Ferrum care about his customers and when some of them told they would like to power more than one device with their beloved HYPSOS power systems, they sat down and discussed this question with their engineers. To make HYPSOS even more efficient in operating they designed the Ferrum Power Splitter (FPS). One instantly recognises the FPS to be part of the Ferrum family of products because of its Corten steel front with the embedded Fe logo. Inside this little piece of excellence reside the electronics which immaculately pass the carefully calculated and measured values across the connected devices. From now on you can power two devices of your choice with just one HYPSOS. The two devices fed by the FPS need to have similar input settings (voltage and polarity), which can be chosen from the internal list residing in HYPSOS’ memory banks. Also, the combined maximum power consumption should not exceed 80W and the current should not exceed 6A. Together with the Ferrum Power Splitter a Ferrum Power Link of 0.5 meter is included in the box. Of course, we offer the option for other power cords in different lengths (including the FPL) at an extra charge. Please contact us for the available options.
• Specifically made for HYPSOS: you may now power two devices with one HYPSOS • Input: 1x for proprietary 4-pin Ferrum Power Link (FPL) • Outputs: 2x for FPL or other Ferrum DC powering cords • Dimensions (W x D x H): 50 x 52 x 30 mm / 75 x 65 x 27,5 mm with connectors • Weight: 180 gr • Price: 249 EUR/USD
The AMG DAC uses dual ESS DACs with discrete Class-A transistors for natural, detailed, and expansive sound stage sound characteristics. With five digital including IIS/DSD and one analog stereo inputs, RCA stereo and XLR balanced outputs, and decoding capability of PCM 384K, DSD256, the NuPrime AMG-DAC is a reference-class DAC designed for studio professionals and high-end audiophiles.
Preamp In a modern high-end DAC, the preamp stage plays a prominent role in determining the sound qualify and characteristics. AMG DAC preamp design features: Output stage voltage amplification employing all discrete components. Output stage current amplification utilising a high-speed amplifier with complete discrete components. “Current transmitter” has no negative feedback amplifier. The sound is natural and relaxed with no hint of digital. Users can hear a very open sense of live performance space with a focused sound field. The guitar and piano melody naturally scattered in the listening space, making people relax and immerse themselves in it, transforming the stiff strings into natural and smooth sounds.
The Heart As the heart of an audio system, the AMG-DAC supports an extensive number of inputs and formats. Dual ESS Technology 32-bit audio DAC ESS9038Q2M independently decode left and right channels improve channel separation and reducing overall noise. The Vishay professional film MELF resistors provide excellent sound quality.
Other notable features: Muses 72320 volume control. NuPrime SRC IC chip (co-developed with IC vendor) provides DSP processing where input signals are up-sampled to megahertz before down-converted to the targeted sampling rate with ultra-low jitter and distortion. Extension port for Bluetooth receiver and WiFi audio streamer (optional). Full microprocessor control with memory retention. Supports DSD native playback by ASIO2.1 and DoP method. Ultra-low-noise JFETs in the input stage for the lowest possible noise floor. Individually adjustable volume on each input for precise level matching of sources. Asynchronous transfer mode.
Touraj Moghaddam, founder and chief executive of Vertere, today announced that the multi-award-winning PHONO-1 MKII, MM/MC Phono Preamplifier has been improved. The New PHONO-1 MKII L features improved performance, a new gold-plated L-shaped Printed Circuit Board and significantly enhanced accessibility for the customisation DIP switches. The PHONO-1 MKII L which is available now will sell for £1350, €1648, $1895 Aus$2700.
The sound quality improvements are subtle but significant. The MKII already was better than the original due to the more optimal choice of components. The L takes this further with non-trivial PCB layout improvements. Moving the linear power supply to the main PCB allowed a significant track and ground plane layout optimisation. The new design ensures signal tracks are of equal length, impedances lowered, and track widths adjusted to direct current flow.
The PHONO-1 already included an unusual grounding selection switch with three positions giving a choice of Hard Ground, Ground Lift, or Soft Ground. This, in certain installations, may achieve even lower background noise from the record player.
The PHONO-1 is user-configurable for most Moving Magnet and Moving Coil Cartridges available. The DIP switches on the bottom of the unit facilitate the choice of 15 input impedances and 9 options of capacitance together with 10 choices of gain. For example, it allows a somewhat peaky (with a rising HF response) Moving Coil cartridge to be tamed by adding capacitance rather than by reducing input impedance. Lowering the input impedance tends to ‘slug’ the sound, reducing musical performance and drama along with lowering the brightness. Adding capacitance while keeping the input impedance higher allows the full performance to shine.
PHONO-1 MKII L gets the best from any high-quality record player, with maximum dynamic range and supreme detail resolution.
New ‘L’ shaped high-quality gold-plated PCBs for the main phono circuit and the mains power transformer ensure optimised grounding and power distribution. In addition, stainless steel shield ensures that any unwanted interference is kept well away from the audio signal.
The shields, combined with the use of high-quality components and special solder, guarantee consistent optimum performance for the long term.
Stainless Steel Shields A 3-way switch provided at the back of PHONO-1 gives the options of ‘Hard Ground’, ‘Ground Lift’ or ‘Soft Ground’ connection of the preamp and the chassis to minimise any hum introduced between the PHONO-1 and the amplifier.
The PHONO-1 is available in a range of high-end finishes, including a new DG-1 design featuring a front panel to match the new Vertere record player. Other finishes available: Silver aluminium, Signature Vertere Orange and Semi-matt Black. L The power LED is now orange to easily identify the MKII L version.
Métronome comes back to their fundamentals with Le Player 4 being a top-loading CD Transport, designed to match perfectly with the second generation of Le DAC. Like all Métronome devices, simplicity in use and versatility are the differentiating qualities of Classica range : CD Player, high-end D/A converter, and (in option on Le Player) a DSD 256 streamer. Here comes the universal audiophile digital source!
2022 is the year of complete renewal for Métronome’s Classica range: new Le Player 4 transport, and new LE DAC 2 converter. The Player 4 is top-loading CD transport and offers a streaming option that allows it to become a universal digital audio source. It incorporates a brand-new pickup mechanism and a fully new electronic design, same as for Le DAC 2, freshly redesigned around an ESS conversion processor. The ideal connection between the two devices is a HDMI connection carrying qualitative I²S signal. And for a perfect look both devices have the same screens and innovative sensitive touches.
Le Player 4+ has been designed for all the audiophiles who need a versatile digital source. Listen to CDs, and also to digital albums stored on a computer or a NAS, or browse streaming services, this is now possible in one box with Le Player 4+! Its D/A converter is available through asynchronous USB supporting PCM up to 32 bits / 384 kHz and DSD up to 512.
The Classica range by Métronome perpetuates the external design of the legendary devices of the brand, but -make no mistake- everything is brand new, from the embedded electronics to the elegant touchpads.
Jean Marie Clauzel, Owner and Designer of Metronome Technologie, precises: “It’s a true challenge to develop completely new devices in this period, with all the uncertainties that we face on the supply of so many components… We’re happy to be able to provide these products to Métronome lovers, and to pursue the story of entry-range Métronome Classica.”
The P30A preamplifier and the H30A power amplifier replaces the P30 and H30 reference amplifiers that have been on the market since 2011. For several years we have known that the P30 and H30 amplifiers were living on borrowed time because the extremely good transistors they used were being discontinued. This was a problem because they were so good that finding something that could even come close proved to be very hard. So, for years we have been looking for replacements that could not only match, but also improve upon the performance of our amplifiers. We have been testing and listening and testing again, and finally we are able to launch our new reference products.
With a new design and vastly upgraded sound qualities, the P30A and H30A sets a new bar for what Hegel amplifiers can achieve. We have given the P30A and the H30A the nicknames “The Conductor” and “The Orchestra”. They of course work best together, but both can also be great individual upgrades to existing systems. Speaking of upgradability, the H30A is designed as a mono power amplifier and performs best when used as such. We do however realize that some do not need that much power, and some want to try one before going for the full package. That is why the H30A can also be used as in stereo mode. The P30A is a fully balanced preamplifier with an attention to detail that is really something else. With a host of unbalanced and balanced analog inputs and outputs it will satisfy the needs of even the most dedicated stereo collector.
The Conductor
The P30A is The Conductor. With poise and control it conveys all the details, the grandeur, the feeling, and the complexity of any piece of music. With precise timing and expert understanding of both the score and the musicians, The Conductor brings forth the music just as it was intended to sound. It handles low key jazz, stadium rock and everything in between. Nothing added, and nothing subtracted, the P30A is the best conductor you will ever meet.
The P30A is our reference preamplifier. We have nicknamed it The Conductor because its job is to control the power amplifier with a signal that is as true to the music as possible. In our view, the preamplifier is the most critical component in a great sounding system, and it is also the hardest to get right. The very low amplitude signals coming from the source are easily corrupted, so an in-depth technical knowhow and clever engineering are needed to make sure the signal stays the same all the way through the preamplifier. With the P30A we have deployed all our skills in doing just that.
First, we use single pair FET transistors that have no higher order harmonic distortion. Within any batch of transistors, there will always be slight measurement variations. This might be within the bounds of what is considered normal deviations, but for sensitive electronics like this, that simply isn’t good enough. Therefore, Hegel’s founder and chief engineer Bent measures and carefully matches those transistors that have the exact same values. Having perfectly matched transistors is of paramount importance to the performance of the preamplifier, and it makes the P30A sound very smooth and natural, without compromising on the details.
Furthermore, the internal layout is designed in a way that makes the signal paths within the preamplifier as short as possible. This reduces the possibility of distortion coming from electrical interference. To further reduce distortion, we also minimise the number of electrical components the signal passes through. In the P30A the music signal only passes through two transistors and an ultra-low noise volume attenuator.
The P30A also uses Hegel’s patented Sound Engine technology. This actively monitors the music signal for corruptions and corrects for intermodulation distortion using a feed forward design. Sound Engine effectively removes distortion in real time as the signal is amplified.
All these steps make for a preamplifier that is very quiet and handles the sensitive low amplitude music signal as delicately as possible. Even so, distortion of the signal can still happen, but the P30A has one more feature that takes care of this. The P30A is fully balanced all the way through. This means you have two separate amplifiers, volume controls, and sound engine modules per channel. With this design, almost all leftover distortion is cancelled out, and what you are left with is a signal that is as close to the original source material as possible.
The P30A offers a wide array of inputs and outputs. It features 2 balanced (XLR) and 3 unbalanced (RCA) inputs and a fixed level Home Theatre input that allows you to integrate it into a Home Theatre system. This input can also be configured to act as a normal input. On the other end you have one balanced (XLR) and two unbalanced (RCA) variable outputs that are all active, allowing you to connect several devices at the same time. One of the unbalanced RCA outputs can even be configured to be a fixed volume output. The P30A also has a 3,5 mm IR-direct input and a 12V trigger output connector.
When you add it all up you get a highly versatile, extremely quiet, and natural sounding preamplifier that can be the heart of any high-end audio system. You get the P30A – A truly brilliant conductor of all music.
The Orchestra
The H30A is The Orchestra. With its immense power, speaker matching is no longer an issue. The Orchestra can play any “venue”, be it large stadiums or small cellar clubs, and with its unsurpassed skill and attention to detail, no music is too challenging. It conveys all music like you never thought possible. No matter what or where it plays, The Orchestra will always perform at its best.
The H30A is our reference power amplifier. We have nicknamed it The Orchestra because that is what it is. The H30A’s job is to take command of any music on any speakers and make it sound as good as possible without ever breaking a sweat, and we can think of no more challenging music than a large orchestral piece.
The H30A is an absolute powerhouse of an amplifier. In its mono state it delivers a truly astounding 1100 watts in 8 ohms, and it is completely stable even with 1-ohm loads. To achieve this, we have applied all our skill and knowledge in amplifier design and combined that with the best electronics. The H30A power supply uses 2 separate 1000 VA toroidal transformers for fast response and minimized transformer hum
single pair FET transistors. carefully hand matched transistors that have the exact same values, and therefore they have no higher order
harmonic distortion. Other types of distortion we cancel out with our patented Sound Engine technology. This actively monitors the music signal for corruptions and corrects for distortion using a feed forward design. Sound Engine effectively removes distortion in real time as the signal is amplified. These measures make the H30A sound very smooth and natural, without compromising on the details.
The H30A is designed as a mono power amplifier, but it can also be used as a stereo power amplifier. It has both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) inputs and a 12V trigger input. For the best possible connection, the H30A features high quality, gold-plated speaker binding posts.
Usually, when going from one amplifier to a more powerful one, you experience more of everything. More bass, more details, more involvement – everything is just more. With the H30A we have reached a whole new level of differences. Because the H30A is so immensely powerful and detailed, the concept of “more” simply becomes irrelevant. In the H30A the bass is tremendously deep, but never dominating. The high frequencies are exceptionally detailed, but never fatiguing. And the articulation of vocals in the midrange is just sublime. At this level, what you experience is simply total control.
The H30A is an amplifier that can drive virtually all known loudspeakers with authority and ease. It never sounds forced, only relaxed and musical. The H30A is the spearhead of our amplifier technology. It is the large orchestra that brings life to any music in any venue.
