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Aries Cerat Virgo Two Chassis Pre Amplifier
Aries Cerat Virgo Two Chassis Pre Amplifier
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Description
We proudly present a further addition to our Legend Series: the Virgo - the matching preamplifier to the Achilleas Power Amplifier, the Zephyrus Phono, the Homerus Dac, and the Contendo II Horn Speaker system.
The Legend Series is our finest expression of ultra high end audio, a level of music musical realism and accuracy never seen before in any domestic setting. It is a realisation of how far ultra high end audio can go when the best design practices and materials are used, along with zero contraints on size, budget and topology.
The Design Concept
The Virgo is based on a extremely elaborate small Single Ended Triode amp design, using a pair of triode-strapped E280F supertubes per channel.
The main power supplied, bias supplies and signal transformers are specially design not to impede with the circuit performance.
The main idea of parallel triode single ended preamp is simple, however the Virgo is an example of how a simple circuit sounds when implementation is a true cost no object approach.
The Output Stage
The output stage is a dual parallel single ended triode(SET) circuit, using dual E280F supertubes per channel.
This SET circuit uses a special quality nanocrystalline-core bifilar output transformer, for supreme linearity and bandwidth. The output stage local power decoupling is using a massive film capacitor with extreme specifications (max current delivery 10000A and ESR of 1.5mOhm!) which makes it virtual transparent.
The combination of the output transformer, psu, bias system and tube compliment, make this circuit present an unprecedented dynamic headroom for a line level preamp. It’s maximum voltage and current swing is 30-100x more than any amplifier, low or high gain, will even require.
The biasing system is an elaborate system, which begins with tube rectifiers for the negative voltage supply, super film capacitors throughout, choke filtration and double trimmed adjustments for each channel.
The bias system provides a superbly clean noiseless negative bias to the output stage, to sustain a lowest possible noise floor.
The bias system can be monitored and adjusted on the fly, using the internal dual meter/monitors.
Volume Control
As with all our preamps, the volume control is implemented using specially wound multi-tap input transformers.
Volume contro/attenuation is achieved by selecting which tap of the secondary is active, using an array of ultra low noise latching relays. These relays are active only when they change state, and power down when not changing state, eliminating noise bleed through the control system to the signal.
The Power Supply
The power supply is fully a dual mono tube rectified unit.
The high voltage rails are powered by a xenon-rectifier bank. Xenon rectifiers are the closest thing to a mercury vapor rectifiers, without the drawbacks and risk of using mercury vapor rectifiers. These extremely high current xenon rectifiers,have solid state-like current delivery and very low sagging, while have zero switch noise when properly implemented.
The negative bias circuits are powered also by a tube rectifier, using the 6AU4 damper diode. This solution give the lowest possible noise floor to the critical negative bias section.
No electrolytic capactitors are used throughout the unit as well the local decoupling capacitors in the main unit. Instead, we use a special breed of film SuperCapacitors.
For reference purposes, the local capacitor bank in the main unit, has a max surge capabilities of 30000Amperes . Of course these specs are nowhere near any audio circuit will demand, however this is a testament that the ESR an ESL ratings of the capacitors are a few magnitudes lower than any capacitor used, making these PSU capacitors truly invisible to the audio signal. These special SuperCapacitors are used in the main PSU rails as well as the negative bias circuits.
The Xenon rectifier banks used for the high voltage rails, and the damper diodes used in the negative bias supply, provide the lowest noise floor possible with extremely high current delivery /low sagging.
Specifications
Specifications
Product Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Technology | Dual/parallel SET single stage |
| Number Gain Stages | One |
| Gain | 26db (26-22-18-14-10-6)db (gain switch using TVC system) |
| Tubes used | 4 x E280F, 2 X 6AU4GTA (bias rectifiers) 4 X 3b28 xenon rectifiers |
| Volume | Transformer volume control 26 steps |
| Channel Balance | Balanced left/right function |
| HT | HT bypass ready |
| AC Link | Aries Cerat HT Link ready |
| Input impedance | 10kΩ <100Hz |
| Output impedance (depends on configuration) | 12ohm ~ 300ohm |
| Maximum voltage output | 150Vrms (High gain), 30V rms(medium gain) 15V (VLG version) |
| Maximum gain | 20db (high gain version) 14db/8db (medium gain version) |
| Noise floor | <-120db unweighted |
| Inputs | 4 x RCA, 1 x true balanced XLR |
| Dimensions | 550mm W x 530mm D x 165cm H |
| Weight | 70kg (per chassis) 140kg total |
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Aries Cerat Virgo Two Chassis Pre Amplifier
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Delivery & Returns
Delivery & Returns
We offer FREE delivery to the mainland UK (excluding Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Isle of White, Isles of Scilly, and some of the remote Scottish Isles).
For other areas please contact us for a quote. Select items can be delivered internationally by prior agreement. Again please contact us for a quote. We will always do our best to help.
Our aim is to dispatch goods within 2 working days of an order being placed. Please allow 5 working days from the time of your order to receipt of item. If an order is expected to take longer than this our order fulfillment department will contact you to inform you of this.
Where multiple items are ordered, we will dispatch them all in one package. If you have ordered any special or customized items, or items otherwise not immediately available, we will dispatch the order when all items are available. If you have any concerns regarding this, please contact us and we will do are very best to help you.