Product Features:
• $26,000 (SV) Standard Version
• $52,000 (SE) Silver Edition*
*Silver wound transformers, silver internal wire, silver connectors

The road to VPS100 took many turns in our long and extensive
evaluation of topologies, materials, design and implementation.
Passive RIAA equalization is preferred to active because in active RIAA equalization there is a feedback loop and the RIAA network
is in this feedback loop.
 
Usually RIAA equalizer circuits are implemented with capacitors
and resistors (CR networks). Capacitors present the so called
“dielectric absorption” - energy is stored in the dielectric material and is added to the signal with a small delay producing a ringing
character in fundamental notes. This ringing behavior can be
noticed in piano notes.
 
In the past an alternative way of implementing a RIAA equalizer
the LCR (Inductance-capacitance-resistance) circuit was proposed. A long time ago TANGO transformers from Japan used to
produce such a circuit working in 600 Ohms.
 
A few manufacturers are using LCR based phono stages using variations of the original TANGO LCR circuit. The challenge in 600
Ohm LCR eq is to drive the network properly; having no more than 2 gain stages with enough overall gain and low enough output
impedance.
 
The best way of driving the LCR network is by using a transformer. We design and build ourselves the transformers using a special amorphous C-core material. Winding insulation is paper. A properly implemented LCR RIAA sounds much more natural, musical and
open than CR networks with better defined macro and micro
dynamics.
 
The LCR networks most commonly used are based in double T
filter networks. One T filter forms the 50-500 Hz poles and the
second T filter forms the 2123 Hz pole.
 
In the VPS100 we took it one step further, the 2123 Hz pole is
formed by air core inductor with practically no stray capacitance
at the first gain stage and the 50-500 Hz poles are formed in high signal level directly at the output of the second gain stage. So this is a split RIAA design using two gain stages based on the
SIEMENS C3g tube. These tubes are very reliable as they are
specified for 10,000 hours.
 
The power supply uses the 6CA4 tube rectifier and a choke filter. The heaters for the tubes are AC in the second stage and DC
passive regulated for the first stage. The construction uses no
printed circuit boards and is point to point silver wired using our
own extruded and annealed to spec silver wire. Special attention
is paid to mechanically de-couple the first gain stage and 2123
pole coils using a specially designed decoupling system.
The rest of the construction is mounted on a aluminium sub
chassis that forms together with the aluminium bottom plate a
very rigid platform.

Stereophile Class A+ Component:

"The Ypsilon produced an absolutely intoxicating blend of
stupefyingly extended high frequencies, resolution, clarity, and
transient precision, along with tight, deep, nimble, nonmechancial bass, and an ideally rich-ie, not too rich-midrange with just the
right amounts of body and harmonic structure".
 
"I heard the high-frequency clarity, air, and extension of the best
solid-state phono preamps, as well as the harmonic expression and musical flow of the best tube phono preamps, with none of the
negatives of either".   

-   Michael Fremer 

Stereophile Product Of The Year:  "Editors Choice"

"I haven't got over the Ypsilon and I don't expect to for some time. If ever".   

-   Michael Fremer 
 
 
Product Specifications:

Input Impedance:
47K Ohm / 200 pf 
 
Output Impedance:
1200 Ohm 
 
Outputs:
RCA unbalanced
XLR unbalanced (pin 1,3 grounded)
 
Frequency Response:
-3db @ 10 Hz - 40K Hz
 
Maximum Output Voltage:
5v peak @ 1K Hz
50v peak @ 50 Hz
 
RIAA Accuracy:
+/- 0.5db @ 20 Hz - 20K Hz
 
Channel Mis Match:
< 0.2db
 
Gain:
39db
Add Ypsilon MC/MC-L Step up transformer to match your MC Cartridge
 
Power Consumption:
Typically 20W

Input Tube:
Siemens C3g (x4)

Rectifier Tube:
6CA4 / EZ81 (x1)
 
Dimensions:
15.75 x 15.75 x 7.1" (WxDxH)
 
Weight:
55 lbs.