ESOTERIC® Introduces Hybrid Trioide Tube Amplifer Model A-100

[The following is a release from ESOTERIC]

January 7, 2008

ESOTERIC, a division of TEAC America, Inc., manufacturer of high end consumer electronics, has introduced a triode tube amplifier that can be used as a stereo power amplifier or as an integrated amplifier. This new hybrid technology incorporates proprietary circuitry and “cutting edge,” tube technology. The A-100 provides 45 w/ch power output from KT-88’s in UL-push/pull operation driven with a direct coupled cathode follower. The cathode follower and voltage amplification stage is directly coupled to form a triple stage combining a variable self-biasing system (“VBS”), and a zero voltage control system (“ZVS”). VBS is an advanced active biasing circuit. VBS compensates for fluctuations in bias voltage as supplied to the output stage by detecting cathode current and output level demand. VBS improves linearity and performance of the output stage by maintaining optimum voltage control. The innovative ZVS circuit (Patent pending), stabilizes the cathode follower DC output level to improve operation of directly-coupled circuit components. This occurs in an end to end process from the driver stage to the output stage. Both of these circuits combine to improve the stability and the clarity of the amplifier’s output. The A-100 features a newly designed custom output transformer designed to achieve highly delicate and precise musicality. The amplifier uses specially treated copper foil as the 2nd order coil. This design maintains very tight coupling properties between the 1st order coil. All stages except the KT-88 are powered by fully stabilized power supplies. With this innovative power supply design, the AT-100 reproduces an exceptionally deep and finely detailed soundstage. All tubes except the KT-88 are DC heated. Hum noise is reduced by this heater design. Power supply and output transformers are held by an extremely rigid ‘H’ structure and circuit components reside in a block configuration surrounding this mainframe design. The massive chassis construction isolates unwanted vibrations and resonance between circuit components and power supplies. The A-100 is designed for pure power amplification but it also works as an integrated amplifier by selection from an operating switch on the rear panel designating DIRECT or LINE IN. LINE IN mode activates an input selector (RCA x3 / XLR x1), and also a high quality volume attenuator. For integrated amplifier operations an illuminated remote control is included. During CES 2008 the A-100 (MSRP $18,500), will be showcased Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas in Esoteric’s suite #34-307 in the Venetian Hotel Towers. The A-100 is scheduled for availability to Esoteric’s dealer network of audio video specialists in February, 2008.

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