BID WITH CONFIDENCE I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEED BACK ON AUDIOGON AND EBAY USERNAME: ALFA_LOVER.PAYPAL ADDS 3.3%. FEDEX GROUND IN LOWER 48 STATES AT A DISCOUNTED RATE TO BE PAID BY BUYER (I have a special account that provides a discount (you will receive the actual discounted price, not the full retail price for
FEDEX that other sellers charge). THE AESTHETIX CALYPSO STANDARD line stage preamp continues to be ranked in Stereophile Class A preamps. After trying many, many other preamps (Ayre, Parasound, Wyred 4 Sound,
Modwright, Placette, Linn, and others) the Calypso was the clear winner. It sounds amazing. Dead quiet, no background noise can be heard in my system (others say the same). Many, many positive reviews on line. My version is in top condition, I am the second owner and this preamp and the preamp works perfectly. I've upgraded the Calypso with NOS 12AX7 tubes (Phillips Holland Orange Label 12AX7, a fairly expensive tube) along with a pair of low hour "Electro-Harmonix" 6922 tubes (matched pair from the Aesthetix factory). I will also include a low hour, matched pair, Tug Sol 12AX7 tube (highly regarded, so you can start tube rolling). If interested, I have available other 6922 tubes (if you are into further tube rolling, please contact me for a price). At my asking price, I will include a pair of special 6922 tubes, (that I discovered this tube while tube rolling), a pair of Voskhod 6H23n tubes, "Rocket Logo” (the so called “Giant Killer" 6922 tube). Voskhod plant, ROCKET logo, made in Russia (Kaluga city). The Calypso comes with a one of the best (light weight and it fits in your hand perfectly) and easiest to use full function remote controls I have ever used (including phase and display). The absolute phase is selectable via front panel or remote control. The Calypso also features RCA and balanced XLR inputs and outputs and a "Bypass" mode for home theatre processor throughput.
This is the Standard version, not the Signature version (that costs $2,000 to $3,000 more, if you can find one for sale). The Standard version uses high-grade Rel-Cap polypropylene coupling
capacitors. The Signature version uses exotic and expensive coupling
capacitors and other critical parts to bring the performance to a higher
level. The Standard version of Calypso can be factory upgraded to
Signature (for $2,000). The Standard list price is $5,000.00, the
Signature's list rice is $7,000.00. Buy the Standard I am selling, and after you have it upgraded at the
factory for $2,000.00, with a total price (excluding shipping costs)
being only $4,800.00. INFO FROM AESTHETIX: CALYPSO LINE STAGE STANDARD SERIES Calypso is an all-tube line stage suitable for audio and home cinema systems.
Fully balanced circuitry from input to output, including internal
balancing of single-ended inputs, results in common mode signal
rejection and cleaner sound. The innovative discrete switched resister
volume control maximizes resolution at any listening level. Every input
is both single-ended and balanced for greater versatility. Home theatre
bypass mode, absolute phase setting and full function remote are added
conveniences. The all-aluminum chassis is rigid, acoustically inert and
simply beautiful. • Fully balanced differential circuitry with ability to internally balance a single ended input signal.
• Zero feedback.
• Discrete switched resistor volume control with 88 1dB steps.
• All tube amplification and output (4 tubes total).
• Two sets of XLR and two sets of RCA outputs per channel.
• Bypass mode for home theatre processor throughput.
• Absolute phase, selectable via front panel or remote control.
• Full function remote included.
Calypso is available in two versions: Standard and Signature. The Signature version adds the following: CALYPSO SIGNATURE The Signature version uses custom-made inter-stage Teflon hybrid coupling
capacitors, replacing the polypropylene units, between the gain stage
and output stage (2 per channel). The change in these capacitors results
in higher resolution, extension, less grain and more air. The 2uF
output coupling capacitors (4 per channel) are replaced with 4uF
Dynamicaps. This change provides more drive, bass extension, resolution
and dynamics while also reducing grain. Highly specialized adjustable
air-core capacitors, used primarily in the radio-frequency realm, are
installed and adjusted to "tweak" each unit to a rigid standard. The
five rubber feet are replaced with Harmonic Resolutions Systems' Nimbus
Couplers specially made for Aesthetix (Earlier Signature Saturn pieces
did not incorporate this, please contact Aesthetix for this free upgrade
if you have an earlier Signature piece without the Nimbus Couplers).
This change results in a lower noise floor and more air and space. The
cost of these specialized parts alone is about 1/4 the manufacturing
cost of a brand new unit! Any tubes that can be bettered by our special
stock of graded and matched tubes are replaced. Any other improvements
needed to make the unit current are installed, including software
updates, etc. A new lens with "SIGNATURE" stenciled is installed. Each
Signature unit undergoes rigorous test procedures and listening.
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