on the speaker you choose to mate with it. These are the most revealing speakers I have had in here but they sound huge, open and detailed with some of the deepest bass I have ever heard in a two way bookshelf. It’s crazy but yea, these are more open, tipped up and exposing all details vs a warmer fluid speaker like the Icon 12.
Finally I tested the Dazzle with some 82DB 4 ohm speakers called “VIPER”. These win the award for most unique and cool/fun speakers I have ever had in here. They are tiny with 3D printed cabinets that are super cool and unique. You guys know I love unique. One main subwoofer carbon driver, a ribbon tweeter and two passive radiators, one on each side. These need power to shine and the Dazzle impressed mightily here powering them with ease and grace. These speakers shocked me at how HUGE they sounded. The Dazzle loved the VIPER and these are a tough speaker to drive. So tough, the $25k Enleum ran out of gas as I turned them up (though sounded unreal good at mid volumes, even challenging my Icon 12 to some extent). They are beefy, thick or “fat” in the middle and with a sweet treble, so no ear bleeds here. I’ve listened to these a TON and love them with the Dazzle and Astra most. I love these little dynamos!
Songs
If you are looking for an “immersion” test check out Carbon Based Lifeforms. This track…”World Of Sleepers” will have you hearing all kinds of 3D sounds on a well set up system that is focused on immersion and imaging. With the Icon 12 there is body, warmth and flow with the Dazzle and the details are not in my face but spread across the stage in a way that allows me to hear it all without anything glaring out and yes, I am immersed. Switching to the T+A Talis R330 I get more air and details with a leaner midrange and less mid body but lower bass that is almost as strong as the Icon. With the T+A speakers I am fully immersed with the Dazzle as details are popping in and out of everywhere, letting me hear the snaps, sizzle and details with ease so yea, the Dazzle can do big, wide immersion. It’s less of a relaxing listen as with the Icon but amazing in its own right. Placing in the Duet 15 I hear almost a sound that sits between the Talis and Icon and when going to the E50’s I get a clean, clear spatial presentation that doesn’t have a full midbass as with the Icon and Duet but rather more speed and clarity. With the Vipers I am immersed again and this may be my fave as it has the body like the Icon (though a smaller scale) and is a bit tamer up top vs the Talis. The bass and richness open the stage up in a very beautiful way. I can not believe the sound that comes from the Vipers as I am fully immersed in a 3D stage that rival the larger speakers.
Either way, the Dazzle here showed it will deliver the sound to the speakers in a neutral yet smooth way. This allows us to hear what our speakers are really doing as this amp is not what I would call one rich in color, but rich in realism and power.
Moving on to Bright Horses from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Streaming from Tidal at 24 bit 88.2KHZ Flac I get a downright gorgeous presentation on the Icon 12. Wow, so big, so deep, so fluid with vocals rich and smooth and present. Imaging has Nick’s voice dead center and out slightly in front of the Icon speakers. The sound is full, the instruments silky and details soft but present. It’s a nice listen. When I go to the Talis R330, again, the sound opens up as the treble here is more tipped up. This sounds magical and transparent but does lack the mid body of the Icon. I hear a more “correct and clean” kind of sound with air and a huge dosing of 3D. The Duet’s sound gorgeous as well, again, in between the Talis and Icon but with a huge rich voice that comes down the center of the room. The Dazzle is doing just what it should and sounds beautiful with all speakers here.
I used to listen to Enya often. Her ethereal voices and spatial recordings always immersed me in magical sounds. I love the album “And Winter Came” as it is a different kind of Christmas album and so wonderfully recorded. As I listened to the track “Journey of the Angels” I sank into my chair with the lights dimmed and allowed the sounds to wash over me. The big Icons brought the warmth, magic, scale and glow, the Talis brought forth a more 3D vibe with less warmth. The Vipers were so good here, bringing out a 3D stage with body and warmth, and clarity. The E50’s were as good as ever, bringing their sound to the room with this track.
Ahhh, more Christmas music but this one is super sweet. Art Garfunkel and his son teamed up to make an album recently and it is filled with beautiful recordings as their voices mesh so well. This one is recorded very nicely as well with richness, reverb trails, spatial aspects and a big wide stage. Hearing the voices harmonizing it’s pretty incredible and I wanted to see if the Dazzle could bring out the layers like the $25k Enleum Amp 54R, or get close. With the little Vipers the sound was room filling, side to side, floor to ceiling. The sound was just as I had expected and it sounded as if a wall of sound was washing over me. The scale of the Vipers is smaller than my Icon 12 and Duet but larger than say the Buchardt E50 or even the T+A Talis R330. With the Icon 12 this track was again, big, rich, warm and like velvet. Some airiness in the details from the horn but really an immersive experience without any grit. The Talis R330 again, opened it all up and allowed me to hear some details that may have been less noticeable on the others. These Talis R330 are amazing in detail retrieval and spatial renderings but they do not have the scale of the Icon or Duet. The Duet Horns sounded gorgeous again if not a little flatter than the Icon.
What this showed me was that again, the Dazzle allows our speakers to sound like our speakers. No coloration or things added here but a big, bold, beefy powerful sound and yes, it does all of the 3D things if your speakers are up for it. Each speaker also presented the best bass performance I have heard from them, ever. The Dazzle truly knows how to do bass but that is a Kinki Studios trait as well.
One more thing…
I also added another Vinshine product into the system which is their flagship network switch, said to make your straining music performance better, as good as it can be, by cleaning the noise from your network line. I doubted this and always refused to review switches for this reason. Well, I am now also buying the SW10PRO network switch seen HERE as it did what it said, it look gorgeous, is made very well and also can hook up to a DAC clock, which I am testing right now with great results. This did make my streaming even better with a smoother vibe, slightly larger stage and this system is surgically deathly silent. I love the SW10 PRO, wasn’t a scam at all and now I feel a high quality network switch is a must for someone focusing on streaming. If you have a high end system, the SW10PRO is worth a look. The reviews at the Vinshine site speak for themselves. You can see it here.
Conclusion
The Dazzle is a statement piece from Kinky and Vinshine who worked together to make the best integrated amp they could within their price point of $8500 USD and without the greed that often shows up in “high end” audio. They succeeded in all areas and this amp looks, feels, weighs and has parts inside that rival $25k integrated amps. The sound on tap is smooth, powerful, punchy, rhythmic and somewhat open, though not as open as the big money ($25k) Astra or Enleum. That is why they cost what they do, as they bring a “little more” of the magic. Not that the Dazzle doesn’t do magic, it does. It can do immersion with the right speakers and with the Talis R330 from T+A I was getting the reverb trails, the open sound and holographic stage with bass that defied logic. Also with my Icon 12 and Vipers. So the Dazzle is up to the task but it is not an analytical or sharp sounding amp, rather it is somewhat smooth, very muscular and bold and can kick you in the ass if you turn it up, or it can also do gentle and sweet when you want to listen at night.
Low volume is no issue here as long as your speakers are up to it. The best low volume here was with the Icon, Duet and Talis. The Vipers like some juice to open up but man are those some fun speakers to jam out to.
After testing this integrated amp with so many speakers and logging in tons of hours of actual listening sessions before doing the review I have decided I need this for my 2026 system, as my reference integrated analog amp. Yea, this one is all analog without any digital at all included. It’s made the way “they used to make them” but maybe…even better. The Dazzle impressed me.
I bought the Dazzle for a few reasons. One, it runs warm (not hot) so will not heat my room in the summer. Two, it offers up a refined, big ballsy sound that can drive any speaker made by man, which is good for a reviewer or anyone who wants that power on tap for whatever speaker you want to explore next. No wimpy sound here, no brightness or hollowness. No lean or sharp. It is solid as it gets in build and parts are all top tier. The addition of Cryo fuses and power inlet are the icing on the cake. Eight power supplies remind me of exotic Nagra gear and I believe this is what adds to the refinement. The sound is never edgy (though the first 50 hours can be so do let it run in for some time) but smoother, super solid with body and clarity at the same time. The Dazzle is not the “best” I have ever heard but it gets scary close and it sits in my top five integrated amps of all time with every amp above it costing much much more. This makes the $8500 price point somewhat of a deal in the high end all analog integrated amp arena. Add you fave sources and have at it.
What are the 5 best sounding integrated solid state amps I have heard, including all in ones, at this moment in time?
- T+A 3100 HV – This is an all analog beast and it haunts my memories to this day. $28k will get you one. Ouch.
- Devialet Astra – Still ticks all of my boxes because it is about convenience without compromise. It has a streamer, dac, pre and amp in one but will set you back $20-$25k depending on options.
- Vinshine/Kinki DAZZLE – Sits here at #3 but costs so much less at $8500.
- Enluem Amp 54R. Just a sublime 100 WPC Class A/B amp with a unique sound that brings level 10 immersion.
- Luxman 509Z – Almost $15k these days but a super integrated if you enjoy the Luxman look and sound.
So there ya go. The Dazzle sits in with these amazing integrated amplifiers in looks, build and sound and sure, all of these here are simply end game, even the Dazzle. It’s about picking features and a flavor. There is no downside here with the Dazzle unless you are looking for maximum see through crystalline transparency and a soundstage you can swim inside of. If you want this, I would recommend looking at the $25k Enleum Amp 54R or even the $28k T+A 3100HV. Both will cost you $18-$20k MORE than the Dazzle yet deliver 10% more of what I spoke of. See how this works?
The choice seems clear to me, which is why I bought the Dazzle ; ) It’s an incredible flagship integrated and that proves you do not have to spend $20k to get the good stuff.
You can see the Dazzle website page HERE. You can buy one HERE.
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