D´Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier

It is not the first stereo integrated amplifier that Dan D’Agostino now presents in the form of the new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier, but the first in the D’Agostino Progression Series. The new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier combines the elegance and detail of the D’Agostino Progression Preamplifier with the power and dynamics of the D’Agostino Progression amplifier topology in one chassis.

Dan D’Agostino is considered a true legend in the hi-fi scene, especially when it comes to the development of amplifier systems. It is therefore hardly surprising that a company has been carrying his name for several years now, and has dedicated itself in particular to the development and manufacture of outstanding high-end amplifier systems. Nor is it surprising that Dan D’Agostino never tires of realizing his special vision in ever new solutions, such as the new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier.

The latest offspring of Dan D’Agostino is the first stereo integrated amplifier of the D’Agostino Progression Series, whereby the D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier is naturally based on the solutions that this product series has offered up to now, namely the D’Agostino Progression Preamplifier and the technologies of the D’Agostino Progression Mono Amplifier and D’Agostino Progression Stereo Amplifier power amplifiers. The new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier introduces a modular concept, thus combining the elegance and attention to detail of the preamplifier with the power and dynamics of the power amplifiers in a chassis that naturally corresponds completely to the special design line coined by the US company.

The fact that the new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier is completely discrete will probably not surprise anyone, nor will it surprise anyone that the pre and power amp sections form separate units and the entire amplifier setup is symmetrical. In addition, a modular concept is used here to provide flexibility through optional extensions.

The D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier offers two single-ended inputs, i.e. unbalanced analog inputs in the form of pairs of RCA connectors, and three balanced inputs in the form of XLRs. In addition, there is a so-called “theatre pass-through” so that integration into home cinema solutions is also possible. Subwoofers can be integrated very easily via balanced preamplifier outputs. On request, the new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier can be upgraded with a phono board that features a phono preamplifier designed for MC pick-up systems. A digital board is also available, so that an optional first-class integrated D/A converter can be implemented. In this case not only a coaxial but also an optical S/PDIF interface is available, the digital board also has a USB port so that a direct connection to PCs and Macs can be realized. An Ethernet port and a WiFi module are also available, so that music streaming offers such as TIDAL or Qobuz can be accessed and Roon is also directly supported. The signal processing is carried out via a fully differential DAC, which can process signals in Linear PCM with up to 24 bits and 192 kHz, DSD with up to DSD 11.1 MHz and MQA.

Of course, the D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier offers not only an RS232 interface, but also trigger inputs and outputs, so that integration into a wide range of control solutions can be easily achieved.

It should be emphasized that the new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier does not have an infrared remote control, but relies on Bluetooth. This has the advantage that there is no need for a direct line of sight between the remote control and the device, and the range is also significantly greater.

The new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier should not be hidden, it looks much too impressive for that. Once again, the company relies on a virtually solid aluminium housing with a rounded front panel on the top and bottom. Even the cooling elements on the sides are an integral part of the design concept.

A central volume control is available on the front, which has a ring held in copper and thus sets an exciting accent. This rotary encoder is flanked on the left side by blue illuminated buttons for input selection and on the right side there are two green shining VU meters.

The new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier delivers no less than two times 200 watts of power to speaker systems with an impedance of 8 ohms. If these have an impedance of only 4 ohms, the D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier provides two 400 Watt outputs.

The new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier is expected to be available at specialist dealers these days. The recommended retail price is stated as € 20.000,- in the basic configuration. If you wish to add the optional Phono Module as well as the optional Digital Module, it’s € 28.000,-

Getting to the point

The latest offspring of the Dan D’Agostino is the first stereo integrated amplifier of the D’Agostino Progression Series, whereby the D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier is naturally based on the solutions that this product series has offered so far, namely the D’Agostino Progression Preamplifier and the technologies of the D’Agostino Progression Mono Amplifier and D’Agostino Progression Stereo Amplifier power amplifiers. The new D’Agostino Progression Integrated Amplifier introduces a modular concept, thus combining the elegance and attention to detail of the preamplifier with the power and dynamics of the power amplifiers in a chassis that naturally corresponds completely to the special design line coined by the US company.