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הכתבה האחרונה על הקדם INCITO :
ARIES CERAT INCITO
Best Buy - HAUTE FIDELITE
The call of the Aries
The Aries Cerat company, set up in 2010, designs and manufactures the craziest tube electronic devices that one can acquire. The Incito Preamplifier is a more domestic and more affordable approach to the manufacturer's motto “the best and nothing else”.
PREAMPLIFIER TESTING GROUND
The frustration felt with the trade electronic devices prompted Stavros Danos to create Aries Cerat in Limassol, on the island of Cyprus. The Aries Cerat tube electronic devices are markedly different from the rest of the world production at all levels. They are differentiated by their unusual size, necessary by the amount of materials embedded in each device, their weight, inevitable consequence of the above, and their technology. Most tube diagrams (plus a hybrid) share their appropriateness with specific circuits never used in audio before, and measured, exceptional sound performances. The Incito is the exception that proves the rule; it is the smallest and simplest of Aries Cerat electronic devices. Developed a few years ago, it becomes finally fit for production.
SIMPLE BUT NOT SIMPLIFIED
The line preamplifier is encased in a quite heavy chassis consisting of thick steel plates, two rounded sides made of black anodized solid aluminium and a front side made of smoked methacrylate. The upper plate has many laser-cut holes representing a ram's head (“Aries” in Greek) with horns, as musical instruments, (“Cerat” in Latin, derived from the Greek “Keras”), which is the logo of the manufacturer. The back side boasts five pairs of rhodium-plated RCA input connectors, plus a pair of RCA, and a pair of XLR (floating ground), output connectors using large toggle switches. Behind the methacrylate, a second plate is installed hosting the display that consists of several Numitron tubes replacing the traditional Light Emitting Diodes (LED). On the front side, there is no knob or button, the Incito is volume-controlled (source selection and mute mode) only by the metal remote control that communicates with the receiver located in an acrylic cylinder under the device. The source activated by relays and the volume level adjusted by switched resistors are displayed by Numitron tubes. The simple diagram, without any negative feedback, employs a NOS Siemens E280F pentode wired in triode mode, with very high gain, and charged with a step-down transformer of very high quality. The toroidal transformer power supply and the adjustment by 5AR4 valve use a double Pi filter with a common main inductor followed by a polypropylene capacitor, and then an independent LC cell per channel. Really efficient.
SPECIFICATION SHEET
Origin: Cyprus
Price: 7 500 euro
Dimensions: 480 x 165 x 320 mm
Weight: 33 kg
Frequency response:
4 Hz – 100 kHz to -4 dB (0 dB)
Output level:
32 V RMS maxi (50 ohms)
Distortion: < 0,005%
typical (< 0,1% to 20 V RMS)
Inputs: 5 RCA (line)
Outputs: 1 RCA & 1 XLR
(floating)
The presence of the imposing ram's head, which is the logo of the Cypriot manufacturer, characterizes all his achievements. The aluminium is omnipresent in the chassis of the Incito Amplifier.
MANUFACTURING AND LISTENING
Construction: The Aries Cerat electronic devices are manufactured according to the noble craft tradition of point-to-point wiring, relatively extensive internally due to the presence of several transformers and inductors. However, the manufacturer turned to the printed circuit where it became fundamental, that is to say for the transportation of the audio signal as directly as possible between the components. Although discrete, according to the standards of the manufacturer, the unique aluminium chassis and its rounded side panels are stylish.
Components: The minimalist diagram, which is remarkably implemented, is full of good solutions, such as the oversized power supply with tubes and filter cells with inductors, or the simple stage circuit constructed around a NOS Siemens tube and an output transformer. The quality of the components has not been compromised by the need of a tight price: the excellent performance and the magnificent musicality are there to prove it.
Bass: A warm-up of about one hour is recommended in order to achieve the optimal cruising temperature for all the components. Therefore, the Incito spreads a message of great distinction and extremely refined in tonal texture. The bass and extreme bass score develops an articulation that we did not expect so accurate and clear from a tube diagram. Not only does the register get very low (synthetic bass on the track “Moonlight on Spring River” by Zhao Cong), but it modulates the few chords hidden in the lower section, which is rare.
Medium: The triode and the transformer generally form a musical powerful duo, but adapted to the “sauce” Incito, they deliver particularly tasty flavours. There is no doubt on what we listen; the harmonic composition of the message inspires a quite impressive tonal familiarity. We can hear more things than usual, but what makes the real difference providing additional credibility, is the way the Incito replaces every single detail in its right place and level. On the largo of the Bach Concerto No. 5 by Simone Dinnerstein, the numerous and varying modulations escaping from the soundboard give back to the instrument realistic dimensions.
The presence of several inductors and transformers reflects the meticulous care taken by the manufacturer in his diagram, which is, incidentally, simple. Note that the small lamps serve as indicators behind the front side.
Treble: The Cypriot Preamplifier has no lack of resources in terms of analysis and offers the most searched frequency range. It is very refined, subtle and delicate. On the track "Ha Vinto Amor" by Simone Kermes, we do not miss any part of the most pianissimo modulations in the voice of the soprano who seems extremely close to the listener. Closer than usual? Too close to be true? Or closer to the reality? One thing is certain, the Incito seems implacable with regard to its electrical environment (its partners) and its mechanical environment (the support on which it is placed), and an error of judgment may result in a slight loss in the thickness of the message. On the other hand, the right set up will bring you closer to the seventh sound heaven.
Dynamics: We coupled the Incito to our Helvetic high-power stereo block of reference without the first one being impressed at any time by the second one. On the contrary, the coupling revealed the Incito exceptional potential of energy during the transient calls of all kinds. On the track "Animal" by Francis Cabrel, the multiple and repetitive strong beats on the different percussion accessories (cymbals, drums and bass drum) provide a considerable sound power in terms of deviations and modulation peaks. No subjective compression is observed; no harmonic drift alters the signal on the complex transients. The dynamic allocation does not vary according to the listening volume.
LISTENING SYSTEM
Electronics:
Nagra CDP Player
DAC Reimyo DAP-999EX
Stereo block
FM Acoustics FM-611
Wires: Van den Hul The
Mountain (XLR modulation)
Leedh Universal (HP)
Van den Hul (sector)
Speakers: PEL Alycastre
Note Attack: On this same track, the Incito brilliantly demonstrates that a tube along with a transformer, as implemented by Aries Cerat, can be as reactive, instantaneous and immediate as a transistor diagram. And more embodied ... The intermodulated vibrations on the brass drums, developed and then switched off after each drumstick beat on the metal, precisely reflect the thickness and diameter of the cymbals. We do not just remain on a harmonic succession, as detailed as it is, but we clearly perceive this additional subjective dimension "materializing" what we can hear.
Soundstage: The preamplifier offers a very airy and remarkably proportioned sound space. Each recording brings new sonorities, ambiances, fullness, imperfections, but none seems like the following or the previous. We may note that the soundstage is closer than the result obtained with the preamplifier of our reference system; everything is closer, as if we had moved forward our seat in the auditorium. Orchestra seats instead of the usual second or third balcony: therefore considered as a bonus.
Transparency: It is obviously one of the fundamental qualities of the Incito. The Incito reading, which is very well-researched, does not favour any frequency register over another. The high bandwidth offered by the Incito diagram leads to a quite amazing responsiveness and a very extensive harmonic offer. The consequences are obviously immediate including a high quality of timbres, an outstanding power of analysis and a remarkable articulation. The Incito is able to modulate to an extreme degree, without it being possible to detect any audible limit.
Quality/price: The era undoubtedly changes to digital, all-in-one compact and integrated, the whole being "powdered" with contemporary design. So, the arrival of a tube preamplifier, which is entirely dedicated to analogue applications and mounted in a heavy and cumbersome chassis, can be rather confusing. We should not be mistaken, this type of electronic device remains very popular with the hard-line music lovers, those searching for real emotions. The Incito is intended for them, offered at a price directly related to the originality of the concept and the craft construction in very small quantities.
The entirely analogue connectors are embellished with an original serigraphy. Note: high-voltage switch.
CONCLUSION
The discovery of Aries Cerat products took place in a lounge in Munich a few years ago. We were amazed upon entering into the listening room where were enthroned the electronic devices stamped with a huge ram's head and as voluminous as juke-boxes! The tone was set by the Cypriot manufacturer, who is reluctant to make a technical compromise. The tubes are used in the best possible way. An exclusive philosophy, which is reviewed and more reasonable financially, with the Incito following the general design lines of the Aries Cerat "huge" achievements. Based on a diagram with all you need for simplicity and technical requirements, this preamplifier favoured us with one of the most beautiful reproductions of Suresnes to date. A Little Prince of musicality.
Dominique Mafrand
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