Esoteric F-01 eBrochure F-01 / F-02 - Page 4

Balanced Dual Mono Preamplifier - Unique Technologies - Ultra Fidelity Attenuator System In preamp design, the amplitude of the audio signal is proportional to the supply voltage of the active attenuator. In other words, a system with a low supply voltage will not allow sufficient amplitude of the audio signal, resulting in suppressed dynamic range and an unfavorable signal-to-noise ratio. The heart of the preamp, the attenuator circuit, features the "Ultra Fidelity Attenuator System" used in the Grandioso C1X. This proprietary Esoteric system is designed with a high supply voltage to maximize dynamics and greatly improve the signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, even though it is a stepped attenuator circuit, the 0.1dB/1,120 steps (more than 10 times the number of steps of a typical preamp) allow for silky smooth and detailed volume adjustment. The UFA-1792 stepped at tenuator module, is an Esoteric's proprietary module designed with advanced and super modern process technology. In order to achieve the amazingly fine step of 0.1dB, the myriad of resistors inside are manufactured under the most stringent quality control. Esoteric engineers uncompromisingly examined all materials, circuit patterns, and layout, and created independent power / ground signal paths for each circuit block inside the module to achieve high performance and high sound quality, one of the benchmarks of modern preamp module design. Powerful Power Supply That Determines Preamp Quality It is no exaggeration to say that the quality of a preamp is determined by the quality of its power supply. Following the philosophy of the Grandioso C1X, the power supply section has a separate power transformer winding and a rectifier board dedicated to the preamp to enhance sonic purity and driving power. In addition, the audio rectification circuit is completely independent of the logic control section to prevent noise contamination. The power rectifier uses our own Grandioso custom capacitors in a parallel configuration. Current can be charged/ discharged to multiple capacitors in a time-differentiated manner, ensuring a stable and clean power supply to the preamp at all times. In addition, although the F-01 is an integrated amplifier, an external power supply, the PS-01F (TBA), can be connected to the built-in preamp, allowing users to enjoy sound quality close to that of the Grandioso C1X, which has a separate power supply. ES-Link Analog, a High-Quality Sound Current Transmission ES-Link Analog is a unique current transmission method that eliminates the influence of cable impedance and maintains sound fidelity and quality, the most important factors in signal transmission. 3 XLR inputs can be switched between ES-Link Analog and standard XLR. The pre-outs are also equipped with two systems, ES-Link Analog and XLR, so that the ES-Link Analog connection can be used to complete the connection to the final stage of signal amplification. ES-Link Analog - Esoteric's Unique Current Transmission Esoteric's unique current transmission system "ES-Link Analog" is the ideal method for audio signal transmission. Compared to the conventional voltage transmission, it transmits approximately 100 times more current, making it less susceptible to noise and sending the full energy of the music to the amplifier. Also, it is not affected by the impedance of the interconnects running between the source device and amplifier, so it maintains a perfect integrity between the output signal of the source and the input signal to the amplifier. Optional External Power Supply Unit PS-01F (TBA) - Advanced Functionalities - Ultra-Low Noise Logic Control The logic control section, which controls operation and display, is located in the front panel and is isolated from the amplifier module. The connection to the preamp section uses a photocoupler that converts the control signal to an optical signal and transmits it, and isolators are used to provide physical and electrical isolation. In addition, the CPU is completely shut down except during operation, so as not to interfere with the circuits that handle the audio signals. The volume setting is automatically reset to zero when the power is turned off, and automatically returns to the original setting when the power is turned on, eliminating the need to adjust the volume when the power is turned on or off. Other features include fade-out/fadein of the music signal when switching inputs. Our goal was to create a high-quality user interface that is elegant and fun to use. Loss-Less Input Switching The music signal input switching has been changed from the conventional mechanical relay system to a FET element switch. This eliminates the effects on sound quality caused by the rare metals used in the contact points, the operating noise, and the degradation of sound quality over time that were unavoidable with mechanical relays. The result is a pure tone with the transparency required of a high-end preamp. Balanced Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier The headphone amplifier is a major evolution from the previous F Series. To respond to new listening styles with exceptional reproduction quality, Esoteric has concentrated its amplifier design technology and wisdom to achieve the highest peak. The circuit design is a fully balanced dual mono design that follows the linestage preamp design, with a balanced output (4-pin XLR) and an unbalanced outputs (6.3mm). With its fully balanced power output of 600mW (into a 32 Ω load), this superlative headphone amplifier powerfully drives high impedance headphones with plenty of headroom to spare. The amplifier gain can be also adjustable from 0 to +18dB with 3dB increments to match with the connected headphones. 3-Band Balanced Tone Control (Treble / Middle / Bass) The tone control is configured with a balanced dual mono circuit, focusing on the quality as a high-end device. Sound quality can be adjusted without worrying about sound degradation. The tone control can be separately preset for each input source. Treble and bass can be finely adjusted without significantly degrading the original sound of the source by shifting the center frequency of variable bandwidths to a higher/lower point (14kHz /63Hz) than usual, assuming a combination with wide-range high-end speakers. Precise control is possible in 0.5dB steps with a maximum range of ±12dB. The middle band (630Hz) can also be utilized as a loudness preset when set to the minus side and used in conjunction with the tone bypass mode. Dual Mono Phonostage Preamp The F-01/F-02 also responds to analog playback with quality, featuring dual mono phonostage preamp (MM/MC) with independent L/R circuits. The left and right power supplies are also independent, ensuring perfect channel separation. High-Precision Ball Bearing Control Knobs The volume and input selector use the same bearing mechanism as the Grandioso preamp. You can enjoy a smooth, analog feel with no core shake. The large volume/selector knob, which symbolizes the powerful drive capability of this integrated amplifier, is machined from solid aluminum, sparing no expense. The fine machined texture, which varies from surface to surface, beautifully accentuates the design and enhances the sense of luxury. The volume and input select knob also function as mute and power switches, respectively, and the number of buttons on the front panel has been kept to a minimum in pursuit of a minimalist aesthetic.