• Fully balanced design
• High current output stages
• Strict separation of signal processing and control
• Advanced power supply
• Comprehensive specification level
• Wide range of user features
The 832 Stereo Control Amplifier combines technical perfection and absolute neutrality with captivating musicality. Innovative technologies, intelligently applied, are the key to this component’s unsurpassed low-level resolution, negligible information loss and extremely low distortion. Measured performance is at the limit of what is currently technically possible. But the 832 is far more than a high-precision control centre.
This exceptional preamplifier readily copes with the demands of all kinds of music. It is capable of developing a breathtaking, richly detailed soundstage with natural tonal colours that inspire the listener to be at one with the music. The 832 resolves the finest details as convincingly as powerful blasts. Lively and agile, emotional and sensitive, involving and dynamic: the 832 preamplifier delivers sheer listening pleasure and is a dream component in any audiophile music system.
Fully balanced design
Signal processing within the 832 is fully balanced throughout. Unbalanced input signals are converted to balanced. Even the volume control and output stages, which use premium components from the world of professional audio, are fully-balanced designs.
The critical input signals are switched via special low-capacitance gold contact relays acting on both signal and ground. This actively and effectively avoids sound quality degradation caused by earth leakage currents when several items of equipment are connected.
The preamplifier is built on a 4-layer printed circuit board. Perfect channel symmetry is achieved using layout techniques specially fine-tuned for audio, such as the mirrored dual-mono configuration and sophisticated grounding scheme. These contribute greatly to the preamp’s more than 120 dB channel separation, which is one of the secrets of the 832’s holographic imaging.
High current output stages
The 832 is equipped with two balanced output stages per channel, each designed to provide generously high current delivery with consistently low levels of distortion into load impedances between 300 Ω and 100 kΩ. The amplifier modules employ current feedback. The particularly high rise time of the circuit design contributes fundamentally to the tonal richness of the 832.
Strict separation of signal processing and control
To eliminate undesirable interference, the power supply and control electronics have been physically and electrically separated from the more sensitive areas of the preamplifier. Separate transformers supply the audio circuits and control circuits. The specially manufactured audio transformers incorporate additional shielding to reduce power line interference.
Advanced power supply
Preamplifiers are extremely sensitive to power supply quality, as this is where all of the signals in a system meet and are amplified. The layout and grounding design of a preamplifier has a decisive influence on the sound quality of the whole system. The grounding scheme of the 832 is unique, in that it differentiates between conductors and purely static screening surfaces. All grounds are arranged in a star topology with a single reference point to ensure exceptional tonal purity and the maximum possible channel separation.
The power supply of the 832 is generously filtered with over 20,000 μF of smoothing, with chokes in the analogue section. There is separate, two-stage regulation of the supply voltage to each channel of the audio signal board. After initial regulation to suppress fluctuations in the power line, the supply voltages of all modules are accurately set locally via low-noise, ultra-fast parallel regulators.
Comprehensive specification level
The 832 offers a generous range of connection options. Up to 5 analogue sources can be connected via 2 pairs of balanced and 3 pairs of unbalanced inputs. On the output side, 1 pair of record outs and 2 pairs of line outs are provided.
The SYSCOM communications interface links the 832 directly to the 820 Super Audio CD player, at the same time bypassing the volume control of the 820 and replacing it with that of the 832. The 832 also assumes direct control of the 4 digital inputs on the 820, thus providing the user with a total of 4 digital and 5 analogue inputs that can be controlled from the preamp.
Input 5 can be configured either as a normal input or as a monitor input for use with tape machines or for inserting an equalizer.
Wide range of user features
The 832 is easy and intuitive to operate using the controls on the front panel or the system remote. Information on the active input, the output level, and other current settings is available at any time from the easy-to-read display.
In the AMP setup, parameters such as gain, balance, monitor, absolute phase, maximum volume, mute level and display brightness can be changed to suit individual requirements. The inputs of the 832 are freely configurable: their name, gain and absolute phase may be altered to suit the source component. Unused inputs can be removed from the selection.
The 832 can be incorporated into a home cinema system without any problem. To do this, simply switch the input to the 0dB setting and the signal will pass from the input to the line out without any change in level. |
