T+A S 10

T + A S10

Manufacturer's product description

The V series has two flagships: the M 10 mono output stage and the S 10 stereo output stage. These sensational amplifiers are basically identical and an ingenious combination of classic 'State Of The Art' tube technology, the latest transistor technology and innovative circuit topology. We deliberately equipped the preamp with tubes to allow their audiophile properties to flow into the sound-determining section. The higher the power of an output stage, the more difficult it is to achieve it with pure tube concepts. In reality, very high performance cannot be achieved with certainty. It is therefore advisable to use a well-thought-out concept to transfer the pure power amplification to modern transistor circuits and to adapt them perfectly to the overall system. Our completely newly developed circuit concept is so unbelievably good that there is no need for an over-all negative feedback. We have made optimal use of the advantages of tube and transistor technology and avoided the disadvantages!

Our goal was not to build two more 'giant power amplifiers' that could deliver as much power as possible, but rather our power amplifiers should give audiophile music lovers the opportunity to choose between different operating modes depending on personal taste, speakers used and power requirements. The M 10 and S 10 can of course provide huge outputs for large speakers and extreme levels in high power mode and always sound outstandingly good. However, if you don't need these high levels at all, but want to hear normally up to a high volume, our power amplifiers offer the high current mode, in which the quiescent current is doubled and up to 60 watts for the M 10 and 35 watts for the S 10, are available in pure Class A operation.

With the M 10 it is even possible to operate real bi-amping, as the M 10 has two identical power amplifiers that can work on their own loudspeaker terminals. This gives you every opportunity to ensure the optimal control of your speakers depending on your personal taste, connected speakers and the required effort. The M 10 and S 10 are completely uncritical with regard to control by any preamplifier. Of course, our P 10 2 tube preamplifier is ideally suited to optimally control both. His entire concept is designed to deliver a consistently perfect sound experience with the M 10 and S 10. It has symmetrical outputs (optionally three- or four-pole) and controls the entire system via the R-Link data bus, including switching all components on and off.

Revolutionary circuit topology

The M 10 and S 10 have a circuit concept that is unique in the world. The input and voltage amplification is done with the help of tubes. All tubes work in Class A mode, which results in a very harmonious sound and the musical and tonal advantages of the tube technology determine the character of the power amplifiers. The input stage is designed as a symmetrical differential amplifier in full tube cascode circuit. The following voltage amplifier stage in the M 10 works with two 6SN7 tube systems connected in parallel with high cross-currents in order to be able to drive the following current amplifier stages with very low resistance. With the S 10, a special high-voltage MOSFET voltage amplifier stage with triode characteristics and characteristic curve takes on this task. This circuit gives both input stages an excellent bandwidth and speed, which determine the sound characteristics of the entire amplifier.

On the input side, the current amplifier stages are constructed with MOSFET driver transistors, which harmonize excellently with the voltage amplifier stages in terms of their characteristic curve characteristics. On the output side, the current amplifiers are equipped with a total of 20 extremely powerful ring emitter bipolar transistors. These transistors meet the highest requirements in terms of current delivery capability and bandwidth.

Linearity

All amplifier stages of the M 10 and S 10 are designed in such a way that they work absolutely linearly and without distortion. In order to achieve this, only the best components are used, which we precisely match and individually match for each individual device in a complex selection process. The achieved degree of linearity and bandwidth is so high that there is no need for a sound-reducing overall negative feedback. In this way we ensure that the normally unavoidable influence of the connected loudspeakers on the sound properties of the power amplifiers is prevented.

High performance energy supply

The M 10 and S 10 have a total of three independent power supplies with three high-quality, low-leakage toroidal transformers. An extremely complex, stabilized high-voltage power supply unit supplies the tube circuits of the voltage amplifier part. It is located in its own, shielded housing above below the tubes. The constancy of the tube operating voltages is better than 10 ppm! Two high-performance transformers with 1000 watts each and a total sieve capacity of more than 180,000 µF are available for the two power amplifiers. This means that there is always more than sufficient power reserves available for every conceivable load situation. These power supplies are located in the lower part of the housing. The transformers are encapsulated and housed in a shielding steel housing.

High current / high power operation

What is truly unique is the ability to set the operating voltages of the M 10 and S 10 output stages between the values +/- 50 V or +/- 40 V (high current operation) and +/- 100 V or +/- 80 V. (High power operation). At the lower operating voltage, the quiescent current in the output stages is more than doubled, so that the current amplifiers of the M 10 run up to approx. 60 watts and those of the S 10 up to approx. 35 watts in Class A mode. We recommend this high current operating mode in particular for high-efficiency loudspeakers and generally also for listening at normal volume. The high power operating mode provides an output power of well over 1500 watts (at 2 ohms). We recommend this operating mode in particular for high-impedance loudspeakers with impedances of more than 6 ohms and generally whenever maximum power is required.

Intelligent control

The M 10 and S 10 cannot simply be switched on, they have to start up slowly, otherwise the network would collapse. That is why an ingeniously programmed microprocessor takes over all switching and control processes. It also controls the protective circuit, monitors the mains voltage, the internal operating voltages and the operating temperature. The loudspeaker outputs are monitored for DC voltage errors, short circuits and overloads and the connected loudspeakers are thus protected. The cause of the fault is shown on the display.

Uncompromising mechanics

The entire V series sets global standards in terms of the materials used, the mechanical effort and the quality of workmanship. With the M 10 and S 10, our developers have consistently used only the best components. It is worked from the 'full'. The heat sinks are pressed from aluminum with huge tools in one operation, the cover pots are milled from a block. The resulting considerable heat loss is safely and evenly dissipated due to the high material mass, so that the M 10 and S 10 do not need a cooling fan despite their enormous performance. Only non-magnetic materials are used in the amplifier part, the transformers of the power supply unit are located in a shielding chamber made of steel. The total mass of more than 50 kg offers a complete decoupling of the M 10 and S 10 from the outside world!

S 10 connection elements on the rear

Preamplifiers can be connected via cinch, XLR 3-pin or XLR 4-pin plugs. The S 10 has two identical output stages, each of which is connected to a pair of the latest high-end speaker terminals (WBT nextgenTM). This means that the loudspeaker boxes can be connected using a wide variety of cable lugs or plugs. If you switch the left slide switch to High Current, the quiescent current is doubled. This means that up to 35 watts are possible in pure Class A operation! If it is pushed down, the output stage works in high power mode with full operating voltage. The R-Link sockets are for connecting the system bus cables, which the preamplifier uses to switch the output stages on and off.

Technical specifications