DETAILS
PRODUCT Zesto Audio Andros Deluxe II
ORIGIN USA
TYPE Tube phono preamplifier
WEIGHT 9.53kg
DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 430 x 127 x 304mm
FEATURES
- Two inputs, one MM and one MC
- High-quality output transformers driven by dedicated 12DW7/ECC832 output tubes
DISTRIBUTOR Signature Audio Systems
WEBSITE zestoaudio.com signaturesystems. co.uk
If you fancy full control over your cartridges, an all-singing/all-dancing phono preamp like the Zesto Andros Deluxe II could be your way to go. At £7,500, it may seem steeply-priced but it actually occupies the lower reaches of the extreme phono stage market – there are £40k-plus units out there if you’re so inclined. That’s not to say one shouldn’t still be hyper-critical because the market is also awash with exceptional, fully-adjustable phono amps for under £1,000.
The Deluxe II version of Zesto’s Andros is an all-tube phono amp with more than enough features to excite and satisfy the multiple cartridge/ arm/turntable user. In an era when balanced outputs are no longer a rarity, the Andros Deluxe II offers not just balanced alongside conventional single-ended RCAs, it also provides both RCA/XLR inputs for moving-coils – moving-magnet, meanwhile, is single-ended only.
Only one of the two moving-coil inputs can be used at a time, so lateral thinkers can forget about the option of simultaneously connecting two MC pick-ups via both sets of inputs. For testing purposes the Deluxe II is hooked up to preamps in both modes with balanced coming out as our preferred option.
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Denne historien er fra October 2021-utgaven av Hi-Fi Choice.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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