AESTHETIX MIMAS

Designed by none other than Jim White (who worked with Mike Moffat at Theta) the new Aesthetix Mimas is an integrated hybrid amplifier whose preamp section uses one 6DJ8 (6922) valve per channel in a fully differential, balanced configuration and whose power output section is a fully discrete, fully differential, zero-feedback, DC coupled, balanced bridged output operating in Class-AB that’s rated at 150-watts per channel into 8 . Top-quality components are used in the Mimas’ construction, including Roederstein resistors from Germany and Reliable Capacitor capacitors from California. All valves are burned-in for over 100 hours before being tested and gain-matched prior to installation inside the amplifier.

On the power supply side, the Aesthetix Mimas has seven fully regulated power supplies with the main output rail being powered by a centre-tapped 750 VA transformer that feeds 176,800μF of capacitance for a total energy storage of more than 110 Joules. Input circuits are operated by a fully discrete regulated supply with over 4,400μF of supply capacitance. Vacuum tube heater supplies are fully d.c. regulated via a 900VA low-flux power transformer that’s designed and manufactured by Aesthetix itself in its facility in Moorpark, California.

In keeping with the company’s name, the appearance of the Mimas is sensational, thanks to an all-aluminium machined enclosure manufactured in Santa Barbara, California. Even the buttons on the amplifier are specially machined. A novel volume control interface is integrated with the front panel display

Multiple options are available to upgrade the basic Mimas design, including an MM/MC phono card (+$2,200), a USB DSD-capable DAC (+$2,200), a high-pass crossover (+$550), an upgraded remote control and an upgraded headphone amplifier (which replaces the IC-based standard circuit with fully discrete ClassAB circuitry.

“It took over four years to develop the Mimas,” said Anthony Camplone of Nirvana Audio, which distributes Aesthetix in Australia. “The wait was worth it as the Mimas is now considered to be one of the most accomplished sounding integrated amplifiers in the world. One of the major reasons for its special sound is that Aesthetix uses the same volume control used in the award-winning Calypso. It consists of 88 1dB steps, utilising individually switched 1% metal-film resistors, with the result that a world of music enjoyment appears before you. The music flows through an expansive soundstage with freedom and agility. It has a very human element to the sound where things just sound real. It is intimate with an inner glow around the performance in one moment, expansive and wild in the next.” The Aethetix Mimas is available now, with prices starting at $12,500 (RRP).

For more information, contact Nirvana Sound on 1300 988 366 or at www.nirvanasound.com

Famous British audio brand Cyrus has unveiled six new Cyrus XR Series components — two digital-friendly integrated amplifiers (i7-XR and i9-XR), a preamp (Pre-XR), a CD transport (Cdt-XR) a CD player (CDi-XR) and an external power supply (the PSUXR). The range sits above Cyrus’ critically-acclaimed Classic series.

“In developing this new XR series, Cyrus’ engineers were given free rein to be able to select internal components to ensure unparalleled performance, without having to consider the cost,” said Paul Riachi, of Indi Imports, which distributes

Cyrus in Australia. “The result is that all these new components deliver phenomenal levels of performance, but the jewel in the new series is the PSU-XR, which takes outboard power supply design to a whole new level. It is a truly intelligent power supply whose on-board microprocessor communicates with the device it’s powering so it can deliver the exact power required, through 256 digitally controlled voltage levels, with three different voltages able to be delivered simultaneously. Additionally, the new PSU-XR can deliver 60 per cent more power than the PSX-R2 while being 50 per cent more efficient.”

The two new integrated amplifiers — the 52-watts-per-channel i7-XR ($4,499) and the 91-watts-per-channel i9-XR ($5,499) have user-selectable DAC filters, four analogue inputs (including a phono stage) and five digital inputs. The CDt-XR CD transport ($4,499) and CDi-XR CD player ($3,999), have new loading mechanisms, new custom-designed transformers, and second-generation QXR DACs specifically optimised for the most-often-used digital format (16-bit/44.1kHz). Although all models in the new XR Series have built-in power supplies, Cyrus says the performance of every one can be improved by using a PSU-XR. All models in the new Cyrus CR Series products are available now.

For more information, contact Indi Imports on (03) 9416 7037 or at its website at www.indimports.com.au