{"id":3254,"date":"2025-04-20T15:00:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-20T13:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/?p=3254"},"modified":"2025-04-22T17:12:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T15:12:52","slug":"kora-ta480","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/tests\/types\/amplifier\/kora-ta480\/","title":{"rendered":"KORA TA480"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After testing the brand’s smallest integrated four years ago, we’re now discovering its biggest power amplifier. In any case, this big difference teaches us one thing: Kora maintains a constant level of quality and creativity throughout its range. The Kora TA480 is a valiant power block that has nothing to envy the finest machines in international production.

<\/strong>What all Kora electronics have in common is the Square Tube circuit, a proprietary technology developed by Bruno Vander Elst, head of the company. On paper, the principle seems quite simple (and extremely judicious), but putting it into practice is infinitely less so. The Square Tube is a tube operational amplifier circuit whose technical name is Vacuum Tube DC Operational Amplifier.

The four tubes in question are double triodes from the ECC family, specifically the ECC82 and ECC83, biased in pure class A with, as a result, an operating point placed right in the middle of the load line. This operating point is imposed by a current source on the two ECC83 differential stage input triodes and by a reference voltage for the two ECC82 output triodes, in order to guarantee maximum life. The heating of these tubes is regulated, in direct current and referenced to earth for the ECC83, but alternating and floating for the ECC82. They make up a voltage amplification stage with extremely high dynamic gain, the output of which drives a push-pull stage with complementary Motorola power transistors biased in class AB. This output stage works as a follower, with no gain and very low impedance, guaranteeing extremely stable operation, even with complex loads. In a way, it replaces the output transformer of an all-tube amplifier without the usual technical drawbacks such as phase shift in the low and high frequencies, poor coupling in the low frequencies and current limitations.

To sum up: the Square Tube amplifies and controls the audio signal, while the output transistors adapt the current demand on the loudspeakers, \u2018transforming\u2019 into current what the tubes amplify into voltage. In a way, they are similar to certain hybrid class A\/D circuits. Follow our lead…

The Kora TA480 is the brand’s most ambitious stereo power amplifier. Derived from the TB400 integrated model, its power is increased to 240 W per channel under
8 ohms. With the TA series, Kora has pioneered a technology that represents a real breakthrough in the way amplifiers work. This revolutionary design combines the best of the tube with the qualities of the transistor, much better than a hybrid amplifier could do. This sophisticated scheme allows the tubes to be powered from +300 to -200 V, unlike other amplifiers on the market that only power their tubes at positive values. As a result, the loudspeakers are pushed but also pulled, unlike other amplifiers that only push the diaphragms. The result is an unprecedented level of control over the drivers, which translates into superior articulation and detail, exceptionally low distortion and a bass that is as clear as ever.

Inside, the structure is perfectly symmetrical around a large toroidal transformer in a central position. The heat sinks on the sides house the various push-pull power transistors. The two capacitor banks are adjacent to the heat sinks.

The two-material front panel features a smoked Plexiglas plate at the top, revealing the four tubes when they are switched on. The matrix display informs the user of the adjustable gain level and the type of input (RCA or XLR). The single multifunction button gives access to all the amplifier’s parameters and manages the inputs. However, some operations can be accessed via the remote control supplied with the device.

The Kora TA480 has two separate stereo inputs. Input 1 is unbalanced and has two RCA coaxial sockets. The input impedance is
10 kilo-ohms. Input 2 is balanced and has two XLR sockets.

The input impedance of each polarity is 20 kilo-ohms. The input is selected using the front-panel button. Press to select SETUP mode, from which the input can be selected. The loudspeaker outputs are made via two pairs of screw terminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"kora<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The set up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite appearances, the Kora TA480 has no volume control. It requires the use of a preamplifier. It will deliver its full rated power when the preamplifier provides a signal of the order of 500 mV. This value is the minimum necessary to obtain the nominal power output from the loudspeakers. To avoid saturating the amplifier input, it has an attenuator. In other words, an input signal reducer. This attenuator is adjustable from 0 dB to -40 dB in 1 dB steps. This attenuation can be adjusted simply by turning the knob on the front panel. The Kora remote control has no effect on this setting. After a 30-second delay on switch-on to warm up the tubes, the Kora TA480 is ready. There were no limits to the choice of loudspeakers. We encourage you to carry out a small audible test of the correct mains phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The sound<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even before you see it, you can often tell a big amp by the sound it produces. Not by the way it produces sound, or its personality, but by the scale with which it propels it into your environment, imposing it in your home. A big amp is often a guarantee of extraordinary sonic presence. That’s why we love them, and that’s why we often buy them. Car enthusiasts know perfectly well that more than six cylinders is always better… No matter how you turn this equation around, nothing beats a big engine! The same goes for amps as for cars… And with the Kora TA480, there’s no ambiguity…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paradoxically, it \u2018sounds bigger\u2019 than its perceived volume, because it’s not particularly imposing compared to the average power block. On the other hand, it quietly assumes its weight of almost 30 kg. And its motorisation is totally disruptive. Neither tube, transistor or hybrid, it’s all its own… The purpose of this preamble is to put you in the mood. The Kora TA480 is not a conventional amp. It has a personality all its own, and is committed to offering its own version of neutrality. A joyful, dense, highly structured neutrality. As we audiophiles are well aware, absolute neutrality is a pipe dream. We all have our own systems of representation, and we’re all looking for the equipment that will meet our expectations. The Kora TA480 is the amp of choice for the music lover who enjoys music. It offers a very exciting vision of sound reproduction. Firstly, because it’s very physical. This is a powerful amp, and you can hear it straight away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It deploys considerable energy with a great deal of control. In the company of all the speakers we paired it with, the Kora TA480 did its job without ever encountering the slightest resistance. The 240 W announced are there, no doubt about it. Even when listening to \u2018sport\u2019 music over extended periods, it is at ease and supports all rhythms without flinching, even three hours of high-level symphony orchestra. A famous tyre dealer once said that without control, power is useless. That’s exactly right, and the Kora TA480 has lived up to that maxim. It delivers plenty of power with remarkable precision. Despite the muscular quality it can sometimes impart to the listening experience, there is a permanent clarity that allows all the melodic lines to be considered individually with great ease. The same goes for the soundstage, which can be enjoyed in its entirety, but is enriched by a multitude of components that combine to create a rich panorama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kora TA480 is feisty, precise and ultra-dynamic, but completely refuses to adopt facile stylistic effects. Despite everything, it’s a sophisticated device that offers elegant listening. When we talk about the pleasure we can feel in the way it reproduces the sound message, it inevitably makes us think of a very fine bottle of wine that it would be impossible not to finish once it has been opened. This is what makes listening to the Kora TA480 so sensual. It quickly convinces us that the reproduction is meticulous and natural, but it also quickly makes us realise that beyond formal perfection, the listener is seeking pleasure above all else. And that’s what this is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"kora<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Our conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

About four years ago, we fell in love with the \u2018little\u2019 TB140 integrated, which we continue to enjoy every day without tiring of it. Considering the number of devices we test, that’s a quality worth highlighting. With this (very) big brother, the notion of pleasure is multiplied tenfold. The Kora TA480 is a delectable amplifier. Its totally original and relevant technology ensures above all very natural sound reproduction, providing maximum sensations while perfectly respecting the codes of top-of-the-range amplification. It’s with immense satisfaction that we test a big French electronic that has absolutely nothing to envy the behemoths from across the Atlantic. We warmly recommend this amplifier to all audiophiles on a budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Author<\/strong>: Pierre Fontaine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technical sheet: KORA TA480<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Origin<\/strong>: France<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Price<\/strong>: \u20ac15,290<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Dimensions<\/strong>: 420 x 150 x 420 mm<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Weight<\/strong>: 26 kg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Power rating<\/strong>: 2 x 240 W<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Impedance<\/strong>: 11 ohms<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • RMS power at 8 ohms<\/strong>: 2 x 240 W<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    After testing the brand’s smallest integrated four years ago, we’re now discovering its biggest power amplifier. In any case, this big difference teaches us one thing: Kora maintains a constant level of quality and creativity throughout its range. The Kora TA480 is a valiant power block that has nothing to envy the finest machines in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3255,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25,69,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amplifier","category-kora-manufacturer","category-tests"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3254\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vumetre.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}