The Roksan Oxygene series, released in 2012, marked a bold departure from traditional hi-fi design, ushering in a minimalist, futuristic approach that appealed to design-conscious audiophiles. This series included both an integrated amplifier and a CD player, both showcasing sleek aesthetics and forward-thinking functionality.
Unlike traditional amplifiers, the Oxygene's design eschewed conventional knobs, switches, and buttons, opting instead for a clean, button-free top plate featuring touch-sensitive controls. The words "less is more" became the amplifier's defining feature, with each word acting as a touch-sensitive control for volume adjustment and input selection.
The Oxygene amplifier incorporated a Class D design, powered by Hypex UCD 400 modules, delivering 75 watts into 8 ohms and 150 watts into 4 ohms. Class D modules paired with a linear power supply, featuring large toroidal transformers, ensured that despite the compact form factor, the amplifier delivered impressive sound quality without compromising on power. This combination of Class D amplification and linear power supplies contributed to the amp’s clean, dynamic performance, offering punchy bass and refined treble.
Connectivity was a key feature of the Oxygene, which included three analogue inputs and AptX Bluetooth for high-quality wireless streaming. The Bluetooth pairing process was simple, allowing devices to connect effortlessly, and once paired, the connection remained stable without needing to re-pair.
The Oxygene CD player, meanwhile, featured a 24-bit/192kHz built-in DAC, providing excellent digital-to-analogue conversion, ensuring detailed and immersive playback of CDs. Additionally, it offered coaxial and optical digital outputs, giving users the option to connect it to an external DAC if desired. The CD player seamlessly complemented the amplifier, with both devices sharing the same minimalist design ethos.
From a sonic perspective, the Oxygene series delivered a balanced and smooth sound signature. Music genres ranging from classical to modern electronic tracks were handled with finesse, offering tight bass response and clarity in the midrange, while the high frequencies were slightly smoothed for a non-fatiguing listening experience. This balance made the system ideal for long listening sessions, as well as for use in home theatre setups, where its sound performance and sleek design could enhance both music and television audio.
Oxygene Series - 2012