Tech
Ultrafide Audio Teases ENSO INT-125 Integrated Amplifier Ahead of Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2026
As the Bristol Hi-Fi Show gears up for 2026, early announcements are beginning to surface, and the first one worth paying attention to comes from Ultrafide Audio. The UK manufacturer will unveil its new ENSO INT-125 integrated amplifier, a deliberately traditional design that leans into core amplification fundamentals rather than chasing the current obsession with built-in streaming platforms. The ENSO is confirmed to include an internal DAC, but this is not a network amplifier, not a lifestyle hub, and not trying to replace your music app of choice. It is, quite unapologetically, an integrated amplifier built for people who still care about signal paths more than software updates.
That positioning makes sense once you understand Ultrafide’s roots. Still relatively unknown in North America, the brand is the hi-fi division of MC² Audio and XTA Electronics, two names with serious credibility in the professional audio world. Products are designed and manufactured in East Devon, England, under the guidance of lead engineer Alex Cooper, whose résumé includes MC² Audio’s Delta Series, XTA’s MX36 console switch, and custom guitar amplifiers built for Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, and Mick Moody.
Ultrafide spent 2025 quietly expanding its footprint with the DIAS high-power amplifier and the more approachable SP500, exporting to over 20 countries. The ENSO INT-125 looks like a natural next step: a stripped-back, musically focused integrated aimed at listeners who want modern digital compatibility without surrendering control to a streaming ecosystem.
Ultrafide ENSO INT-125 Power, Topology, and Core Functionality
The ENSO is designed to serve as the true center of a system. Its name is drawn from the Japanese enso circle, a symbol of completeness, unity, and balance, themes that carry through both its sonic goals and its restrained, minimalist aesthetic.
Power output is rated at 125 watts per channel into 8 ohms, rising to 2 × 250 watts into 4 ohms, delivered via Ultrafide’s proprietary UltraSigma output topology.
Additional features include full preamplifier controls, tone adjustment options, an OLED display for clear system feedback, and a built-in stereo Class A/B headphone amplifier.
Inputs include two RCA and one balanced XLR analog input, along with one optical and one coaxial digital input. A dedicated moving-magnet phono stage is also included for direct turntable connection.
On the output side, the ENSO offers traditional loudspeaker terminals, a configurable preamp/power-amp loop with bypass capability, and a front-panel headphone output.
At its core is a linear toroidal power supply, with circuit design informed by technologies developed for Ultrafide’s U500DC and SP500 power amplifiers. The emphasis here is on clean power delivery, generous headroom, and maintaining musical integrity under real-world loads.
The preamplifier section features an OLED display with full remote control, derived from Ultrafide’s U4PRE, and includes ±8 dB bass and treble adjustment. These tone controls are designed by pro-audio EQ specialist Alex Cooper, who oversees all Ultrafide product development.
A key differentiator is the ENSO’s send/return pre-out and power-in architecture, which allows the amplifier to scale with a system. It can be used as a conventional integrated amplifier with passive loudspeakers, or reconfigured for multi-amplified or fully active systems with external equalisation, offering unusual flexibility at this level.
The amplifier is housed in Ultrafide’s clean, understated chassis and follows a standard 17-inch (42 cm) width, ensuring straightforward integration into most hi-fi racks and systems.
“The ENSO (INT-125) is a huge moment for the Ultrafide brand,” said Mark Bailey, product specialist at Ultrafide Audio and MC² Audio. “It’s a flexible and powerful integrated amplifier that lets you focus on the music. Having been asked for this by many customers since our inception, we are pleased to offer a competitive price point, driven by our mission to make exceptional audio accessible.”
The Bottom Line
Priced at £3,500, the Ultrafide ENSO INT-125 is aimed squarely at listeners who want a serious, UK-built integrated amplifier with real power, a proper internal DAC, phono support, and system-scaling flexibility without being locked into a streaming platform that will feel obsolete in five years. It’s for traditional hi-fi users who already own a streamer, CD transport, or DAC and would rather choose those components themselves.
What it deliberately omits is just as telling: there’s no built-in streaming, no app ecosystem, no HDMI eARC for TV integration, and it’s unclear whether a dedicated subwoofer output is provided. In a segment crowded with do-everything amplifiers, the ENSO takes the contrarian route; fewer features, more focus, and a clear bias toward sound quality over convenience.
Pricing & Availability
The Ultrafide ENSO (INT-125) is priced at £3,500 (inc. VAT) and is available through authorized Ultrafide dealers. It is not known yet if this product will become available in the North American market.
The ENSO will be shown publicly for the first time at the 2026 Bristol Hi-Fi Show from 20–22 in Room 314 and will be demoed using Kudos Titan 505 loudspeakers.
