The qualities of the Kora T480
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What is the superlative of effortless? What immediately stands out is how fast the amp is, you can hear everything in between fast notes. The amp is rhythmic, with impeccable timing and has plenty of power in the bass registers, without pounding. The TA480 clearly goes a step beyond the Kora TB200.
The sensation that this is an amp that has both power and is nimble remains. Good class D amps also have that combination of power and speed, but those never dance like a ballerina, which the Kora does.
Especially in drums, percussion and bass, you can clearly hear that it has even more control than the TB200, which translates into a sound that is sometimes so realistic that you think someone is standing in your room with a shaker.
Where the TA480 makes the difference is in micro dynamics. The space between the bass notes of a bass guitar is more clearly delineated, without being dry. On the contrary, the audible length and spatial information in reverb also increases.
There is so much power that it is almost unimaginable that this amp cannot drive any speaker, but I am sure there are exceptions. In conclusion, the Kora TA480 is a beast of a power amplifier, but one with class and style in the reproduction of music.