Vieta VH-HA100 Amplifier
Some say that separates hi-fi as we know it has reached the end of the line. The argument goes that the world is going wireless, and we'll all be wanting ultra niche products to reflect our diverse lifestyles. Interesting then to see yet another new hi-fi brand appear - new at least to these shores as Vieta has existed for nearly 60 years in its native Spain. You wouldn't call it a specialist audiophile company in the Cambridge Audio sense though, as it does produce car kit, audio and headphones too, and has had no small degree of success with the latter. Despite costing under $300, the HA100 is the top product in the amplifier range, and offers a claimed 100W although it's unclear how this is actually measured.
The Vieta clearly lacks the lavish build and finish of the Japanese integrated amplifier designs on test here, looking a little less expensive, and nor does it offer the precision feel of the far heavier Cambridge Audio Azur 651A either. Still, its top plate is a good deal stronger than some of the models on test, and it's fairly competitive in terms of its specification. There's a choice of four line inputs and an MM phono stage, although no DAC is offered. There's is a front panel mounted 3.5mm input socket and 6.35mm headphone socket. Inside, it boasts a toroidal power transformer. When operating it runs surprisingly hot, certainly more so than all the other integrateds here.
Given that Vieta is something of an unknown quantity for yours truly, the company having no audiophile pedigree in the UK at least, I am pleasantly surprised by the warm and sumptuous sound that greets me from the VH-HA100. It's certainly quite different to some here, and strikes a slightly different balance with a fairly fulsome bottom end. I wouldn't say bass is exceptional, but it has more weight than most in this test, and moving up the scale the midband is enjoyably expansive. It gives a powerful, epic feel to the Kraftwerk track, for example, and proves well able to eke out a lot of detail. It sounds a good deal sweeter than the Pioneer A-50, and clearer and less opaque than the Yamaha A-S201, although it can't quite match the Marantz PM6005 and Cambridge Audio Azur 651A. Treble isn't particularly spacious, but it's nicely smooth and sweet, and together the Vieta presents a very listenable sound at the price; I particularly like its vocal quality.
It even impresses with its timing, too. It's a little indistinct compared to the Cambridge Audio or Marantz, and seems to soften attack transients which slows things down slightly, but still this little amplifier proves really rather emotionally expressive. The Squeeze song is good fun, bouncing along nicely inside a reasonably spacious recorded acoustic. The Vieta does sit on the music's real dynamic accenting a touch, but it doesn't hinder it too much; this aside it has an agreeable nature that likes to let the music get on with things. Again, its warmish tonality works wonders on the Fun Lovin' Criminals track, giving a wide and powerful sound. Sadly though, this amp doesn't run up to high levels quite as gracefully as some here, so it won't be a first choice for student parties. This is certainly an impressive amplifier in its way, unassuming but enjoyable.
