Esoteric Goes Back in Black With F-01 and F-02 Integrated Amplifiers and PS-01F Power Supply

Esoteric sits near the top of Japan’s high-end audio hierarchy, alongside brands such as Luxman, TAD, and Accuphase, with a product catalog built around obsessive engineering, substantial construction, and prices that make very little effort to apologize for themselves.

We have already covered several examples in 2026, including the $28,000 N-01XE Network Player/DAC, $13,000 N-05XE Network Player/DAC, and $50,000 T-01 turntable. Esoteric does not really make “budget” versions of anything; even its integrated amplifiers borrow heavily from the company’s flagship Grandioso designs.

The latest additions are not new amplifiers internally, but limited Black Editions of the existing F-01 and F-02 integrated amplifiers, along with a matching PS-01F external power supply. All three feature black-anodized exteriors and are scheduled for worldwide delivery beginning in October 2026. Esoteric confirms that the underlying circuitry and specifications remain unchanged from the standard silver versions.

That still leaves plenty to talk about. The F-01 is a 30-watt-per-channel Class A integrated amplifier, while the F-02 delivers 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms. Both incorporate preamp and power-amplifier technologies derived from Esoteric’s Grandioso “X” Edition components, including balanced dual-mono preamplifier stages and substantial dual-mono power supplies. The optional PS-01F further isolates and expands the preamp power supply for either amplifier.

In other words, Esoteric has gone back in black — but this is a cosmetic encore, not a new album.

Esoteric F-01, F-02 and PS-01F: What’s New in Black Edition

Esoteric’s F Series integrated amplifiers, available in black or silver, are all-analog designs from input to output and incorporate many of the technologies the company uses in its more expensive separates.

The preamp and power-amplifier sections of the F-01 and F-02 borrow heavily from Esoteric’s flagship Grandioso “X” Edition lineup, bringing elements of those reference designs into a single integrated chassis.

Esoteric also offers the matching PS-01F external power supply, which is designed to provide a dedicated power source for the preamplifier section of either integrated amplifier. We’ll get into exactly what that adds — and whether it makes sense — later in the article.

The main difference between the Esoteric F-01 and Esoteric F-02 integrated amplifiers is their amplification class and power output capability: 

• The F-01 incorporates a Class A design based on the Grandioso S1X stereo power amplifier circuit design with an output of 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms.
• The F-02 is a high-power Class A/B design based on the Grandioso M1X monoblock power amplifier’s circuit design with an output of  120 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

F-01 and F-02 Shared Preamp Technologies

Dual Mono Preamp Design: The F-01 and F-02 both use a fully balanced dual-mono preamplifier section derived from technology developed for Esoteric’s flagship Grandioso C1X. The left and right channels are kept electrically independent to minimize interference and preserve channel separation.

Ultra Fidelity Attenuator System: Also derived from the Grandioso C1X, Esoteric’s Ultra Fidelity Attenuator uses its proprietary UFA-1792 module with 1,120 volume steps in 0.1dB increments. Rather than relying on a conventional variable-resistor potentiometer, the stepped-resistor network is designed to reduce channel crosstalk, contact-related degradation, and long-term wear while providing extremely fine volume adjustment.

On-Board Power Supply: Both integrated amplifiers use dual-mono power-supply layouts built around a large 940VA EI-core transformer. The optional PS-01F external power supply can also be connected to provide a dedicated power source for the preamplifier section, further separating it from the amplifier’s internal power supply.

Connectivity: The F-01 and F-02 each provide three pairs of ES-Link Analog/XLR inputs, three pairs of RCA inputs, a built-in MM/MC phono stage, and balanced and unbalanced headphone outputs driven by a dual-mono headphone amplifier.

The F-01 and F-02 can also serve as the control center of a larger multi-amplifier system. Their ES-Link Analog preamp outputs can be connected to an external power amplifier such as Esoteric’s S-05XE, allowing the integrated amplifier to function as the system’s preamplifier.

Adjustments: The F-01 and F-02 provide a 3-band balanced tone control that can be adjusted independently for each input source. Preamp gain is adjustable in four steps — 0, +6, +12, and +18dB — to better match the connected power amplifier, while left/right channel balance can be fine-tuned in 0.1dB increments. An AV Through mode bypasses the volume control for integration into larger home theater or multi-channel systems.

Control: Esoteric includes its dual-sided RC-1339 aluminum remote control with both the F-01 and F-02. The remote can also operate compatible Esoteric SACD and network players, reducing the need for multiple handsets. Additional system-control connections include RS-232C and trigger input/output for integration with more complex installations.

F-01 and F-02 Shared Power Amplifier Technologies

Circuit Design: The F-01 and F-02 use amplifier topologies derived from Esoteric’s Grandioso power amplifiers — the Grandioso S1X in the case of the F-01 and the Grandioso M1X for the F-02. The two models differ substantially in output, with the F-01 rated at 60 watts per channel into 4 ohms and the F-02 at 240 watts per channel into 4 ohms.

Dual Mono Power Supply: The rectification and smoothing stages in both amplifiers use a dual-mono layout, with separate power-supply paths for the left and right channels. Each channel is supported by four Grandioso-grade custom block capacitors rated at 10,000μF.

Output Stage: Both models use a three-parallel push-pull bipolar transistor configuration in their power-amplifier sections.

Power Transformer: The F-01 and F-02 each use a large 940VA EI-core power transformer to supply the amplifier section.

Chassis and Thermal Design: Both integrated amplifiers use custom wave-shaped heat sinks designed to reduce mechanical resonance while providing the thermal management required by their high-current output stages.

Comparison

The PS-01F Power Supply

PS-01F External Power Supply: The optional PS-01F is a dedicated external power supply for the preamplifier circuitry in the F-01 and F-02. It uses an oversized 200VA toroidal transformer and a high-capacitance rectifier stage with 27,200μF × 2 of filter capacitance.

Connecting the PS-01F separates the preamp section from the integrated amplifier’s internal power supply and provides substantially greater power-supply capacity for the low-level audio circuitry. Esoteric says this additional isolation and capacitance are intended to reduce interference and improve overall sound quality.

PS-01F Black Edition Specifications

The Bottom Line 

The basic idea behind an integrated amplifier is simple: combine a preamplifier and power amplifier in one chassis without sacrificing performance. What separates one design from another is how far the manufacturer is willing to go inside the box.

In Esoteric’s case, the answer is very far.

The F-01 and F-02 are all-analog integrated amplifiers built around balanced dual-mono preamplifier stages, Grandioso-derived amplifier circuitry, substantial internal power supplies, and unusually fine control over volume, gain, channel balance, tone, and system integration. The optional PS-01F takes that approach even further by moving the preamp power supply into a separate chassis with its own 200VA transformer and large capacitor bank.

That is what makes these products unusual. Esoteric is not trying to build the most feature-rich integrated amplifier for the money. There is no DAC, no streaming platform, no HDMI-ARC, and no digital signal processing. The engineering budget is concentrated almost entirely on analog signal handling, power delivery, mechanical construction, and isolation.

That also means the F-01 and F-02 occupy a very different part of the market from products such as the Musical Fidelity M6xi ($3,799), Michi Prestige X430 ($4,999), and Hegel H200/A200 ($4,995/$3,995), all of which offer substantially more connectivity and functionality for dramatically less money.

Esoteric is aimed at the listener who already has separate digital sources, does not need an integrated DAC or streamer, and wants the convenience of a single chassis without giving up the kind of engineering normally associated with expensive separates.

The new Black Editions do not change that proposition internally. They simply offer the same F-01, F-02, and PS-01F architecture in a black-anodized finish for buyers who prefer their ultra-high-end Japanese hardware dressed accordingly.

Pro Tip: The F-01 and F-02 are strictly all-analog designs. There are no digital inputs or outputs, and neither amplifier includes a DAC or ADC.

Pricing & Availability 

The Esoteric Black Editions will be available in the U.S., the UK, and Europe through Authorized Dealers at the following MSRPs:

•  F-01 B:  US $21,000,  EU €22,000.00. UK £21,999.00
•  F-02 B:  US $21,000, EU €20,000.00,  UK £19,999.00
•  PS-01F B: US $5,700,  EU €5,500.00, UK £5,499.00

Note: Products sold for the Japanese market are intended for use within Japan only. The export or resale of these products across international borders may violate local laws (e.g., in Japan, the Radio Act, etc.) and lead to legal penalties. Use outside the country of purchase voids all official warranties and free repair services.

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