Ars-Sonum Filarmonia | Signature Sound

Ars Sonum NEW Filarmonia-SK Integrated Amplifier – $4,950 Hand crafted optimized classic design made with very high quality parts, materials, (hand wound) transformers, and more – all lovingly put together by designer/engineer Ricardo Hernandez in Spain. The Filarmonia uses a special screen grid regulated pentode circuit and a low 6dB of feedback to deliver 30W/ch of glorious sound. The Filarmonia SK (as of February 2016) is the latest version of this great amplifier (it replaces the Filarmonia SJ and optional V-Cap upgraded SXJ version which introduced a new DC coupled inter-stage configuration that removed a coupling capacitor from the signal path in each channel). The new Filarmonia SK incorporates two main improvements:

The very popular (SXJ) V-Cap upgrade is now standard in all Filarmonia SK amplifiers. This upgrade provides improvements in clarity, liquidity and musicality and gives the Filarmonia a bit of the outstanding sound character that is found in the (much more expensive and powerful) Gran Filarmonia integrated amp.
The RCA input/output jacks and how they mount to the chassis has been improved and upgraded. A higher quality chassis mount RCA jack is now used and the rear of the polished stainless steel chassis of the Filarmonia SK amplifier has been re-designed to work with them.

Other improvements, though not of significant sonic benefit, include include a improved power transformer design (which allows for better power supply operation at various world wide and USA AC line voltages), and a further sealing/potting process of the power transformer to further reduce mechanical noise of the transformer winding’s.

Ars Sonum Filarmonia SK Amplifier – Rear View

The Filarmonia SK comes with thoroughly tested and matched JJ E34L output tubes, select NOS 5814A driver tubes, and a carefully screened (only about one out of four to five new tubes meet Ars Sonum’s spec’s for use in their amplifiers) low noise JJ E88CC gain/preamp tube for excellent performance right out of the box without any tweaking or tube-rolling necessary. Additionally, all signal path capacitors go through a 1,000 hour run in process (on a proprietary coupling capacitors break-in device) before being installed in any Ars-Sonum amplifier. While the amplifier does require break-in to sound its best, the run in process minimizes the coupling capacitors effects during this period.

For the ultimate turn-key experience, the Filarmonia SK can be purchased with a optional Cardas Clear or Clear Beyond Power cord at a substantial savings. See the Ars-Sonum USA Product Summary & Price Guide linked to below for details.

Filarmonia Product Overview(PDF)

Ars Sonum USA Product Summary and Price Guide(PDF)

FILARMONIA REVIEWS

Check out our latest (and some classic) reviews! Two recent additions include Positive Feedback Online’s review of the Filarmonia SK by John Marks. We also have a English translation from StereoLife in Poland of their detailed rave review of the Filarmonia SK. Then we have a link to John Mark’s first review some 10 years ago of the original Filarmonia SE that earned ht amp a Stereophile Class A rating at that time!

Positive Feedback Online Filarmonia SK Review (2018)

StereoLife (Poland) Filarmonia SK 2018 Review (English Translation PDF)

Stereophile Review of the Filarmonia

Amplifier, Tube Gear

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If I may chime in...I think this is a very good idea. The primary reason why I did not consider a Filarmonia is the lack of remote volume adjustment; a key tool when listening to music with huge swings in dynamics. So a power amp would allow matching a remote capable pre-amp...yay! 40 WPC would be a heck of a lot more versatile, but I'm no engineer. So YES to a power amp, but maybe a bit more oomph for output? BTW...weren't they also working on a interesting speaker system?

The synergy between these integrateds and the Merlins is really unbelievable! I have not hear them on any other speakers? I hated not having the remote but the sonics make it tolerable. I never thought the sonics of the ARS and Merlins would eclipse the Magnepans and Soundlabs I have loved for decades but I honestly believe this system is the best overall system I have owned over the decades. If they develop a separate amp does that mean that they would also develop a preamp to go with it. If they have their own speakers that might be the hot set-up. Rich, sure you have heard the new ARS speakers and you know the Merlins better than anyone else? How do the overall sonics compare?

For folks how are curious about the Ars-Sonum Canon speaker, here is a pic of one sitting next to a Gran Filarmonia to help give you an idea of the size/design. First order crossover design, 8 ohms, 94dB efficient, easy to drive impedance curve (great for tube amps), very high quality parts in the crossover, etc. It is a 2 way design.

After some discussion with Ricardo at Ars Sonum this morning, he is going to make a Armonia amplifier for us which should be here in October. The price may actually work it to be a bit more than the Filarmonia integrated as the more versatile optimized power transformers that may be used cost more to make than the ones in the Filarmonia integrated. It should look very close to the rendered/p-shopped image above. The Armonia will be a special USA (North America) only model as well.