Vertere Acoustics Announce Calon Phono Stage

All Image Credit: Vetere Acoustics

Vertere Acoustics of London have just unveiled their new high-end Calon phono stage. The models name Calon is of Welsh origin with an English translation of heart, center or core, and considering it can make or break a vinyl playback system its name is very apropos.

The Calon supports both MM and MC cartridges and is a dual-mono construction to ensure that the signal path for each channel is identical. Considerable care has been taken over the power supplies design and associated iron shielding in order to minimize any noise pickup. The dual toroidal power supply provides AC directly to the L&R audio boards and the logic and relay board. This ensures that the rectification, storage and regulation can be placed as close as possible to the circuitry. Printed circuit boards use a four layer design allowing optimization of ground planes, are gold plated, use a range of high quality components and Austenitic Stainless Steel shields between them.

The signal path provides an initial gain stage of 0dB, +10dB and +20dB options that ensures sufficient level to maintain dynamics and noise performance prior to the application of equalization. RIAA equalization is applied using a hybrid circuit that provides passive equalization for higher frequencies and active equalization for lower frequencies. The resulting signal is then fed to an adjustable gain stage that provides the user with; 0dB, +2dB, +4dB, +6dB and +8dB of adjustment before being sent to the single-ended and balanced outputs.

Multiple loading options are available for both MM and MC cartridges to include; capacitance – 100pF to 1uF, and resistance – 100 Ohms to 47 KOhms, with overall gain adjustable between 45 – 73dB. Other front panel controls include selectable low-pass subsonic filter and phase inversion.

Finally the casework is made from non-magnetic (Austenitic) stainless steel that provides excellent screening without suffering from the magnetic issues that steel could bring. It is available in two finishes; silver and black.