Thursday, September 29, 2016
Zesto Andros Téssera Phonostage
$12000
Features
Two completely independent dual mono channels, with LED indicators for A and B
Accommodates 4 tonearms, 1 MM and 1 MC per channel
All settings are saved when you switch between channels
Dual chassis with external power supply
3 meter umbilical cable incorporating special RFI suppression to provide lower black levels
Dedicated high quality output transformers drivin by output tubes
True floating ground, transformer balanced XLR inputs and outputs
12 position MC load per channel with more finessed adjustable options like 1000, 800, 700, 500, 400, 350, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 Ohms
Easily adjustable MC “Load on the fly” without klicks or pops so you can hear the change
100% tube circuitry in the signal path without any solid state devices
All switching is done with relays
Ground lift switches are on each channel to prevent noisy ground loops
All the RCA and XLR connectors are Gold plated for better conductance and lower corrosion
All switches and knobs are easily accessible, nothing hidden inside to adjust
Recessed RCA connectors are durable and will hold up to the typical Audiophile who loves to change their configuration
Elegantly designed 16 gauge steel enclosure to help isolate the electronic “chatter” from nearby equipment
Each unit is hand built “Made in the USA”
50 hour factory burn in on all circuits and vacuum tubes
Specifications:
Inputs per Channel
Two completely independent dual mono channels, A and B with LED indicator
Accommodates 4 tonearms, 2 per channel
Separate MM and MC inputs per channel
Each channel has independent controls and all selections are saved when you switch between channels
Selection switch for MC and 2 position MM 47K and MM 68K
MM impedance switch 47K or 68K Ohms
MM capacitance 220pf
MC transformer Balanced gold plated XLR input
MM and MC Single Ended RCA input, gold plated with isolated ground
4 MC ground on/off switch
12 position MC load impedance:1000, 800, 700, 500, 400, 350, 300, 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 Ohms
4 Superior quality MC Internal step up transformers
3 position MC gain switch for High, Medium & Low output cartridges
Two ground binding posts
Outputs per channel
High quality output transformers driven by dedicated 12AU7/ECC82 output tubes
True floating ground, transformer Balanced XLR gold plated outputs
Single Ended gold plated RCA output, with isolated ground
Impedance 150 Ohms
+8V max output level
Active Components
Four (4) Gold pin JJ ECC83S/12AX7 vacuum tubes with high quality gold pin ceramic sockets
Two (2) Gold pin JJ ECC82/12AU7 vacuum tubes with high quality gold pin ceramic sockets
Power
Dual chassis
Power supply with 3 meter DC umbilical cable incorporating special RFI suppression
Locking bayonet connector rated for higher voltage and higher current
3 internal linear regulated power supplies, 1 high voltage 250V and 2 low voltage 12V
Power supply dual color LED, yellow for standby and red for ON
Main unit push ON/OFF front power switch illuminates a red LED on Channel A or B
Power supply standby switch on the front
Power supply standby power rating 7 Watts
Power consumption 52 Watts
Standard 3 pin 15A IEC power connector on power supply
Voltage 110/120V AC 60Hz
Optional factory installed 220V or 230/240V AC 50/60Hz
Detailed Specifications
3 position Gain switch
MC input 60dB, 65dB and 70dB or MM input 40dB, 45dB and 50dB
Noise – 90 dBu below max output level
Frequency response complies with the original RIAA curve within +or- 0.5 dB
RIAA curve is achieved using a passive filter
1% metal film resisters throughout
Polypropylene capacitors throughout the audio path
All analog tube circuitry with no solid state devices in the signal path
Other Features
Controls on the front
“Made in the USA” using US and imported parts
Each unit is built by hand
50 hour factory burn in on all circuits and vacuum tubes
Dimensions main chassis 17″ W X 14″ D X 5.5″ H, Power Supply 17”W x 8”D x 5”H
Weight: Main unit 25 lbs (11.34 Kg), Power supply 17 lbs (7.7 Kg)
Shipping weight 53 lbs (24 Kg), box 20″ X 20″ X 20″
16 gauge zinc plated steel enclosure
Two year limited warranty
Six months warranty on Vacuum Tubes
Friday, September 23, 2016
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Transparent OPUS PowerIsolator
For the first time ever, Transparent Audio’s ultimate statement in audio perfection, the OPUS series, expands to incorporate a new standard in power conditioning and line filtration— meet the Transparent OPUS PowerIsolator.
Power Conditioning Without Compromise
The groundbreaking Transparent Generation 5 Power Conditioning Filter Technology introduced in the new OPUS PowerIsolator snuffs out broadband AC power line noise without restricting current or introducing phase shift. Designed to work in perfect harmony with its included 20-amp IEC OPUS Power Cord, OPI is ready to deliver limitless current and noise-free, in-phase power.
Most other power conditioning solutions reduce some AC noise, but they also restrict instantaneous current flow and alter the phase of the power signal — a condition that introduces noise and shifts the tonal balance performance of the system. OPI in combination with OPUS Power Cords ensures that your system is free to reveal all the dynamic complexity and energy and the pure and natural instrumental tonality encoded in your favorite music sources.
Resonance Control
With OPI’s curvaceous carbon fiber form, there can be no mistaking its OPUS lineage. Like OPUS Speaker Cable, OPI’s epoxy-loaded, fully damped carbon-fiber carapace blocks vibrations and allows electromagnetic fields to fully expand. The OPI center of gravity is also low and wide which further ensures that any excess energy broadly dissipates away from the filter circuitry. Adjustable for hard or carpeted surfaces, precision machined isolation feet keep OPI stable and decoupled from floor vibrations.
OPUS PowerIsolator (Rear Panel)
Filter Technology
Painstakingly constructed with multi-step measurements and circuit adjustments, the OPI filter circuit is also calibrated to the filter characteristics of the included OPUS Power Cord and to the end user’s AC voltage and frequency. OPUS Power Cord conductors serve to link the OPI filter circuit from input to output, and the filter characteristics of the OPI conductors are also an important part of the measurement process and filter circuit calibration. OPI’s parallel noise filtering circuit results in full, free, instantaneous current flow, thereby allowing your system to deliver untethered musical dynamics. Likewise, the parallel hydraulic magnetic circuit breaker provides failsafe circuit protection without limiting current.
Features
•Broadband power line noise filtering with ideal power factor correction
•Free current flow without restriction
•Two identical high-current, grounded, surge protected outlets
•Detachable 2-meter OPUS Power Cord included
•Available in USA, UK, EU and other power applications
OPUS Power Cord
To harness the optimal performance from OPUS PowerIsolator use with a dedicated AC circuit and a single component, and use an OPUS Power Cord for each component connection.
Suggested retail price for the OPUS PowerIsolator is $15,950 USD
and includes a 2m input OPUS Power Cord
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Boenicke Audio W13
Standard Version
Twin 13″ long throw bass drivers with ultra hard injection moulded diaphragm in sealed enclosure, driven by 2 x 350 W Class D amplifier module with programmable DSP and 4 user-selectable presets for optimal integration in any listening room.
6″ custom-made woodcone bass-midrange driver, 1st order low pass filter, no high pass filter, ash tree phase plug, magnet structure force fit mounted to the whole wooden mass of enclosure.
3″ custom-made widebander, 1st order high pass filter, unique electromechanical parallel resonator installed.
Internal wiring orientation-optimised silk-wrapped high-frequency stranded litz.
WBT NextGen binding posts.
Rear ambient tweeter.
SE Version
Added electromechanical parallel resonator to bass-midrange.
Added Bybee Quantum Purifiers.
Added proprietary phase linearization network.
SE+ Version
Added electromechanical series resonators to widebander and bass-midrange driver, all parallel and series resonators of STAGE II type.
Added Steinmusic Speaker Match Signature.
Added Harmonix Tuning Bases to widebander.
Mundorf Silver Gold Oil main capacitor for widebander instead of Obbligato Premium capacitor.
Added Mundorf MCap Supreme to rear tweeter
Swing Base included
Trees
Choose from walnut, ash tree and cherry.
Dimensions
105 x 18 x 39 cm, weight approx. 40 kg per piece (depending on version and wood).
Sensitivity: 89 dB / watt / m
Nom. impedance: 6 ohms (SE versions drop to 2 ohms above 5 kHz. As there is little current flowing there, this is not a problem for most amplifiers).
Thursday, September 1, 2016
SA Lab Samson
SA Lab Samson is tube amplifying trio consisting of preamplifier and two monoblocks.
Samson has become the very first SA Lab amplifier with output tubes working in ultra linear mode. 120 W (4 Ohm) push-pull monoblock’s output stages were built on four beam-power tetrode 6п36с (USSR, 1978). Furthermore there are ECC82 (Tungsram, 1970) and driver 6п6 (USSR, 1968; can be replaced to 6v6). All the bulbs are of highest quality and conditions.
Head of SA Lab designed the very complicated output transformer that takes a lot of time for manufacturing exclusively by hands. Transformer’s special auxiliary winding bears interfering signal that is mixed into output signal under very limited negative feedback of 3 dB. The result is very low distortions within the whole audio spectrum.
Technical specifications
Output power (4 Ohm), W — 120
Signal-to-noise ratio (unweighted), dB — 100
THD (50% of output power, 20 Hz — 20 rHz, % — 0,3
Damping factor (4 Ohm) — 18