Onkyo’s Integra A-927 LTD is a late‑1990s high-end Japanese integrated (pre‑main) amplifier, a limited, upgraded version of the standard A-927 aimed at enthusiasts who wanted a non‑feedback, high-current design with audiophile parts and flexible analog functionality
The Integra A-927 LTD is a solid-state integrated stereo amplifier (pre‑main) released around 1997 as a special “LTD” evolution of the Integra A‑927. It was produced in small batches (listed as 300 units per month in Japanese documentation) and sold in Japan at about ¥125,000, positioning it as an upper‑mid to high tier domestic integrated.
This A-927 LTD has just been returned to us, fully serviced by our master craftsmen.
Onkyo Integra A-927 LTD
Power and core specs
The A‑927 LTD is built around a non‑feedback power amplification stage, with the circuit reworked so the power amp runs without conventional global negative feedback yet still achieves low distortion across the audio band. Instead of the more common Darlington emitter‑follower output, it uses an inverted Darlington arrangement with collector followers at the final stage, which keeps transistor base‑emitter nonlinearity out of the signal path and reduces distortion. Grounding is treated as a closed loop per stage from input to output to keep ground potential stable under load, aimed at reducing ground‑loop interference and improving signal‑to‑noise performance
Inputs, phono and controls
The A‑927 LTD includes a MM/MC‑capable phono stage.
Tone control is fairly elaborate: bass (around 200 Hz turnover) and treble (around 7 kHz turnover) plus a “mid‑bass presence” control that boosts or cuts the 200–300 Hz region to deal with room‑induced muddiness. There are also subsonic and high‑cut filter functions, along with a –20 dB muting feature
Direct and power amp modes
Along with standard tone‑amp operation, the A‑927 LTD offers a Source Direct mode that bypasses the tone circuitry and a Power Amp Direct mode allowing signal to feed the power stage through a dedicated input, passing only through the volume control. Volume control uses a 4‑gang detented potentiometer tied to separate circuits for tone and direct paths, with a gentle attenuation curve tailored for home listening levels
Power supply and construction
The power supply uses an advanced double‑core “laser transformer,” an evolution of Onkyo’s earlier laser transformer designs, featuring twin continuous‑direction cores to minimize magnetic resistance and leakage and permit thick copper windings for high current delivery. Main PSU electrolytics are special “blue” custom parts and the power‑path PCB copper is about 70 μm thick (roughly double standard board copper), emphasizing low resistance and stability.
Internally, the signal path from input to output is kept as short as practical, with a rationalized power line layout and block‑structured chassis sections that brace each other for rigidity. Irregular ribs are used throughout the chassis to spread and damp resonances, and key signal‑path components include WIMA film capacitors and high‑precision carbon resistors selected for sonic performance.
LTD-specific features and externals
LTD‑specific touches include knurled, higher‑mass knobs for volume and selector, intended both for premium feel and for some mechanical vibration control, plus gold‑plated speaker terminals. The unit uses an IEC inlet and ships with a 2 mm² OFC cable power cord, allowing easy cable swapping.