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Audio Synthesis Desire Decade Mono-block amplifiers

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Rare and unique opportunity

£6,500.00 £1,790.00


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High powered and ultra-transparent with a selectable sensitivity and extremely high input impedance. The ideal partner for the PASSION series of passive preamps or for direct digital connection with DAX DECADE.
From the legendary DAX digital to analogue converters, through the PASSION series of passive preamps, to this stunning DESIRE DECADE power amplifier, all Audio Synthesis products combine minimalist designs with quality execution to redefine the state of the art in sound reproduction.

Design Philosophy
At Audio Synthesis our design philosophy introduces a number of common threads which are largely responsible for the final sound. These include d.c. coupling, treating the audio ground with respect and using the highest quality Vishay Bulk-Foil resistors in all critical areas.

The DECADE range is fitted with German precision WBT input and output connectors with dependable Swiss XLRs for the switchable balanced input. For ultimate transparency all input connectors are attached directly to the individual channel boards and solidly bolted to the substantial rear panel for long term trouble-free use. To preserve the transients originally present in live music it is particularly essential that all output current paths are of low inductance. In DESIRE DECADE this is accomplished through four solid, high purity silver star quads, each individually Teflon insulated and with in excess of 12mm squared of silver. A total of eight terminals per stereo amplifier are fitted and to eliminate interaction between speaker drive units, all bi-wiring is directly wired back to the common output devices and high current earth return star point.

DESIRE DECADE is designed to act as a very high impedance load – 440kohms – to avoid any load distortion of the preamp’s output stage. It provides a user selectable gain to facilitate use with either a passive preamp, a standard active preamp or, for the utmost transparency with no preamp when the direct digital connection with DAX DECADE is chosen.

The perfect power amplifier should ideally have a zero output impedance across the audio spectrum. DESIRE DECADE uses no output inductors or resistors, yet we guarantee unconditional stability regardless of speaker or cable used, and have output impedance specifications close to the ideal – especially at high audio frequencies.

Dynamic and Delicate
DESIRE DECADE is a fully discrete, servo-free design, and preserves lifelike dynamics with the assistance of six separate supplies for input, voltage amplifier and output stages.

These supplies use toroidal transformers for low stray fields and mechanically silent operation, individual ultra-fast soft-recovery diodes in the four bridge rectifiers and high temperature ultra-low impedance reservoir capacitors (by-passed and placed precisely where the topology demands). Regulation throughout is achieved with discrete components and localised, thus providing practically instant current supply whenever the music signal demands it.

All housekeeping and control functions are completely opto-isolated from the audio circuits and separately supplied from their own dedicated mains transformer. This prevents unbalanced ground currents influencing the audio waveform whilst avoiding any pollution the control circuits might otherwise cause to the delicate audio signal. Control logic provides constant rail and d.c. offset monitoring to guarantee safe day to day operation as well as silent, speaker-safe powering into and out of the standby condition. Infrared remote control operation of the standby function is accomplished when the power amplifier is used in a system with DAX DECADE.

Audio Art
DESIRE DECADE’s enclosure is a work of high technology art. It is entirely constructed of grade selected aluminium chosen for its exceptional finishing qualities. CNC machining is programmed to create each of the six truly substantial chassis panels. These are repeatedly brushed to produce an extremely fine grain before being satin-black anodised. And no expense has been spared on the front panel ……. machined from a one inch (25mm) thick bar of impurity-free aluminium, hand polished on five surfaces to a piano-black high gloss lustre before being deeply black anodised for long lasting protection.

The completed enclosure ensures exceptional mechanical isolation from external vibrations, acts as an efficient total body heatsink and guarantees DESIRE DECADE will continue to look as good as it sounds for many years to come.

Silence
Silence in the listening room forms an essential part of the reproduction of high quality sound. Experience has shown that even with the most expensive and well known brands, mechanical noise from the power amplifier is often present. At Audio Synthesis we insist on entirely inaudible levels of mechanical and electrical noise under all circumstances. In the case of DESIRE DECADE even with four power transformers fitted, we guarantee silence in the listening room at all times, irrespective of the quality of the input mains waveform.

The collection of unwanted residuals of the mains supply frequency and its harmonics producing hums and buzzes through the speakers have been ruthlessly eliminated by a combination of shielding, grounding and meticulous component specification. Such low background noise levels allows the use of more sensitive loudspeakers with an 8ohm sensitivity figure in excess of 90dB/W/m, if preferred

Performance
DESIRE DECADE is supremely transparent. It is dynamically agile, easily conveying the sense of scale of a performance without superimposing a signature on the delicate audio signal. The bass is fast and tight, holding the speakers in a vicelike grip. It carries a full-bodied mid band with the ability to place vocals and instruments in their recorded ambience.

Focus is etched with pinpoint accuracy, remaining unshaken by dynamic changes in the performance. Imagery is solid with a palpable height, width and instrumental layering. Most importantly of all, DESIRE DECADE is able to convey the occasion with immediacy; vitality and without dynamic compression. Audio Synthesis

 

 

Brand: Audio Synthesis

Model Name/Number: Desire Decade Mono-Blocks

Price (RRP): £6500

Choice Hifi Price: £1790

Product Information:

These were made by Audio Synthesis  (David Heaton) as a one off for a client. The client originally had one stereo Desire Decade amplifier and then bought a second one and had them both converted to mono-blocks by David Heaton.

We believe that this was done between 2005 and 2008. David Heaton subsequently serviced these amplifiers a couple of years ago for the current owner. We have documentation to prove this.

 

 

 

Age: 10 Years

Condition: 10/10

Voltage: 220/240/50Hz

Finish/Colour: Black

Packaging? Yes

Accessories? N/A

Item Location: In Stock

Status: Second Hand

Dimensions 5708473 cm