
We named our preamplifier as “CONDUCTOR” because we believe that the preamplifier plays the central role in shaping the fundamental skeleton of reproduced music in an audio signal processing and amplification. In other words, a preamplifier is to an music reproduction system as a conductor is to an orchestra.
The Conductor fully utilizes our proprietary transformer technology from power supply, to input, to output, and to amplifying a delicate phono signal. All seventeen transformers are encapsulated in individual aluminum enclosures and then fixed to a massive monolithic chassis.
Our absolute-silence transformer technology enables us to overcome any hum noise obstacle in a delicate signal processing and allow to use only a single chassis. This single-chassis design provides power supply function far superior to the conventional power supply design in a separate chassis, using a power cord. This most refined power supply design paves the basis for the ultimate amplification of musical information coming from source devices.
Conductor does employ the simplest passage of active devices in order to preserve even the most miniscule nuances and purity of incoming music signal. Conductor’s amplification circuit is designed with the minimalist principle, using the minimum, but highest quality parts. Even connecting wires are cut out at the shortest measured length and individually double-covered with Teflon tubes.
Also, important internal wires carrying delicate music signal are insulated with aluminum shield and Teflon tubes in order to avoid noise interference.
In addition, we have given the unsurpassed care to deal with the sensitive music signal. In this regard, all the vacuum tubes used in the amplification circuit are imbedded in a milled Teflon board that is air floating inside the chassis. Also, all parts and connecting wires are floating in the air like the power amplifier topology from our labs.
The end result is that every single note of musical information, whether small or large, is fully matured to breath life with realistic dynamic contrast, keeping the most original tonality. Once people listen to the Conductor, people then become to redefine the indispensable presence of a preamplifier in a music reproduction system.
The phono section of the Conductor is designed to provide the ultimate performance for LP record connoisseurs. In this regard, Antiphon Audio Lab has developed the ultra-high performance MC step-up transformers for silent but dynamic phono signal amplification. The usual MC phono gain is 90dB at which any low-output cartridge can be sufficiently amplified without noise interference. The Conductor is usually supplied with one pair of MC transformers (one value among 4 ohms, 10 ohms, and 100 ohms) to accommodate any high-end cartridges. The factory standard is the 10-ohm version that amplifies 28 times (suitable for 0.3-to-0.4mV output cartridges) the incoming phono signal from a MC cartridge. Upon a customer's request, the factory can supply other versions of Mc transformers: 4-ohm version (10-times amplification for 0.25mV or lower output cartridges) or 100-ohm version (50-times amplification for 0.45mV or higher output cartridges).
The MC transformers of the Conductor is developed to outperform any existing MC transformers in the world. In the course of development, every available transformer (including Western Electric 618B and 618A models) is compared. The end result is that Conductor's MC transformers excel all compared models in terms of both high and low frequency extension, super-wide linear amplification, noise rejection, tonality preservation, dynamic scaling, etc. The bobbin size for a MC transformer is half inch in height, depth, and width. With this small size bovine, 0.12mm-thick OFC coil is hand-wound about 3,000 times (including both primary and secondary windings). The precision winding technology of Antiphon Audio Lab only makes this many winding possible in such a small bobbin with that thick coil. The coil's 0.12mm diameter is very thick in comparison to industry standard (other companies normally use 0.06mm coil to achieve 2,000 to 3,000 windings). The thicker coil is the secret behind the super wide frequency response guaranteeing the silky-smooth high and tight and thundering bass notes reproduction. After winding, the transformer performance specification and values are measured and matched with 0.1% precision before being assembled and putting into the circuit. The manufacturing tolerance of Conductor's MC transformers is to guarantee their performance at least for 100 years. The owner of the Antiphon Conductor control amplifier should be proud of his ownership of 21st-century masterpiece.
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