Audiophilepure

The Level 1 arrives in Jade Audio’s kraft-style outer box, with the Jade Audio brand name embossed on the top face and Hi-Res Audio certification stamps printed beneath.The interior is organized: the amplifier sits in shaped foam, and a secondary cardboard tray below holds the accessories in a tidy, well-protected arrangement.Included in the box are the amplifier, the 48V/5A/240W Merryking power supply, and a power chord.

Sound Impressions

The following impressions were formed using a pair of vintage Wharfedale Diamond III bookshelf speakers, driven directly from the Level 1 via banana plugs.I also did some tests with a powered subwoofer connected to the Level 1. Sources included a macOS via USB-C, a CD transport via coaxial, a Technics SL Q303 turntable connected to an SMSL PH-1 phono pre-amp, and a smartphone via LDAC Bluetooth. Both flat and PEQ-corrected listening sessions were conducted.The Jade Audio Level 1 presents a fundamentally transparent and controlled sound, with a tight low end and an overall tonality that reveals any track’s sonic character with little to no coloration.