[Audiovista]

Concurrently with release of the Vista-Audio phono preamplifier (http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=69710.0), it is my pleasure to announce the AudioCircle Limited Edition version (ACLE).

The Limited Edition version will have the following added features compared to the standard product:

- Preselected, low-offset version of the operational amplifier will be used in two gain stages.

- In addition to high precision resistors and capacitors used in passive RIAA circuit, the ACLE will have 0.5% resistors used everywhere else (normally, 1% accurate resistors are used).

- 10% of the sales ($30 per unit) will go directly to support AudioCircle.

- Free shipping worldwide (see the power supply note below).

- 30% discount on Low  Capacitance Silver Interconnects from AudioLimits, perfect for MM and MC cartridges (regular price $99, if ordered with ACLE phono, then only $69) http://www.audiolimits.ca/interconnect/index.htm).

- There will be only 100 ACLE preamplifiers made, each one with its own unique serial number (ACLE001 through ACLE100).

- Ordering and tracking details are here http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=69793.0:h



MORE DETAILS ON THIS OFFER:

- This offer has been discussed and graciously approved by JohnR and Steering Committee.

- Prepaid orders will be logged as received, and serial number assigned (you can pick an unassigned s/n should you want). PayPal, check or MO are all accepted.

- ACLE preamplifiers will start shipping in September '09 on the first-order-first-ship basis. We'll try to speed up the process, but it may take us 8-10 weeks to build units and close all orders.

- Standard 2yr warranty and return policy applies, with exception of actual shipping costs and $30 donation to AudioCircle which are not refundable.

- Within the US/Canada, the preamplifier ships with it's own wall plug AC supply (wall-wart). Unfortunately, we were not able to locate acceptable source for 230V version. International orders will ship without the power supply. Buyer will need to provide local power supply capable of generating 12VAC, with minimum output current of 0.2Amp and standard 5.5/2.1mm coaxial connector. Free international shipping should offset the cost of the power supply.

- All intellectual property, product rights and responsibilities are owned by ENG Vista, Inc., the company behind Vista-Audio brand.

- AudioCircle is indemnified of all liabilities and responsibilities in connection with this offer.

- Customer support, service and all technical queries will be addressed by ENG Vista, Inc. / Vista-Audio.

- Vista-Audio reserves the right to discontinue the offer and change number of available units at any time.

Thank you,
Boris

[JohnR]

Cool

[topround]

Count me in.

I want one

Mike

[richidoo]

I want it asap. 

Thanks for the great review ecramer.

Rich

[whubbard]

I'm in. I'm building a new turntable so I'm going to need a new MM preamp for my Rega P2.
If I PayPal right away can I reserve S/N 001?  Seems silly, but it would be fun to have.

-West

[topround]

Hey Whubbard

those linkwitz Orion's?

Love to hear them??!!
Mike

[MaxCast]

[JohnR]

#001 is already gone Sorry West 

Perfect timing for me

[richidoo]

I got #011   

[whubbard]

John,
It was worth a shot! 
Maybe I'll go from the other end and get #100

-West

[TheChairGuy]

Hi Boris,

A few questions please...

1.  Is the AudioCircle Limited Edition phono amp available either as MM or MC (as the 'normal' one is)?

2.  What is the MC version resistively loaded at?

3.  Can you tell me / us what gain the MC version is?

Thx, John

[Audiovista]

Thanks for the interest guys!  This is a good place for all the questons. Below are answers to John's.

Later today I will have one post with ordering and tracking info.

1.  Is the AudioCircle Limited Edition phono amp available either as MM or MC (as the 'normal' one is)?

MM and MC  are both available (they are both standard), this should be specified at the time of order (along with desired s/n and shipping address).

2.  What is the MC version resistively loaded at?

Nominal 47.5 ohm. 20 ohm and 100 ohm available on request.

3.  Can you tell me / us what gain the MC version is?

Nominal gain 60dB. This can be increased by up to 6dB if requested (be careful though as there is such thing as too much gain in a phono preamp that limits dynamic overhead). MM gain is 40dB.

Thanks again and spread the good word! 
Boris

[mjosef]

Hey Boris, I have a question...I see an either/or option but was thinking if its possible to have both MM/MC in one unit with a toggle switch to select either MM or MC???
I have an old PS audio IV pre with that feature.
Just wondering, since I have always been MM but would like to try a MC. In fact I just bought a HO DenonDL160 to see what the MC offers.

[Audiovista]

Hi Martin,

I opted against building a universal unit  - high quality switches are very expensive, there would be extra wiring with its parasitic inductances and noise pickup (all of that becomes part of the very sensitive input circuit, and every anomaly gets amplified 100-1000 times), case would need to be larger, price higher... not sure how many people actually use that option on a regular basis... perhaps something to consider in the future for a product in a different price range...

For now, I can offer to modify MM to MC (and the other way around) at no charge (except 2-way shipping) should anyone decide to change cartridge type...

Looked up the DL160. That one seems to be designed for DJ applications and MM preamps. And it has output on low end of HOMC carts. And that's what confuses me... DJ phono preamps often have lower gain than hi-fi preamps (35 vs. 40dB), so  lower output voltage on a lower gain preamp would indicate a need to really crank up volume control. I guess it doesn't matter if you have several thousands Watts of installed power....

Back to topic, with 40dB of gain (typical MM) the output may be on the low side (but dynamics will be great). With 60dB (typical MC) the output will be too high to have any decent dynamic headroom. You would probably do good with 46dB of gain and be able to run any standard MM or HOMC cart, including DL160.

Please let me know how does DL160 sound on your PS Audio preamp set on MM and MC (loading may be too low on MC).

Thanks,
Boris

[toobluvr]

Hey Boris, I have a question...I see an either/or option but was thinking if its possible to have both MM/MC in one unit with a toggle switch to select either MM or MC???
I have an old PS audio IV pre with that feature.
Just wondering, since I have always been MM but would like to try a MC. In fact I just bought a HO DenonDL160 to see what the MC offers.

I was wondering the same thing.  It would be nice to have something with lots of flexibility.....and even user selectable cartridge loading.  But looks like Boris goes for the purist and low noise approach.....which I like, if it results in better performance.

Heck, these things are so cheap you can buy both MM and MC for less than the cost of just a decent MM stage.  And buying a completely separate one for MC is even cheaper than adding a bargain basement head-amp or step up transformer to your MM section!

[Audiovista]

......Heck, these things are so cheap you can buy both MM and MC for less than the cost of just a decent MM stage.  And buying a completely separate one for MC is even cheaper than adding a bargain basement head-amp or step up transformer to your MM section!

 

[Audiovista]

Did I say that there is no global negative feedback? 

[richidoo]

Is their local feedback around the opamps? What kind of caps are you using there to decouple?

[Audiovista]

Rich, that is correct - there is a local feedback around the two op-amps. It is used to set the gains of the two stages. In many aspects that is similar to setting the gain of a vacuum tube or transistor stage in circuits with or without negative feedback, except that it's usually not called the local feedback....

There is no capacitive decoupling of the stages. The complete preamp is DC coupled input to output (there are no capacitors in series). Lower end of the frequency range would be 0Hz, if not for the active offset cancellation circuit that does not allow the preamp to have any DC output.

[Wayner]

Hi Martin,

I opted against building a universal unit  - high quality switches are very expensive, there would be extra wiring with its parasitic inductances and noise pickup (all of that becomes part of the very sensitive input circuit, and every anomaly gets amplified 100-1000 times), case would need to be larger, price higher... not sure how many people actually use that option on a regular basis... perhaps something to consider in the future for a product in a different price range...

For now, I can offer to modify MM to MC (and the other way around) at no charge (except 2-way shipping) should anyone decide to change cartridge type...

Looked up the DL160. That one seems to be designed for DJ applications and MM preamps. And it has output on low end of HOMC carts. And that's what confuses me... DJ phono preamps often have lower gain than hi-fi preamps (35 vs. 40dB), so  lower output voltage on a lower gain preamp would indicate a need to really crank up volume control. I guess it doesn't matter if you have several thousands Watts of installed power....

Back to topic, with 40dB of gain (typical MM) the output may be on the low side (but dynamics will be great). With 60dB (typical MC) the output will be too high to have any decent dynamic headroom. You would probably do good with 46dB of gain and be able to run any standard MM or HOMC cart, including DL160.

Please let me know how does DL160 sound on your PS Audio preamp set on MM and MC (loading may be too low on MC).

Thanks,
Boris

That's because they use PA equipment with high output, lots of distortion. Not like the virtues of fine hifi we are using. Therefore, the lesser output is compensated by the "disco" environment.

Wayner