Zesto Andros II Vaccuum Tube Phono Stage - MM/MC

Description

ZESTO AUDIO HAS ANNOUNCED A SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE TO THEIR POPULAR ANDROS PHONO STAGE. WELCOME THE ANDROS II!

The ESP Supply is designed with bigger, fewer, and heftier parts, which delivers more power with improved reliability. The rugged design of the ESP Supply makes it more resilient to power surges.

Technically, the improvements are impressive, such as the high voltage supply increases by 20%, from 250V to 300V to provide more headroom. The dynamic range opens up with increases from 90dBV to 122dBV depending on the model. Both the high and low voltage supplies provide more current, so it’s less restrictive to deliver more music. In the Phonostages, the Noise level is 5dBV quieter, which increases the black levels considerably.

Why Vinyl Records?

For true audiophiles, nothing equals the warmth, dynamic range, and fidelity of vinyl records. A critical component of every music lover's Vinyl playback system is the Phonostage or Phono preamp.

Why a Phonostage is so Important

When a vinyl record is made the volume of the bass is reduced and the treble is increased. Otherwise, the bass would cut a groove too big for a stylus to read or for the music to fit the record. The phono stage reverses the process by taking the delicate signal from your cartridge and adjusting it so that the bass and treble are restored to their original volume. This common standard is known as the RIAA curve.

The Andros

Inspired by RCA’s vacuum tube circuit designs from the 1930s, the Andros has been engineered to bring you the clarity and depth of the original recording. Your highs will be crisp but not overly emphasized, your midranges clear and present without being shrill and your lows full and firm without being boomy.

A Startling Difference

As we went through testing our panel of audiophiles marveled at hearing subtle nuances, discovering new things in recordings they’d played many, many times. They appreciated its clear stereo image with maximum channel separation and minimal phase distortion.

Hearing is Believing

Words are inadequate to the task of explaining the Andros. You simply must hear it to believe it.

FEATURES -

* The Circuit is specifically designed to provide sufficient amplification to match your cartridge with the rest of your system.
* Each unit is hand-built “Made in the USA”.
* 50-hour factory burn-in on all circuits and vacuum tubes.
* A low Noise level of -80 dBv below maximum output allows the quietest passages of your music to be heard.
* The output circuit is designed to drive your cables and isolates the output from the influence of the next stage.
* RCA connectors are high quality, Gold plated, recessed with an isolated ground.
* Isolated ground RCA connectors plus the Ground On/Off switch will allow you to choose the best ground configuration.
* Recessed RCA connectors are durable and will hold up to the typical Audiophile who loves to change their configuration.
* All switches and knobs are easily accessible, nothing hidden inside to adjust.
* Two-position MM switch 47K and 15K Ohms to accommodate more cartridges.
* 10 position MC load switch from 20 to 1000 Ohms and more in the sweet spot above 200.
* Accommodates both high and low MC output cartridges
* Elegantly designed 16 gauge steel enclosure to help isolate the electronic “chatter” from nearby equipment.
* On/Off power switch conveniently mounted on the front side panel
* Easy to read large type on the back panel

REVIEWS:

Positive Feedback Online: The Best of the Best!  - Andros 1.2 Phonostage: The 12th Annual PFO Writers’ Choice Awards for 2015. “The Andros 1.2 just does everything right. It is dynamic, it has gorgeous tonal colors, it throws a big and deep soundstage, and it’s super quiet. .”
 

Positive Feedback Online: Andros 1.2 Phonostage August 11th 2015: “I have had lots of phono sections in my system(s) over the years, but I have never had one this good or this quiet.” - Mark Pearson
 
Positive Feedback: Andros 1.2 Phonostage, April 2015 - “The new Zesto Audio Andros 1.2 Phonostage Preamplifier clobbers the original, and may just be the best piece of audio gear designed by George Counnas to date.”

Stereophile - Andros Phonostage 2013 - Class A Rating

Analog Corner -“…The Zesto had an addictive, warm overall sound, with plenty of impact, detail and grace. It’s among the more enjoyable and satisfying phono preamplifiers I’ve auditioned at any price …” - Michael Fremer
 

TONEAudio – September 2012 - Andros Phonostage PS1: “After a solid month of intense audition, the Zesto Andros PS1 exhibits no weaknesses whatsoever. While it has a beautiful visual aesthetic, it continues to be a joy to listen to and is ultimately musical. With many audiophiles on a quest for gear that is increasingly more resolving, it might be easy to overlook the Andros PS1, but truly wise LP lovers will treasure the Zesto because the balance is just right. Much like a car with perfect 50/50 weight balance, along with equal amounts of stop and go, the Andros PS1 doesn’t maximize any one parameter at the sake of another and that is its magic.” - Jeff Dorgay

The Absolute Sound - Andros PS-1 - "Its sound is unbelievably smooth and velvety; harmonically rich, full, and vividly textured; marvelously rounded, tactile, and dimensional, with great body and solidity; and completely natural in its musicality and freedom from any of the usual sonic hype, audiophile style.” - Paul Sedor

The Absolute Sound - Andros Phonostage PS1 - Editors top picks.

Dagogo: – March 2012 - “The sweetness and delicate nature of the Zesto Andros PS1’s delivery in the midrange and highs are almost counter-intuitive to its ability to also very competently amplify and deliver the sheer, explosive low frequency energy and dynamics that the record playback system sends to it.” - Ray Seda

Stereo Mojo: Andros Phonostage - Jan 2012: “If you have a significant investment in vinyl and an analog front end that merits the best of the best phono preamps, you should by all means audition the Zesto Andros. At its price, its performance competes with much more expensive units. In appearance and sexiness, there’s nothing that comes close.” - Michael Peshkin

StereoMojo – Zesto Andros PS-1 - Jan 2012: “It’s physically beautiful, adaptable to many different cartridges by merely accessing the switches on the back panel, and most importantly, it will do real sonic justice to your valuable vinyl collection.” - Dr. John Richardson

Positive-Feedback Online – Andros -November 2011: “As a brand-new company whose first product is a made-in-America phono stage, Zesto has introduced a break-out product and brought to market a winner! Their Andros tube phono stage sports tons of flexibility with bold musicality at an unheard of price point for this level of performance. I am shocked by what they have managed to include for the audiophile under $4000! Plus, the Andros is a world beater in quietude, a wonderful attribute for a phono section. I wish more designers paid attention to this when they design phono stages, particularly tube designers.

I think that you will love the sense of reality the Andros delivers; in addition, the flexibility of its controls, all placed externally for a change, are similar to units costing $10,000. Soundstaging is extraordinary, too. The Andros both over-delivers and under-prices the competition. If you need a phono stage, I wouldn’t wait for the price to go up on this beauty. It begs the question, why spend more than the cost of the Zesto Andros PS1? The Andros receives my highest recommendation and top-choice rating for a phono stage anywhere near this price!”

“I have had lots of phono sections in my system(s) over the years, but I have never had one this good or this quiet.” - Robert H Levi

Positive Feedback 2015 - “The new Zesto Audio Andros 1.2 Phonostage Preamplifier clobbers the original, and may just be the best piece of audio gear designed by George Counnas to date.” - Mark Pearson

SPECIFICATIONS:

Inputs per channel: Separate MM and MC inputs
MM/MC switch: MM impedance switch 47K or 15K Ohms, MM capacitance 200pf
MC Single Ended RCA with isolated ground or Balanced XLR3F
MC ground on/off switch
MC load impedance adjustable 1000, 800, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 50, 20 Ohms
MC Internal step-up transformers
MC High/Low switch with ~ -3dB gain for high output MC cartridges

Outputs per channel: Impedance 10K ohms, +8.5V max output level

Active Components

Four (4) Gold pin JJ ECC83S/12AX7 vacuum tubes with high-quality gold pin ceramic sockets

Power

Newly designed internal power supplies using Toroidal transformers, 1 high voltage 300V, and 1 low voltage 12V
Ground binding post
Power consumption 24W , 0 drain when off
Voltage 100 to 120V AC 60Hz
Optional factory-installed 220V to 240V AC 50/60Hz
Standard 3 pin IEC power connector
ON/OFF power switch conveniently located on the front side

Detailed Specifications

Gain MM input 47dB
Gain MC input 67dB
Noise – 80dBv below max output level
Frequency response complies with the original RIAA curve within +or- 0.5 dB
RIAA curve is achieved using a passive filter
1% metal film resistors throughout
Polypropylene capacitors throughout the audio path