DK Design’s integrated amp here is not a brand/model that gets called out in many audiophile conversations but those that have heard it or better still, own it, have nothing but praises for it. In fact, many reviewers have pitched it against more “branded” integrateds that cost three, four times as much and concluded that the VS-1 MK.II is just as good if not better. Its very made with two huge transformers inside, big heatsinks around its sides to cool down when its Class A biased 160W are driving your speakers. If your speakers are 4 ohms, it will produce a massive 320W! The amp weighs a hefty 80 lbs and measures 9.3″ tall, 17.11″ wide and 19″ deep. It has two 6922 input tubes which tube rollers will be delighted to play around with to carve out a sound they prefer. But as it is now, we just love how authoritative it sounds. It has impressive definition, speed, bass impact and soundstaging that, some reviewers have said was worthy of integrateds costing so much more. Digital meter display is an interesting feature on a front fascia that has just two buttons – standby and input. There is MM phono input but we don’t have the jumpers to jump the phono out to one of the line inputs which you could just use a regular pair of RCA cable to do.
Cosmetically, the VS-1 Reference MK.II looks fair. Some scuff marks/nicks here and there but nothing major. We don’t have the original remote but a Logitech Harmony universal remote has been programmed to work with it. Unit will be securely packed for safe shipping. Local pickup from our store welcomed.
