Australian HiFi - March-April 2016_

10 Australian

PASS LABS | PRYMA | BRYSTON

PASS LABS HPA-

Pass Laboratories has released its first headphone amplifier, the

HPA-1. All its circuitry is discrete and the output stage employs

direct-coupled MOSFETs that the company says make the HPA-

capable of driving any headphone load from 15Ω to 600Ω‘while

still maintaining unrivalled dynamics.’ A custom-made, low-noise

shielded toroidal power transformer supplies raw voltage to a

discrete low-noise fully-regulated power supply that feeds both

the J-FET input stages and the MOSFET output stages. The front

panel has a single high-quality headphone jack plus input selec-

tor switches, while the rear panel sports two sets of single-ended

analogue RCA inputs and a set of switchable preamp line-level

output jacks, which flag Pass Labs’ intent that the HPA-1 should

also be used as a stereo preamplifier. Volume control is done

in the analogue domain, using a standard Alps potentiometer

and the chassis is made from brushed aluminium. It measures

115×280×330mm (HWD) and weighs 6.3kg. Available now, from

Sydney-based distributor Kedcorp, the Pass Labs HPA-1 retails

for $5,699.

For further information, please contact Kedcorp on

(02) 9561 0799 or visit http://www.kedcorp.com.au

PRYMA ‘PHONES

AT SYNERGY AV

Synergy Audio Visual has announced that Pryma headphones are for

the fi rst time available in Australia. ‘Pryma headphones are all hand-

made in Vicenza, in Italy, and the brand is an exciting new venture by

World of McIntosh (WOM), which owns Audio Research, McIntosh, Sonus

faber, Sumiko and Wadia,’ said Phillip Sawyer, of Synergy Audio

Visual, which distributes all six brands in Australia.

Pryma headphones are available in fi ve distinct designs—Coffee/

Cream, Black, Gold, Rose Gold/Dark Grey and Carbon Marsala—and

all use 40mm-diameter mylar-diaphragms driven by neodymium

magnets. Nominal impedance is 32Ω and WOM claims all Pryma

headphones will deliver 118dBSPL with an input of just a single

milliwatt, with distortion at less than 0.1%. All headphones have

interchangeable headbands made from Italian leather with breath-

able microfi bre interiors, die-cast lightweight aluminium print-proof

coated ear-cups with detachable ear pads and copper and stainless

steel buckles. Frequency range is claimed to be 10Hz to 25kHz and all

headphones have removable headphone cables with in-line micro-

phones. Available now, Pryma prices start at $899.

For further information, please contact Synergy Audio Visual on

(03) 9459 7474 or visit the website at http://www.synergyaudio.com

NEW BRYSTON AMPS AT CES

Canadian manufacturer Bryston has released its ‘Cubed Series’

amplifi ers, which it says replaces the Squared Series that has been

in production for the past seven years. ‘The SST3 series is a statement

design platform ideal for music enthusiasts, home theatre installations

and professional audio applica-

tions,’ said Bryston’s CEO, Chris

Russell. Russell said the new

line-up will be rolled out in

phases during the year, with

the 2.5B SST3, 3B SST3, 4BSST3,

7BSST3, and the 14BSST3 being

fi rst to market and the fl agship

28B SST3 model following later.

‘All the new amplifi ers feature a

patented super-linear, low noise

input buffer jointly developed by

Bryston and the late Ph.D. engineer

Dr Ioan Alexandru Salomie,’ said Russell. ‘The Cubed Series also has more

robust r.f. and audio frequency noise fi ltering circuitry before the power sup-

plies to prevent unwanted anomalies on the power line from interfering even

minutely with the audio signal. Some of the audible improvements we have

noted during our initial testing

consist of expanded spaciousness

and depth of focus, better overall

dimensionality, improved mid-bass

clarity, and more air and openness

in the high-frequencies.’ In Aus-

tralia, Bryston is distributed by

Melbourne-based BusiSoft AV.

For more information, contact

BusiSoft AV on 1300 888 602

or via the website at

http://www.busisoft.com.au