Is vinyl the best audio source? It is controversial.
Is it irreplaceable? Definitely. There is no way to bring back Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to do another duet in digital. Those precious vinyl records from the golden era definitely worth to be well preserved.
This is why Synaestec Audio tried so hard to adopt our world acclaimed ultra-low noise amplification technology to create the best phono preamplifier. Proudly present our new member, the Igniculus.
Our ultra-low noise Octa-drive amplification technology used in the Fulcrum preamplifier has set the highest standard in the industry. However, the gain of a line preamplifier is only about 10, but the amount of gain necessary for a phono preamplifier is in excess of 100000. For this reason, we have spent years of effort modifying the Octa-drive technology into super high gain amplifier, while preserving its extremely low noise property.
The result is the ultimate phono preamplifier with a record breaking signal to noise ratio of better than 105dB!The Igniculus is the only phono preamplifier that can provide effective resolution comparable to the best digital audio source.
Just like every other Synaestec Audio product, the Igniculus is designed based on full differential amplifier circuit, which is truly balanced all the way from the input to the output. There is no single ended to balanced converter inside. Signal is routed through the circuit board using controlled impedance differential transmission line without using any jumpers or interruption. Therefore, the noise rejection property of the balanced circuit has been fully utilized.
Phono amplifiers are having ten thousand times more gain than a line preamplifier, which also means that they are ten thousand times more sensitive to interference and noise pickup. We counteract this by applyingMu-metal magnetic shieldingdirectly over the low leakage toroidal transformers.Beside this, there is an additional layer offerromagnetic metal shielding case that blocks the every last bit of interference from going into the sensitive part of the amplifier.
Similar to our Fulcrum line preamplifier, the power supply unit of the Igniculusis installed inside 5mm thick solid aluminium compartment and mechanically isolated by high damping rubber suspensions. There are more than 90000uF of storage capacitance and over 30 stages of low noise power supply regulators, to provide the absolute pure DC for the amplifier circuit.
Besides the standard RIAA EQ curve, the Igniculus offers three more EQ curves for the compatibility of those old record labels pre-dating the RIAA standardization. The Columbia "six eye", the Decca/London "FFRR" and the vintage EMI. The original sound of these legacy record companies can be resurrected by the use of the correct EQ curve.
Both the gain, input impedance and input capacitance of the Igniculus are selectable, through the switch panel hidden inside the roof window. These manual switches control the miniature relays located right alongside the input terminals, so that the signal path length can be kept to a minimum. There is no microprocessor or switch mode power supply anywhere inside the Igniculusthat might create noise or contamination.
Inputs:
2 symmetrical XLR
2 asymmetrical RCA
Input impedance:
Selectable 50 / 100 / 220 / 470 ohm
Selectable 10K / 22K / 47K / 100K ohm
MC cartridge
MM cartridge
Input capacitance:
Selectable 50 / 100 / 220 / 330 pF
Outputs:
1 symmetrical
1 asymmetrical
Output Impedance:
Output Impedance:
100 Ohm
50 Ohm
Gain:
Selectable 62 / 67 / 73 / 78 dB
Selectable 42 / 48 / 54 / 59 dB
MC cartridge
MM cartridge
Equalization curve:
Selectable RIAA / Columbia / Decca / EMI
Frequency response:
10Hz to 100KHz (+ /- 0.5dB)
THD + N:
<0.001%
Signal to noise ratio:
>105dBA
Channel separation:
>100dB
Power consumption:
60W
Weight:
32.5kg
Dimension:
485 mm x 485 mm x 143,8 mm (W x D x H)