Audio-Technica HPA-KG Narukami | Headphone Tube Amplifier
A Masterpiece of Japanese Craftsmanship, Narukami Offers Audiophiles an Unparalelled Sensory Journey that Both Captivates the Ears and Enchants the Eyes
- Crafted with precious KUROGAKI wood
- Employs paired JJ ECC83S tubes, known for their rich and resonant sound characteristics
- (2x) Pairs of Takatsuki TA-300B tubes are utilized in the power stage, delivering powerful driving force and dynamic high-quality sound
- Circuit design features Lundahl input and output transformers
- Includes limited-edition AW-KG NARU headphones crafted from KUROGAKI wood
|
Bloom's Take Narukami isn’t just a headphone amplifier—it’s a reverent homage to the artistry of Japanese hi-fi. From the rare KUROGAKI wood chassis, whose grain tells a story centuries in the making, to the Takatsuki TA-300B tubes—among the most coveted in the world—every detail reflects obsessive craftsmanship. The JJ ECC83S preamp tubes and Lundahl transformers aren’t just premium components; they’re cornerstones of a sound that’s lush, holographic, and deeply immersive. Narukami doesn’t color the music—it elevates it, drawing out the emotional core of every recording with jaw-dropping clarity and warmth. Paired with the matching AW-KG NARU headphones, this is a system that doesn’t just play music—it invokes it. For those seeking the pinnacle of both sonic and visual expression, Narukami is where engineering becomes poetry. |
A boundary Pushing Audio Experience
Narukami takes its name from the thunder god of Japanese legend. As such, the HPA-KG NARU has been hand-crafted to ignite elemental passions throughout the listening experience. Audio-Technica's engineers rely on their refined auditory judgment, rather than a sterile set of technical specifications, to assess sound quality, while key materials, like precious KUROGAKI wood, are selected to bring the listener closer to the wonders of nature.
Top-of-the-Line Tubes
The Narukami headphone amplifier employs a fully balanced drive design, and all of the unit’s vacuum tubes are individually tested and matched to ensure optimal performance. The signal amplification stage uses a shunt regulated push-pull (SRPP) circuit design and employs paired JJ ECC83S tubes, known for their rich and resonant sound characteristics. In the power stage, two pairs of Takatsuki TA-300B tubes are utilized, delivering powerful driving force and dynamic high-quality sound.
Circuit Design
The amplifier’s independent signal circuit and power supply for L/R channels ensure high separation and low noise, delivering transparent and rich sound quality for discerning audio enthusiasts. The amorphous core silver wire output transformer from Lundahl, chosen for its low magnetic hysteresis loss and optimal impedance matching, adds richness to the sound and provides flexibility with a headphone matching circuit.
Symbolic Soundscape
The top of the HPA-KG NARU tube amplifier is stylized like a dry landscape garden (karesansui), representing water flows that run down along the amplifier’s unique KUROGAKI wood side panels. The metal mesh cover protecting the vacuum tubes and output transformers recalls the dense pattern of the Ayasugi tree’s flat needles. These visual nods to nature prefigure the lifelike sound that awaits the listener.
More Than a Headphone Amplifier
The Narukami amplifier is not just a headphone amplifier; it also serves as a preamplifier with unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR pre-outs. The preamp is designed to amplify low-level audio signals from a source component, producing warm, natural sound from the vacuum tubes and bringing it to a level suitable for driving a power amplifier. The amplifier is also equipped with one set of unbalanced RCA line inputs and two pairs of balanced XLR inputs to allow connection of a CD/DVD player and other audio devices.
Companion Headphones
To complement this high-performance amplifier, Audio-Technica includes a pair of limited-edition AW-KG NARU headphones, featuring housings crafted from precious KUROGAKI wood.
These headphones have been specially tuned to deliver exceptional sound quality and are equipped with A2DC (Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial) jacks for secure connection to the included 2.0 m (6.6') and 3.0 m (9.8') cables, each terminated with a 4-pin XLR-M balanced connector. As a special addition, we also include an interchangeable pair of ZMF Universe Hybrid earpads to provide a unique alternate listening experience.
Specifications
