Creek Audio Voyage i20 Integrated Amplifier

All signals are electrically buffered and output via a pair of RCA sockets after passing through a volume control stage.

The power amplifier’s task is to increase the signal amplitude and current to a level capable of driving a loudspeaker. Modern, multi-driver loudspeakers with complex cross-over circuits can often present a heavy demand on an amplifier. The VOYAGE i20 has been designed to drive even the most difficult speaker loads with delicacy and power yet be equally at home with simple 2-way monitors.

Powerful Sanken STD03 transistors are augmented by multiple MOSFETs to deliver prodigious power output current if required. The thermal tracking Sanken bipolar power transistors immediately correct idle current, to accurately control and minimise cross-over distortion and reducing warm-up time to a minimum.

To optimise performance and maintain left-right symmetry, Creek has developed a modular plug-in voltage amplifier circuit. Their discrete transistor circuitry and relatively low negative feedback allow input signals to be fed to the power amp without the need for additional gain in the pre-amplifier.

Emitter resistors are a necessary feature of bi-polar amplifier designs but, commonly used high-wattage wire-wound resistors are a source of unwanted inductance and potential non-linearity. To combat this problem Creek has developed an alternative high wattage, low inductance, resistor module, using multiple surface-mount resistors. To improve loudspeaker damping by maintaining the amplifier’s ultra-low output resistance, both left and right channel outputs are channelled through separate 10A relays.  Internal wiring is kept to a minimum and isolated terminal posts allow connection by 4mm plugs, spade lugs and twisted wires, as required.

In Creek tradition, conventional coupling and feedback decoupling capacitors have been eliminated to optimise sonic performance and directly couple input to output.  An electronic servo circuit compensates for small DC offsets and maintains the amplifier’s output at 0 volts DC.

To protect both the integrated amplifier and any loudspeaker connected to it, the VOYAGE i20 employs three forms of protection, constantly monitored by the VOYAGE i20’s system microcontroller. In the event of a fault, the output will be disconnected, and the input muted.

In the event of a pre-set current-limit being reached, either by driving an unacceptably low impedance speaker load or a short-circuit in the output, both speaker relays will interrupt the signal to prevent potential damage.

Direct current voltage will damage loudspeakers, as they are only meant to handle AC signals. Therefore, if DC is detected at the output, speaker relays will interrupt the signal instantly to prevent damage.

Like most electronic circuitry, the Voyage i20 integrated amplifier is designed to be reliable when working within a range of temperatures from 0 to 95 degrees centigrade. If the upper limit is reached the output will be disconnected until the temperature drops to a more acceptable level and the volume setting will automatically be reduced.

The i20 biases its output stage with a more efficient form of Class AB, called Class G. Class G allows the powerful i20 circuitry to fit inside a slim case yet run cool, even with a relatively small heatsink.

Creek has further enhanced the efficiency of Class G circuitry successfully used in the Evolution 100A amplifier.

A Class G amplifier operates with two voltage levels. The i20 tracks the input and output signals and a clever MOSFET circuit switches momentarily to higher voltage if required. To identify to the user when the amplifier is operating in Class G mode a letter G is displayed on the OLED display.

The key to the Voyage i20 integrated amplifier’s impressive performance is in its high-frequency power supply, optimised for audio electronics, enabling the latent quality of its amplifier to be realised. The Voyage i20’s performance is unaffected by mains quality or voltage stability. Unlike most conventional amplifiers, its massive 1500Watt power supply is voltage stabilised, enabling it to double its two-channel power output each time the load impedance is halved, regardless of the mains voltage. 

Standby power enables the amplifier to go to sleep after no signal is detected on the output for 30 minutes. Touching either control knob or remote handset will wake the amplifier up again.