Onkyo M-588

Onkyo M-588F

Onkyo M-5890

1 9 9 2 1992
1 9 9 8 1998

Last high-end 2-channel audio development of Onkyo, launched at the same time as the Japan-only and diminutive A-1E (and C-1E companion).

The M-588 embodies the refinement of what was put inside the M-508 (1986) but gone were the In-Phase transformers...
The input stage is a double differential followed by a symmetrical cascode with mirrored current regulations. The schematic below shows the double-differential and double servo.

The low-impedance driver stages are located on the same boards as the output stages' twelve 2SA1303 / 2SC3284 Sanken transistors which all have a Pc of 125 !

PCB tracks are thick 70µ, componentry is select, 2-gang input volume pots, Neutrik input terminals, thick internal cabling, oversized rectifying diodes, eight 5200µF / 100V low-ESR caps (I belie-ve custom ELNAs), and the two very big transformers are of the EI "laser" kind (faster response, linear flux).
Also present is a (very silent) front headphones' output which cuts the main terminals when used.

Protection kicks in by way of opto-coupled relays. But protection never kicks in : the M-588 is a true powerhouse, stable down to 2 Ohm and with square wave skewing of only 11% at 40Hz and... 0% at 1Khz !

The M-588 and P-388 were however also exported outside Japan and, depending on country, available until the very late 1990s.
The original models are champagne in colour (M-588), the general export models were (sadly) silver (M-588F) with plasticky sidburns while the german model was full black with plasticky black sideburns (M-5890).

Onkyo M-588, image 1 Onkyo M-588, image 2 Onkyo M-588, image 3
Onkyo M-588 specifications
Title Value
Continuous power : 2x 200W (RMS, 20Hz...20Khz, 8 Ohm)
2x 245W (RMS, 20Hz...20Khz, 6 Ohm)
2x 300W (RMS, 20Hz...20Khz, 4 Ohm)
Dynamic power : 2x 290W (8 Ohm, 1Khz)
2x 505W (4 Ohm, 1Khz)
2x 750W (2 Ohm, 1Khz)
2x 400W (8 Ohm, IHF)
THD : 0,005% at rated power
IMD : 0,005% at rated power
Frequency response : 5Hz...100Khz (-3dB ; 0,2% THD)
Input : 1V / 45kOhm (balanced)
1V / 20kOhm (unbalanced)
Damping factor : 180 (8 Ohm / 1Khz)
S/N ratio : 124dB (A wtd.)
Rise time : 1,14µs (10Khz)
Meters range : 0,01W...500W (x1 scale)
0,001W...50W (x0,1 scale)
Meters accuracy : ±1dB (0dB)
± 2dB (-10dB)
± 3dB (-20dB)
Dimensions : 47,5 x 19 x 42,6cm
Weight : 31kg.
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