Pathos Synapse Pre-Amp

 Pathos Synapse Pre-Amp

The worthy partner for an amplifier like Adrenalin is a newly balanced preamplifier that represents the state-of-the-art of Pathos technology. The apparatus is made of two chassis. The inferior part has the power supply and all the control logic, including the amazing fluorescent display, while the upper part contains the stages of analogue signal management. The choice is to optimize the complex circuitry by keeping electrically noisy parts far from those used in the signal. This preamplifier may be almost described as a three chassis apparatus because the line stages of two channels are completely separated on the power supply and ground level. Additionally, the logic part is separated into an insulated ground. The connection between logic and two stages is through photocouplers to guarantee the circuits separation. Thanks to this layout, we have the advantage to avoid a ground loop.

To this end, designers performed a further fineness: a complete electrical disconnection of all inputs so that only the selected input is electrically connected to its line stage while all others are open including ground level. This stubborn search, aiming to optimize ground tracks and avoid fussy ground loop brings inevitably to a redundancy of circuit series, mainly power supplies, thus bringing a considerable increase of costs. That is why it is impossible to find a similar solution in types of equipment of current production. Signal management is then assigned to a hybrid circuit with three stages provided with a cascade differential for voltage amplification, where is applied to a double triode 6H30 and then two buffers; the first tube buffer with the second double triode 6H30 and the second with a mosfet tracker able to interface with the maximum outer world linearity. Two volume regulators per channel manage the balanced signal. The channels are solid state and are located inside two modules with rectangular shape fixed on the main printed circuit; the setting is on 168 steps of 0,5dB.

A remarkable characteristic of this machine is the memory of set level on each input to avoid annoying volume changes when commutating from one input to another. Total amplification may be fixed at 0dB, +6dB or +12dB allowing to take full advantage of the sophisticated level regulators that permit the use of centre width and have a good resolution on the setting. Particular attention should be paid to the power supply unit and all parts located in the lower chassis of the machine. If opened, it gives the impression of seeing a power amplifier with a large number of electronics.

Two stage pre-amp Zero Feedback Entirely bi-monoaural with dual power supply Hybrid differential line stages with dual transistor, triodes and mosfet Dual line stage, dual control signals, dual grounding, entirely optocoupled digital signal controls with separate grounding Direct coupling class A 168 Step fixed Resistor Volume Control XLR and RCA Line Level Outputs 3xBalanced XLR's & 3xRCA Line Level inputs (With tape out) Twin XLR Pre outputs Designed to match the Pathos Adrenalin Monoblock power amplifiers Specifications for the Pathos Synapse Volume Control 168 0.5dB steps by means of an optical device which drives a battery of relays (vacuum packed, with thorium contacts), which drive a network of precision resistors (1%, metal layer). Frequency response 1Hz - 100KHz (200KHz @-3dB) THD <0.04% @ 4 Vrms Power source 230V 50Hz

Who is Pathos?

Pathos Acoustics is an Italian manufacturer of premium high fidelity audio products. The company began in 1994 and was founded by three music enthusiasts; Gaeta no Zanini, Gianni Borinato and Paolo Andriolo in the Italian city Vicenza. Vicenza is a sophisticated, northern Italian city, famous initially for monuments designed by prestigious architect Andrea Palladio. The city has since grown upon the classy and luxury themes set-out by Palladio and has since become renowned for innovative metal production, jewellery and fashion.