Mirroring the industrial design and engineering from its ‘Scientist’ series, Germany's Audionet adds to its upmarket product portfolio the new Mach preamplifier and Schrödinger monoblock amplifier.
As announced at High End Munich 2024 and now formally launched, the new Audionet amplification reflects respected designer Hartmut Esslinger’s design aesthetic as employed on the highly acclaimed flagship Stern preamplifier and Heisenberg monoblock amplifier. Industrial design aside, the Mach preamplifier and Schrödinger monoblock amplifier are “from the ground up” designs while carrying much of the flagship products’ engineering DNA, including the company’s uncommon ‘Floating Panel Design’ which decouples the chassis panels in order to eliminate resonance and vibrational distortions.
The microprocessor-controlled Mach preamplifier features a dual mono circuit layout, “enhanced” discrete operational amplifier modules and “state-of-the-art” mica capacitors, which are employed across the volume control and input and output stages (a trickle down from the Stern preamplifier). Said volume control is built around an optical sensor system and incorporates a double ball-bearing axis and magnetic ratchet scheme, while being controlled via a “real-time linearised” precision resistor network combined with electronic switches.
The Mach preamplifier is a DC coupled, short path design eschewing capacitors and coils in the signal path. The main power supply features a low impedance capacitor bank of 22,000 micro-Farads while total capacitor storage is 176,000 micro-Farads. Connectivity options include one balanced XLR and five unbalanced RCA and inputs, while outputs are two unbalanced RCA, one inverted RCA and two balanced XLR. There’s a ground post and Audionet input/output optical communication ports for remote control of compatible Audionet components.
The Mach’s ultra-wide frequency response is stated as spanning from 0 Hz to 2,200,000 Hz (-3dB DC-coupled) and 0 Hz to 2,200,000 Hz (-3dB AC-coupled). Output impedance is given as 22 ohms and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is quoted as under 123 dB.
The Schrödinger monoblock amplifier also features the Floating Panel Design’ scheme and the theme of isolation is carried across to the galvanically separated analogue circuitry via opto couplers. There are two power supplies which separate the control/detection/monitoring electronics and the mains power circuits. There are four power supplies within each monoblock which include two encapsulated and decoupled 50 VA toroidal transformers for the input and driver stages and two 1.2 KVA toroidal transformers for the power stage. Total capacitance is 160,000 micro-farads via impedance-optimised capacitors.
The Schrödinger’s microprocessor circuit encompasses protection (separate power supply) which has been designed to monitor high frequency and DC signal, signal overload, and overheating.
The Schrödinger’s power rating is 400 watts into 8 ohms, 750 watts into 4 ohms, and the rating for 2 ohms is sated as 1,200 watts. Again, an ultra-wide frequency response is given to span from 0 Hz to 600 kHz (-3dB). The Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is quoted as being under 128 dB while the damping factor is a high 2000 at 10 kHz and 10,000 at 100 Hz. Input impedance is said to be 37 kohm via RCA and 3 kohm on XLR.
The new Mach preamplifier and Schrödinger monoblock amplifier are available for audition via Australian distributor Pure Music Group.
Images Credit – Pure Music Group
Mach Preamplifier and Schrödinger Monoblock Amplifiers
Price: Mach AU$47,950, Schrödinger AU$92,500 a Pair
Australian Distributor: Pure Music Group
+61 409 504 805
www.puremusicgroup.com