Source Components
Many people think of vacuum tube amplification when they think of E.A.R. and Tim de Paravicini. It takes a few more seconds of thought to remember that E.A.R. also produces a world-class CD player and one of the best turntables around.
They next time that you’re shopping for source components, or if you feel the need to upgrade the sound at the beginning of your audio system, keep E.A.R. at the top of your shopping list.
Please read on to learn more about these exquisitely designed and built source components. For questions, please call 573-696-3551 or email info@audiointelligent.com. To order, please give us a call or visit our Online Store.
The Acute CD player is Tim de Paravicini's first foray into digital territory. While it starts life as an Arcam player, it utilizes nothing of the original machine except the transport and the excellent Wolfson, 24/96 upsampling DAC. Everything beyond the DAC (except the display) is of Tim de Paravicini's design, including the filters and the output stage. One thing that makes the player unusual is the fact that the filters are analog, not digital. Another is the transformer-coupled tube output stage. A third is the fact that it has enough gain to drive a power amplifier directly, with the front-panel volume control (also analog).
The Acute CD player offers both true balanced and single-ended analog outputs, and both coaxial and optical digital outputs.
Specifications
| |
Outputs- 2 pair analog out: 1 RCA, 1 balanced XLR, 2 pair digital out: 1 coax, optical |
Retail Price: $5495.00 (Aluminum Faceplate), $5995.00 (Chrome Faceplate). Please specify when ordering.
Please allow 4 to 6 weeks delivery for this product.
Tim de Paravicini began contemplating a radical new design for a turntable several decades ago, but the advent of digital audio put the project on hold. With interest in analog not only continuing, but also growing, he has finalized his design, and introduced the Disc Master turntable. While many turntables have appeared on the market in recent years, few offer as many novel features as the Disc Master, but this is not novelty for its own sake. The Disc Master represents a new standard for LP playback.
Most striking is the no-contact drive system. The need to transfer power to the platter of a turntable has always been problematic, as any system with the capacity to transfer power can, by the same means, transfer vibration. Flexible rubber belts have proved a satisfactory solution, but suffer problems of slippage (hence, uncertain speed) and they pull the platter sideways, which can result in stability problems. Tim de Paravicini has arrived at an ingenious solution that solves these problems. A low-noise motor, controlled by a carefully optimized servo loop, drives a sub-platter via a geared belt that ensures absolute speed control. The sub-platter drives the platter via an arrangement of opposing magnets. This method not only eliminates slippage, but allows enough compliance to filter out any remaining vibration from the motor and belt, while applying a fully symmetric driving force.
Bearings are another problem for a turntable designer, one that Tim de Paravicini has solved by the use of Swiss-made, precision angular contact bearings, which are as quiet as the more common point-contact types, but wear much more slowly, so that their performance after years of use will be as good as on initial purchase.
The platter is made of an ultra-low-resonance composite of resin and inorganic filler, accurately machined and supported on an instrument-grade aluminum chassis. Adjustable, damped feet support the assembly. Three speeds—33, 45, and 78—are offered, with a continuous speed control for 78 to accommodate discs cut at non-standard speeds.
All common tonearms can be mounted and adjusted with ease. The Disc Master is also available with a special EAR version of the Helius Omega tonearm. The Omega arm is as radical a rethinking of tonearm design as the Disc Master is a reconsideration of turntable design, and the two work superbly together.
| Retail Price: |
$20,000.00 (with E.A.R./ Helius Omega Tonearm) |
| |
$17,000.00 (without Tonearm) |
Please specify when ordering.
This is a limited production, special order item. Please call 573-696-3551 for more information on purchasing this product and expected delivery lead times.
|
