AUDIO ANALOGUE AAPHONO PHONO STAGE

Italian high-end hi-fi manufacturer Audio Analogue has released the second product in its ‘PureAA’ line, the AAphono… which is, obviously, a phono stage!

‘ Audio Analogue’s PureAA line draws key ideas from its Anniversary amps, released to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary, but aims to apply them in a slightly different way,’ said Boris Granovsky, of | Absolute HiEnd, which distributes Audio Analogue in Australia. ‘ Whereas the Anniversary amplifiers are totally minimalist, models in the PureAA line have loads of features for music lovers who need a wider range of functions and connections in a single product.’

The Audio Analogue AAphono accommodates both movingmagnet and moving-coil cartridges, offering a selection of different gain and loading options for MC cartridges as well as a range of input capacitance and resistance options for MM cartridges. ‘ Selecting options is as simple as pressing a button,’ said Granovsky. ‘ And any adjustments you make are saved and will be remembered if the unit is switched off or even if it’s disconnected.’

The AAphono’s circuitry includes three toroidal transformers: one for each channel plus one for the control circuitry. The amplification is split between two separate gain stages with an infrasonic filter placed between. Audio Analogue specs the frequency response of the AAPhono at 10Hz–20kHz ±0.25dB, and the signal-to-noise ratios as 89dB (MM) and 72dB (MC). It measures 87×220×372mm (HWD), weighs 5.8kg and sells for $2,800 (RRP). For more information, contact Absolute Hi End on (04) 8877 7999 or at www.absolutehiend.com