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The Amethyst uses an A/D which processes up to 24/96 and a D/A conversion engine limited to 24/192. It also sports a BNC word-clock i/o for any high-end master clock to improve its native jitter attenuation of >50dB above 100Hz. Inside the settings menu, the Amethyst allows for two clock modes: slave & master. In slave mode the Amethyst syncs itself to an external clock signal embedded in a S/PDIF or AES/EBU stream from a digital transport or a dedicated external word clock. The choice of clock signal happens in the clock source frame. In master mode the Amethyst uses its own internal clock for synchronization. This is the default mode for networked music. Now the clock source parameters become unavailable since slave mode synchronization no longer applies. Clock mode and clock source frames can be saved as preset. The buffer size can be adjusted to prevent loss of synchronization from inconsistent audio stream but this also extends the delay time.


Within the Amethyst each source can be defined precisely by name, icon, default input connector, clock mode, preset filter, FIR or user equalization and sensitivity level to adjust input levels for matched playback volume for all sources. Considering aesthetics and featurization ergonomics, the Amethyst’s fascia is far more sophisticated and elegant than that of the earlier ST2-HiFi. Even compared to many high-end preamps I know in the same price range (which makes them seriously more expensive given Trinnov’s exploded functionality by contrast), the Amethyst looks seriously built and very elegant. A nice display and two enormous very precise knobs indicate and control volume and source selection. The display provides information about volume, source, optimizer status, sample rate and output metering. It also allows navigation of the main menu, access to specific presets, network and bass management settings and activation of optimization modes for amplitude, phase and impulse response correction.


The Amethyst also comes with a dedicated remote allowing distant control of all front-panel operations. To wrap up the technical overview, the Amethyst uses a dual-core 1.8GHz Intel processor with 64-bit floating point precision. Available filters are Linkwitz–Riley, Bessel and 2nd, 3rd and 4th-order Butterworth. Dimensions are 43cm W x 10.5cm H x 40.5cm D and weight is 11kg to be in keeping with the usual high-end preamplifier mould.

Sound. My first impression was of an overall improvement of the analogue stage compared to the previous ST2-HiFi. I thought the Amethyst easily competitive with many audiophile solid-state preamps. Its volume knob operated pleasantly and in 0.1dB increments by remote or, less precise, via iPad app. I did not encounter any particular sound quality issue with the built-in DAC. It worked flawlessly over my time with it. The sole issue I experienced once was due to hazardous changes in clock settings that can generate noise if not correctly defined. As was already the case for the ST2-HiFi, my best results came from the digital not analogue inputs. In my opinion it’s quite nonsensical to add one more A/D conversion stage when one can go digital-direct. Regardless, Trinnov have enhanced their A/D conversion to design a very specific phono stage which might be an interesting feature. Unfortunately it’s been a long time since I have divested myself from LP equipment to no longer be qualified to assess that particular feature.

Focusing on the digital realm, I must confess to being surprised by the Amethyst network renderer. I tried both Ethernet and WiFi and was able to stream my entire music library installed on my Synology NAS with the sole exception of DSD files which would have required prior PCM conversion. I was particularly impressed by WiFi which worked perfectly even with high resolution files and buffer size at maximum despite my router on the ground floor (given that my upstairs room is particularly well insulated, this was not guaranteed). The Lumin could convert DSD to PCM on the fly but the sonic results were quite close via its BNC output. I retained a slight preference for the Lumin but could easily live with the Amethyst UPnP renderer. Perhaps the Amethyst works better in master than slave clock mode. Perhaps the BNC/RCA adapter I used due to the absence of a BNC input on the Amethyst distorted the direct comparison (I think it a pity that Trinnov omitted a BNC input).