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The preamp circuits occupies two PCBs. The power supply is encapsulated in a large casing which I was unable to remove. Three thin wires exit this module to the amplification board which connects to the input sockets by short solid-core copper leads. Source switching is by hermetically sealed relays with gold/silver/palladium alloy contacts. The voltage gain stage is discrete with precision resistors and many transistors. The attenuator is an Alps Blue Velvet pot. Right behind it sit two small cubes for the amplification elements. The outputs are relay-switched as well to cut the signal during source switching. The C62 couples to its support with three rubber feet, two in front, one in the back.
Specifications (according to the manufacturer):
Inputs: 6 RCA
Output: variable + fixed
Input impedance: 10kΩ
Input sensitivity: 330mV
Output level: max +20dB
Output impedance: 75Ω
Gain: 12dB
THD: 0.001% (at max power)
Dimensions: 80 x 430 x 340mm
Weight: 6kg
Power consumption: 10W in stand-by; 40W max
Model AP150 – This is a version of the Model IT integrated sans preamp stage. The enclosure mirrors the C62 but is a bit taller. Unlike with the BAT VK-255SE I had some issues with recently, the heat sinks sport nicely rounded edges for safe handling. There is a large on/off switch in the front with a red power LED and four mounting bolts. The back merely has the input RCAs, binding posts and IEC. Identifiers aren’t silk-screened or engraved but printed on glued foil which doesn’t look good and isn’t often seen in these leagues.
The circuitry spreads over three boards (there are four in the IT). The signal proceeds from the inputs to the first board with unshielded solid-core leads. The output boards bolt directly to the lateral heatsinks. The output stage consists of four small transistors coupled to the heatsinks. These are two drivers and two TIP147 + TIP142 National Semiconductor devices in push/pull. The latter are Darlington circuits, i.e. two bipolar transistors in a common casing. They cost 3.5PLN each so it isn’t their price which determined the amplifier’s final sticker.
The most important part is a patented circuit based on discrete transistors (only in the negative feedback loop will we find an IC). Precision resistors and polypropylene capacitors are from Philips and Evox. The power supply is quite overbuilt and based on a large toroid with dual secondaries that's enclosed in a large decoupled aluminium casing together with a power filter. This circuit is patented and built by French firm CEVL. There are twelve capacitors total, eight by BC and four smaller Nichicons.
Specifications (according to the manufacturer):
Input impedance: 10kΩ
Input sensitivity: 780mV
Output power: 2 x 55W RMS (8Ω)
THD: 0.001% (at maximum output power)
Dimensions: 135 x 430 x 340mm
Weight: 12kg
Power consumption: 35W in standby, 400W max
CMA317 + CML83 + CMR – According to Lavardin, their cables are an essential part of the system and I might have to reluctantly agree. I still remember my conversation with MIT’s boss about Spectral electronics and how they had to be run with his cables due to proper impedance and capacitance matching between source and load.
The French hardware is designed and tested with these particular cables which don’t come cheap so their appearance is a surprise. The only thing special about them are the film-roll delivery boxes.
The CMA317 speaker cable consists of two quite thin runs finished with gold-plated BFAs. The obvious goal was to reduce the weight and quantity of metal used. This is conceptually similar to DNM Reson and ASI LiveLine. The cables are quite flexible but nothing about their construction is revealed. Lavardin merely declares them to be 'ultra low memory' designs. Perhaps that’s why they are so thin.
The CML83 interconnects are equipped with small RCA plugs. Similar to certain Chord cables, there are two separate runs combined into a common plug. Basing on earlier Chord descriptions—-Lavardin offers none—the advantage should be discrete shielding for the hot and return legs connected to ground on the source ends only to make directionality important. That’s clearly marked.
The CMR power cords looks almost like regular computer cable albeit with a small difference – that box mounted close to the IEC plug. I have no idea what’s inside the box. It is stated clearly though that this power cord should not be used for components which draw in excess of 100 watts. This suggests to me some kind of filter. Unfortunately I couldn’t peek inside.
