TWILIGHT AUDIO
when the deep purple falls . . . and the stars begin to twinkle in the sky . . .
TWILIGHT AUDIO is the Trade Designation chosen for Vacuum Tube Audio Equipment designed and manufactured by KARL M WIESSMANN - ELECTRONICS CONSULTANT (kmwec), at our tiny, insignificant, unpretentious Laboratory on Harrison Street in Sussex Borough, New Jersey, USA. Each and every piece of equipment is meticulously hand crafted by the Twilight Audio Team, consisting of Karl, his Laboratory Assistant, Deb Gonnoud, and our Laboratory Technician, Diane Keary.
The entire purpose of TWILIGHT AUDIO is to provide a vehicle for proprietary designs of unique character and uncompromising quality, resulting from Karl's half century of experience with Tube electronics. Not just another pretty face, the equipment is not "fancy". It's inherent beauty lies in the design, quality of materials, craftsmanship, and functionality, while providing cutting edge applications options for the serious Tube Audio enthusiast.
Production lots are necessarily small, typically consisting of 10 or less units (or pairs); and there is a waiting list. & COMMON FEATURES OF TWILIGHT AUDIO EQUIPMENT:
Proprietary, passive, near unity power factor, solid state and/or vacuum tube HV rectification topology.
Proprietary solid state, passive, near unity power factor Filament rectification topology for DC filaments.
Time Delay before HV application to allow filaments to fully heat, prolonging tube life. The time delay is inherent by design in our Tube Rectification topologies.
Zero Crossing switching of AC line to eliminate surges and transients, burps, blurps, murmurs, and blips.
Separate HV supplies for individual amplification stages, eliminating unwanted interstage coupling, and enhancing power utilization efficiency (except in our ‘Classic’ implementations).
Unique, proprietary capacitor utilization in power supplies and signal path, eliminating or minimizing capacitor "coloring" and optimizing sonic transparency.
Proprietary commitment to a design philosophy which mandates using standard, stock, current production parts, materials and components of the highest quality and grade wherever possible.
THE SVETLANA SV572-3: Unfortunately, Svetlana no longer distributes the SV572-3 Triode, our original choice for many of these designs, in the USA; causing us to 'shift gears' suddenly, as our product line designs were nearly complete. After considerable deliberation, we have chosen to use a pair of KT88 beam tetrodes, configured as triodes and parallel connected, where we were previously using one SV572-3. Early tests support our choice, and although release dates have been affected, product line development continues. We have chosen the Svetlana “flying C” logo SV KT88, arguably the finest KT88 in current production, for use in all new designs.
THE 7025 DUAL TRIODE vs THE 6SN7 DUAL TRIODE: In this topsy- turvey world of Vacuum Tube Electronics, it is hardly a surprise to discover a newer tube design such as the 7025 DUAL TRIODE 9 PIN MINIATURE TUBE is no longer produced, while an older, more reliable, favored tube, such as the 6SN7 DUAL TRIODE OCTAL TUBE, long out of production, resumes manufacture in sufficient quantity and quality to qualify for use in new designs. As a result, our latest LINE AMPLIFIER designs reflect this change, while doing our part to preclude obsolescence. Welcome back to an old friend.
COMING ATTRACTIONS (all specifications and prices subject to change on a whim until the product is released):
TWIN SE KT88 REACTANCE DRIVE STEREO AMPLIFIER: Two sets of parallel triode connected beam tetrodes (4 each KT88). Toroid Output Transformers. 10 Watts RMS output per channel, SE Class A. Incredibly detailed small signal response. Power Bandwidth- flat within 1dB from 15Hz to 30kHz. Less than 0.5% of full output combined THD+IMD+Noise at 1W RMS and at 10W RMS output (14dB feedback). Output noise less than 100dB down from full output. Excellent Damping control capability by means of fully adjustable (0dB to 20dB) negative feedback!
Available 2004 - Model KT88S - MSRP: $3449.00/each
QUAD KT88 REACTANCE DRIVE MONOBLOCK AMPLIFIER: Two sets of parallel triode connected beam tetrodes (4 each KT88). Toroid Output Transformers. 20 Watts RMS output, Dual SE Class A. Revolutionary Topology yields the incredibly detailed small signal response of our SE amplifiers with the Authority of push-pull designs without the crossover distortion and diminished small signal response inherent in push-pull designs. Power Bandwidth- flat within 1dB from15Hz to 30kHz. Less than 0.5% of full output combined THD+IMD+Noise at 1W RMS and at 25W RMS output (14dB feedback). Output noise less than 100dB down from full output. Excellent Damping without any negative feedback, with extended damping control capability by means of fully adjustable (0dB to 20dB) negative feedback!
Available 2004 - Model KT88M - MSRP: $3449.00/each, $6249.00/pair.
DUAL EL34 ‘CLASSIC’ WILLIAMSON MONOBLOCK AMPLIFIER: Triode connected pentodes (2 each EL34). Vacuum Tube Rectification (GZ34). Conventional Laminated Iron Core Output Transformer. 20 Watts RMS output, Class A. 100% Classic Williamson Topology. Power Bandwidth- flat within 1dB from 15Hz to 30kHz. Less than 0.5% of full output combined THD+IMD+Noise at 1W RMS and at 20W RMS output. Output noise less than 100dB down from full output. Employs negative feedback.
Available Fall 2003 - Model EL34W - MSRP: $1,949 each
DUAL KT88 ‘CONTEMPORARY’ ULTRA-LINEAR MONOBLOCK AMPLIFIER: Ultra-Linear connected beam tetrodes (2 each KT88). Toroid Output Transformer. 50 Watts RMS output, Class AB1. Power Bandwidth- flat within 1dB from 15Hz to 30kHz. Less than 0.5% of full output combined THD+IMD+Noise at 1W RMS and at 50W RMS (20dB feedback). Output noise less than 100dB down from full output. Fully adjustable (0dB to 20dB) negative feedback.
Available Winter 2003/2004 - Model KT88CYUL - MSRP: $2,749 each.
DUAL KT88 ‘CLASSIC’ ULTRA-LINEAR MONOBLOCK AMPLIFIER: Ultra-Linear connected beam tetrodes (2 each KT88). Vacuum Tube Rectification (GZ34). Conventional Laminated Iron Core Output Transformer. 40 Watts RMS output, Class AB1. Power Bandwidth- flat within 1dB from 15Hz to 30kHz. Less than 0.5% of full output combined THD+IMD+Noise at 1W RMS and at 40W RMS. Output noise less than 100dB down from full output. 20dB negative feedback.
Available Winter 2003-2004 - Model KT88ULCL - MSRP: $2,949 each.
DUAL EL34 ‘ULTRA-LINEAR WILLIAMSON’ MONOBLOCK AMPLIFIER: A pair of EL34s in ultra linear push pull configuration for the output stage, with a pair of 6SN7 dual triodes in a classic Williamson configuration for the front end. Vacuum Tube Rectification (GZ34). Conventional Laminated Iron Core Output Transformer. Lots of Class AB1 output power. 530V plate supply. Bias current set to 120mA (both tubes; 60mA each) 4 ohm and 8 ohm outputs. CONTROLS: Input level potentiometer (Input impedance 100K); Bias adjustment; DC Balance adjustment; AC Balance adjustment. Power Bandwidth essentially flat 20Hz to 30kHz. Small percentage combined THD+IMD+Noise. Output noise is less than 1.0 millivolt (typical 0.6mV) across 8 ohm output. 8dB Negative feedback. NO ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS ANYWHERE IN CIRCUIT!
It is reasonable to compare this extraordinary MONOBLOCK favorably with the Marantz Model 5, Marantz Model 8B, and even the Marantz Model 9. This amplifier exhibits unprecedented presence, fidelity, transparency, and richness, while maintaining the phase and spatial integrity to the extent monophonic material develops a sound stage and nearly sounds stereophonic. This is the sweetest little thing. Ideal for SACD, Dolby Digital 7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround, and other 5,6,7 and 8 channel implementations.
Available Summer 2003 - Any day now, in fact! Presently accepting subscriptions with a deep introductory discount.
Model EL34ULW- MSRP: $1,949/each, $3,799/pair, four for $7,499, and $9,349 for a quintuplet.
DUAL 6SN7 MONO LINE AMPLIFIER: Gold Point Step Attenuator. All DC Filaments. 3 Input selector switch with separate adjustable input level presets (3) for each Input. Up to 20dB gain available. Noise: down more than 100dB from full output. Virtually undetectable Distortion; the distortion, whatever it may be, is lost in the noise, which is minuscule. Output Level: Up to 10V RMS low impedance output. Frequency Response: flat within 0.5dB, 15Hz to 100kHz.
Available 2004 - Model 6SN7M - MSRP: $1,449.00.
QUAD 6SN7 STEREO LINE AMPLIFIER: Gold Point Step Attenuator. All DC Filaments. 3 stereo Input selector switch with separate adjustable input level presets (6) for each Input. Up to 20dB gain available per channel. Separation: >50dB. Noise: down more than 100dB from full output. Virtually undetectable Distortion; the distortion, whatever it may be, is lost in the noise, which is minuscule. Output Level: Up to 10V RMS low impedance output. Frequency Response: flat within 0.5dB, 15Hz to 100kHz.
Available 2004 - Model 6SN7S - MSRP: $1,949.00.
12 TUBE 6SN7 6 CHANNEL LINE AMPLIFIER: Gold Point Step Attenuator. All DC Filaments. 12 each 6SN7 vacuum tubes. 3 Six channel Input selector switch with separate adjustable input level presets (18) for each Input. Up to 20dB gain available per channel. Separation >50dB. Noise: down more than100dB from full output. Virtually undetectable Distortion; the distortion, whatever it may be, is lost in the noise, which is minuscule. Output Level: Up to 10V RMS low impedance output. Frequency Response: flat within 0.5dB, 15Hz to 100kHz.
Available Fall 2003 - Model 6SN7SS6 - MSRP: $4,949.00.
16 TUBE 6SN7 8 CHANNEL LINE AMPLIFIER: Gold Point Step Attenuator. All DC Filaments. 16 each 6SN7 vacuum tubes. 3 eight channel Input selector switch with separate adjustable input level presets (24) for each Input. Up to 20dB gain available per channel. Separation >50dB. Noise: down more than100dB from full output. Virtually undetectable Distortion; the distortion, whatever it may be, is lost in the noise, which is minuscule. Output Level: Up to 10V RMS low impedance output. Frequency Response: flat within 0.5dB, 15Hz to 100kHz.
Available ???? - Model 6SN7SS8 – This is still barely a twinkle in Karl’s eye.
Please note we are accepting discounted subscriptions on the Model EL34ULW MONOBLOCK, and on the Model 6SN7SS6 6 CHANNEL LINE AMPLIFIER. Please contact Karl for details. Call, Fax, Write, or Email.
TWILIGHT AUDIO
http://www.twilighttubeaudio.com
c/o KARL M WIESSMANN - ELECTRONICS CONSULTANT (kmwec)
9 Ridge Road - Lake Wallkill
Sussex, New Jersey 07461-4307
vox 973.875.2316 fax 973.875.1172
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