Yokohama, Japan | 2020 – The Realization of a Dream — Fully Balanced Phono Equalizer Amp. The C-47 is the first phono amplifier of this series which realizes a fully balanced configuration from input to output. The resulting product not only is highly impervious to external noise, it also features a dedicated head amplifier optimized for the characteristics of MC and MM phono cartridges, and a high-accuracy equalizer amplifier, thereby ensuring precise equalization with a minimum of noise. A set of newly added dedicated balanced MC phono inputs enables balanced connection to the analog record player. By bringing out the full performance potential of each phono cartridge, the C-47 delivers a rich and deeply satisfying musical experience.
Extremely low noise and highly accurate equalizer characteristics
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The C-47 features a two-stage design with a low-noise head amplifier optimized to handle MC and MM cartridges and a high-accuracy equalizer amplifier dedicated to the task of equalizing the signal. By designing the low-noise head amp for high gain (MC: 50 dB, MM: 20 dB), the influence of any noise components in the subsequent equalizer amplifier is kept to a minimum, resulting in excellent low-noise performance combined with super-accurate equalization characteristics.
Fully balanced configuration
As a first in the series, the C-47 employs a fully balanced configuration which reliably shuts out external noise. The output signal from the cartridge is treated as a balanced signal, and the head amp performs balanced amplification (amplifying only the difference between two signal inputs). Balanced signal transmission is maintained also after the head amplifier, and full equalization is realized by making the equalizer amplifier a balanced type as well.
Full mono construction
For enhanced channel separation, it is crucial to keep the circuitry of one channel physically separate from the other. In the C-47, the head amp and equalizer amp are mounted on separate boards for the left and right channel, but the designers have gone one step further. The toroidal transformer, smoothing aluminum electrolytic capacitors, and regulated power supply circuitry are also duplicated for each channel, thereby realizing a fully monaural configuration.
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Sound quality ‒ Simply aiming for the best
Low-noise regulated power supply circuitry unaffected by load fluctuations
In a phono equalizer amplifier that handles extremely weak signals, the quality of the power supply has a significant effect on soundquality. The smoothing circuitry employs four 25 V / 15,000 μF aluminumelectrolytic capacitors per channel, specially selected for their sonic properties. This generously dimensioned configuration virtually eliminates adverse effects from ripple currents and similar. The use of a regulated power supply circuit with very low noise voltage and excellent handling of load fluctuations further ensures that the power supply does not introduce any noise.
Dedicated balanced MC phono input
A dedicated balanced MC phono input makes it possible to handle the signal supplied by the cartridge as a balanced signal. A balanced phono cable can therefore be used for the connection between the analog record player and the C-47.
Advanced features
- Low-noise fully balanced configuration
- One dedicated balanced MC phono input and threesets of regular phono inputs
- Separate settings memory for each input position
- Balanced and line level output connectors
- Balanced output polarity selector
- Full mono construction
- Separate toroidal power transformers for left and right channel
- Low-noise regulated power supply circuitry unaffected by load fluctuations
- High-accuracy phono equalizer with RIAA deviation of only ±0.3 dB
- Load impedance settings for six MC and three MM phono cartridge types
- 7-segment LED indicator shows load impedance
- Gain selector for low-output phono cartridges
- Built-in subsonic filter
- Disc equalizer assembly using glass cloth fluorocarbon resin PCBs with low dielectric constant and low losses
- Gold-plated printed circuit boards
- Aluminum top plate with hairline finish
- Elegant side panels with natural wood grain finish
- Supplied with premium quality “ASL-10” audio
