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Saturday, January 27, 2024

Introducing the INTREPID product line

Hi!

I'd like to present the photos of the first unit of my new product line called 'Intrepid'.



This new line represents the state of the art of my work. Using newly designed chassis which I introduced in an earlier post.



Each component of this product line consists of two chassis. Signal unit and external power supply.



The first member of this family is the all silver differential 10Y line preamplifier.



All signal relevant transformers and chokes are silver wound. In this case without any capacitors in the signal path.




The power supply is tube rectified. The tubes reside inside the chassis. So that the units can be stacked.




The signal tubes, in this case TM801A, are placed on the top of the preamp chassis.






The chassis are milled from solid blocks of aluminum for a seamless surface.







The placement of the knobs on the signal unit was changed after the power supply chassis was already milled. In the final version the knobs of signal chassis and PSU will be aligned.




This preamp uses XLR connectors throughout but RCA can be specified as well. Also number of inputs, engravings and placement of knobs can be chosen individually. As well as different surface treatment.





For example brushed surface as in this alternate PSU chassis.




Also black anodisation is possible or different colors as shown in recent Compactron builds.




The chassis before it got populated with parts:




PSU chassis:






The Intrepid line will be completed with Phono stage, DAC and mono blocks soon.



The intrepid product line will be on demo at the upcoming High End show in Munich.



Best regards

Thomas




Tuesday, January 23, 2024

The Compactron Line Preamplifier

Hi!

Here is another completed build of the Conpactron Line Preamplifier.



It is similar to the first Compactron Line stage shown last year, except this one lacks the phase switch.



It is reduced to the minimal functionality required. On/off switch, volume control (which is a stepped transformer volume control) and input selector.



Two of the inputs are balanced using input transformers and two are single ended.



Outputs are available as XLR and RCA.



The gain is 9dB. But other gains can be specified when ordering such a line stage. Output impedance eis less than 200 Ohms.







When ordering such a unit the number of inputs and selection of balanced vs SE inputs can be specified as well as additional options like phase, balance, stereo/mono controls as well as tape loop.



And of course different colors.





Best regards

Thomas


Thursday, January 18, 2024

The Compactron DAC

Hi!

A third version of the Comnpactron DAC is finished.



The first one had transformer coupled outputs and transformer volume control, the second one fixed transformer coupled output. This is the simplest version without volume control and with RC coupled outputs to RCA jacks only.



This time with blue front and back plates.












It has Both USB and Coax inputs.




First test run:








Best regards

Thomas