Item #JBLSA550AM

JBL SA550

Integrated Amplifier
Item #JBLSA550AM

JBL SA550

Integrated Amplifier
$1,999.00
In Stock: Free 2-Day Shipping
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Overview

The JBL SA550 Classic is inspired by the classic JBL SA600 amplifier from the 1960’s, with retro styling and walnut veneer side panels to match JBL Classic and Studio Monitor loudspeakers on the outside. On the inside, the JBL SA550 is a music system for today using an advanced amplifier topology with high power output, inventive efficiency, and fine noise control for captivating musicality and effortless power. Straight out of the box, pair your smart phone or tablet to the SA550 Classic with Bluetooth for instant high-quality music from all your music services and libraries that you listen to everyday. The JBL SA550 Classic includes the latest Bluetooth AptX®Adaptive technology for hi-res audio over Bluetooth and low latency to ensure audio is in sync with video. All digital audio is rendered using a reference high resolution DAC with time domain jitter elimination for perfect sound, every time.

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The High Notes
Classic JBL Styling

Classic JBL Styling

The JBL Classic Series draws on the look and feel of vintage audio from the 60s and 70s. The famous JBL SA600 was the inspiration for these and we love the wood side panels and aluminum front. The side panels also match up with JBL's Classic speaker series.
Class G Amplfier

Class G Amplfier

The SA550 uses a new type of design called Class G which gives you the best of both of the audiophile preferred systems, Class A and Class AB. You'll get 10 watts per channel of pristine Class A then for more demanding passages, the Class AB amp kicks in.
Great Internal DAC's

Great Internal DAC's

The SA550 has one of the best ESS DAC chips available assuring you of great sound from all of your digital sources. We were impressed to see JBL used the same DAC as in the much more expensive SA750 amplifier.

The JBL SA550 Classic is inspired by the classic JBL SA600 amplifier from the 1960’s, with retro styling and walnut veneer side panels to match JBL Classic and Studio Monitor loudspeakers on the outside.

On the inside, the JBL SA550 is a music system for today with an advanced amplifier topology with high power output, inventive efficiency, and fine noise control for captivating musicality and effortless power.

Straight out of the box, pair your smart phone or tablet to the SA550 with Bluetooth for instant high performance music from all your music services and libraries that you listen to everyday. The JBL SA550 Classic includes the latest Bluetooth AptX®Adaptive technology for hi-res audio over Bluetooth and low latency to ensure audio is in sync with video.

The advanced amplifier topolgy in the JBL SA550 Classic is called Class G. Class G utilizes multiple power supplies where all other amplifiers only use one. The first power supply feeds enough power for the amplifier to deliver 10 Watts per channel, not a lot you might think - but this small amplifier includes a big heatsink that keeps the amplifier stable up to 90 Watts per channel. That enables this first 10 Watts to be delivered in a topology known as Class A, which ordinarily is not very efficient. The benefit is that it involves no switching of any output stage components in and out of the music signal as normally occurs in any Class AB or Class D amplifier. The result is vanishingly low noise and the purest sound with all micro dynamics and details preserved.

Of course, 10 Watts really isn’t much and so the SA550 can deliver a great deal more. It can deliver a maximum sustained output of 150 Watts per channel with the use of a second, much higher voltage power supply, and this is where the amplification in the SA550 is incredibly inventive. If that second power supply was simply switched into circuit when required, it would induce nasty distortion, and this would be harmonic too - quite unpleasant. So the SA550 includes a set of high speed “lifters” which gradually raise the power delivered to the amplifier, tracking the music signal and mainaining a 5 Volt head room. This allows the benefits of Class G amplification to be realised, while eliminating the downsides and powering any speaker system effortlessly.

All that smart amplification can be enjoyed from three digital and four analog inputs, including a moving magnet phono input for a turntable. The digital inputs include a high resolution, ultra high-fidelity DAC with the highest performance ESS DAC chip at heart.

The SA550 is a throw-back to the late 1960’s on the outside. But with Hi-res Bluetooth technology, efficient amplification, and exceptional musical performance, the SA550 is a modern classic rooted in today’s best technologies.

Key Features

  • Advanced integrated amplifier with Classic Styling
  • Bluetooth input with Hi-res AptX®Adaptive technology
  • Walnut veneer side panels match JBL Classic and Studio Monitor loudspeakers
  • 3 Digital Inputs with Coax and Toslink connections
  • High resolution DAC with ESS ES9038K2M DAC chip
  • 4 analog inputs including MM phono stage
  • Class G amplifier topology for ultra low distortion
  • Power output 90W per channel into 8Ω & 150W into 4Ω

Details & Specs

Model SA550 Classic
Continous Power Output Both Channels Driven (0.5% THD) 90W into 8Ω
150W into 4Ω
Harmonic distortion, 80% power, 8Ω at 1kHz: 0.002%
Phono Moving Magnet Input Input Sensitivity at 1kHz: 5mV
Input Impedance: 47kΩ + 100pF
Frequency Response (ref. RIAA curve): 20Hz - 20kHz ±1dB
Signal/Noise Ratio (A-wtd) 50W, ref. 5mV Input: 80dB
Overload Margin, ref. 5mV at 1kHz
Line Inputs Nominal Sensitivity: 1V
Input Impedance: 10kΩ
Maximum Input: 6Vrms
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz ±0.2dB
Signal/Noise Ratio (A-wtd) 50W, ref. 1V input: 106dB
Digital Inputs Supported Bit Depth: 16 bit - 24 bit
Supported Sample Rates (Optical)(kHz): 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96
Supported Sample Rates (Coaxial)(kHz): 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz ±0.05dB
Signal/Noise Ratio (A-wtd) 50W, ref. 1V input: 115dB
Maximum Power Consumption 500 W
Product Dimensions (W x H x D, including feet, control knob, and speaker terminals) 449 x 114 x 327 mm
Product Weight 12 kg
Shipping Weight 14 kg
Warranty 5 years

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