September 2007 Reviewed by Doug Blackburn	Jaton Operetta AP5140A Multichannel Power Amplifier

Description Model: AP5140A Price: $1995 USD Dimensions: 17"W x 7.5"H x 14.5"D Weight: 50 pounds Warranty: Three years parts and labor	Features Multiple configurations possible, from two to five channels Each channel is a separate module Manufacturer claims 150dB dynamic range Detachable power cord Silver-finish front panel with broad mirror-finish band; inquire about other finishes Two National Semiconductor LM3886 power op-amps per channel Rated at 70Wpc into 8 ohms, 140Wpc into 4 ohms Auto-mute protection for each channel

Jaton, Inc., founded in 1983, is probably best known for the video-board products it makes for the personal computer market, including the popular NVIDIA GeForce cards. The company has now entered the home-theater market with its ANV Theater System, which includes loudspeakers, amplifiers, a DVD player, a surround processor-receiver, a video switcher, and home-entertainment distribution systems. Founded in Taiwan but now based in Milpitas, California, Jaton has offices in Taiwan, Australia, and the People’s Republic of China, and sells its products worldwide.

Back to basics

Jaton’s Operetta AP5140A ($1995) is a minimalist five-channel analog power amplifier with surprisingly small amplifier modules. The parts count per channel is also remarkably small, and there are only two power op-amp output devices per channel. Some of the supporting components are surface-mount types, which eliminates the leads required by conventional components installed on through-hole circuit boards. If you order an Operetta with fewer than five channels, the holes on the rear panel for the missing channels will be blocked with small removable plugs. Removing or installing an amplifier module is incredibly simple: just a few screws, and an electrical connector at the power-supply circuit board.

There are no external heatsinks. Two internal, side-mounted cooling fans ensure that the amplifier modules receive adequate cooling when needed, though the fans don’t operate unless significant heat has built up. When they do come on, the noise is minimal. It took higher volume levels than I use with music or movies to cause the fans to operate at all.

The attractive front panel has a mirror-finished silver center band with a satin silver finish above and below. "Operetta" in large letters appears across the mirror-finish band. The only other feature on the front panel is the power switch and its blue LED.

The rear panel is populated with ten insulated binding posts, five RCA input jacks, and the power-cord IEC connector with integral fuse holder. No balanced XLR connections are provided. I found the binding posts a bit limiting: They wouldn’t accept some spade connectors due to a tall barrier around the base of the post that allows only a bare wire to be inserted through a hole into the center of the post. Some spade connectors might fit through that hole, allowing you to trap just one leg of the spade connector in the binding post -- but that leaves the other leg of the spade hanging in air, susceptible to shorts. If you have to connect your cables that way, I recommend covering the bare end of the spade with electrical tape. Aside from bare wire, the binding posts will also accept banana plugs, which would be my first choice to use with the Operetta.

To mute or not to mute

Each of the Operetta’s amplifier modules has a mute circuit that shuts down that module if any inappropriate signal is applied to the input, or if the output is shorted or connected to an inappropriate load. I experienced an annoyance with the Operetta that I believe is related to this circuit.

I use four Vandersteen 2Wq subwoofers to extend the frequency response of each speaker in my system. When the small-value capacitors used for the subwoofer crossover were connected to any channel of the Operetta, the latter’s mute circuit would engage, preventing that channel from being used as long as the capacitor was inserted for the subwoofer crossover. Several other brands of subwoofer use a similar capacitor crossover, so beware of this issue if you use such a sub.

When using the Pioneer VSX-1016TXV and Onkyo TX-SR875 A/V receivers as surround-sound processors (i.e., the amplifier modules were disconnected), any time I pressed the receivers’ Mute buttons, every speaker in the room emitted a pop at about 65dB. There were times, while I was viewing Dish Network programming, when that pop was produced without my having to use the Pioneer’s mute function. These noises would most often occur when there was a momentary glitch in the channel being watched, or when a local commercial ran during network programming. When I’ve used other brands of amplifiers (Anthem, Belles/Power Modules, Outlaw, Parasound) with the Pioneer, there have been no such noises from any channel.

I don’t want to make too much of this. It’s possible that no other combination of equipment would produce those pops. But because it was so consistent when I used the Pioneer and Onkyo AVRs as surround processors, I felt it was important enough to mention. I recommend checking the Operetta in your system before committing to a purchase.

Music and movies

The Jaton Operetta AP5140A sounded very well fleshed out, with none of the haze, grain, or flatness often attributed to solid-state amplifiers. Furthermore, the bottom end was a revelation compared to other moderately priced multichannel amps I’ve heard. There was real definition, with great drive and impact. There wasn’t a recording I listened to that didn’t surprise me with its amount of kick and definition in the bass. From Cat Stevens’ classic 1970s LPs to KT Tunstall’s CDs, the bass was always satisfying and tuneful.

Nor was the Operetta’s midrange performance what I expected to hear from a lower-cost amp -- I’ve heard $1995 two-channel amps with less clarity and musical nature. The Operetta’s midrange made it difficult to stop listening. Voices, guitars, and violins were all honestly and attractively reproduced. The top end wasn’t quite the equal of the best I’ve heard, but there was nothing obviously bad about it. The highs lacked the pristine thereness and look-at-me quality you get from the best amps, but because there were no obvious problems, I never found myself feeling that the highs were annoying or lacking anything.

The Operetta was happier when I didn’t ask it to push my system beyond moderately loud levels -- say, an average of 90dB at my listening position. At levels higher than that, the sound got a bit sharp and harsh. The Operetta would probably drive two-way speakers smaller than my all-Vandersteen system without harshness or sharpness.

With the best HD DVD and Blu-ray videos, the Operetta gave me a great movie experience. The clarity, ease, and just plain enjoyable listening qualities I heard with music followed right through to films. The Operetta produced a very well-integrated soundfield for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. There were times when the ambient sound was remarkably real, transporting me right back to the islands of 250 years ago. Dynamic peaks were no problem for the Operetta as it dished out everything a good soundtrack could deliver: cannon fire, angry natives, and Kraken attacks.

The soft end of the spectrum was also well served, with sounds such as the spooky ambience of Swamp Town in Dead Man’s Chest, and the creaking and groaning of wooden ships at sea, being very believable. The Operetta reproduced every aural nuance of Blood Diamond, from loud to soft, with bristling clarity and dynamics. Casino Royale (2006) was a sonic treat, with its terrific musical score backing excellent dialogue and effects.

Five channels of movie sound played as loudly as I needed -- most of the time. The exceptions were concert videos with sustained high-level energy, and occasional movie scenes that combined intense, loud action with loud music, as in the Matrix trilogy. With such content, the Operetta again went just a bit harsh/sharp. This behavior again indicated that the Operetta would be happier with loudspeaker systems that are a bit easier to drive than my 6-ohm, 88dB/W/m Vandersteen 3A Signatures. With an easy-to-drive 91dB speaker, the Operetta would be unlikely to run out of gas as long as the volume wasn’t turned up enough to damage your hearing.

Where does it fit?

The Jaton Operetta AP5140A easily revealed how thin, dull, gutless, flat -- in a word, bad -- the amplifier sections of typical, popular A/V receivers from Japan, Inc. sound. The Operetta’s Godzilla bass alone will astonish those used to such AVRs. There are far more expensive amplifiers that sound no better than the Operetta, but if you’re a discerning shopper, it won’t be difficult to find a more powerful (and more expensive) amp that will outperform the Operetta in every meaningful way. But at $1995, the Operetta holds its own.

Outlaw Audio’s five-channel Model 7500 costs $400 less than the Operetta yet is rated at 200Wpc into 8 ohms. Outlaw’s Model 2200 mono amp, also rated at 200W, costs $1222 for five. Each Outlaw performs remarkably well for its modest price, though their sound is not quite as sophisticated or as consistently musical as the Operetta’s. Still, the Outlaws will play movies or music louder than the Operetta without turning harsh. Anthem’s widely praised MCA 50 ($1999) is rated at 180Wpc into 8 ohms. The MCA 50’s musical sophistication is about midway between those of the Outlaw and Operetta, but the MCA 50 lacks the Jaton’s strong bass power, definition, and control, as well as its seductive midrange. However, the Anthem doesn’t tend toward harshness when driving large full-range speakers whose sensitivities range from 90 to 95dB.

Conclusion

It would seem the best situation for the Jaton Operetta AP5140A would be a system in a room that’s not huge, driving two- or three-way speakers that don’t crave too much power. Given that, the Operetta would make a good choice for those who love music and movies but don’t pick audiophile nits.

Manufacturer contact information:

Jaton, Inc.
556 S. Milpitas Blvd.
Milpitas, CA 95035
Phone: (408) 942-9888
Fax: (408) 942-7788

E-mail: sales@jaton.com
Website: www.jatonhp.com

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