Epiphany Acoustics
13-06-2011, 08:50
Hi guys,
Pre-order price: £180 for the first 20 orders.
Hi,
A new benchmark for headphone amplifiers - the EHP-1
I have just set up a hifi manufacturing company with a very different ethos to many others out there. I believe that hifi should be more accessible to the masses, and I hope to achieve that by offering really high quality products designed with solid engineering principles at genuinely competitive prices. The first (hopefully of many!) product to shake this industry up a bit is the EHP-1 headphone amplifier.
The EHP-1 high power, high fidelity solid state headphone amplifier based on dual mono, highly optimised audiophile shielded operation amplifiers followed by a MOSFET output stage. This amplifier is biased to run in pure Class A mode because it is simply the topolgy which offers the lowest distortion characteritics.
The EHP-1 includes a very high quality power supply in built - not a cheap, low quality wall wart. We use a large bank of low ESR Panasonic capacitors to filter the DC power which is then sent on for regulation. This is much more expensive than a wall wart supply, but high quality, high power amplifiers need very high quality power supplies to avoid any distortion or clipping. In fact, this design principle is found in flagship Naim products.
In simpler terms, it is a design where quality and fidelity have been put first. We use some of the best components available - all of them premium through-hole parts. They include:
* Large toroidal transformer
* 8000uF of filter capactitance using premium low ESR electrolytic capacitors
* Specially optimised 'audiophile' op amps in shielded metal can cases (you won't find better... anywhere!)
* 0.1% tolerance, 15ppm (in the most critical places) resistors
* 1% tolerance resistors used everywhere else
* Polypropylene caps used in critical places
* Polyester and ceramic bypass caps used everywhere else
* Alps RK27 'Blue Velvet' pot
If you don't fully understand all of the component choices, I'd be more than happy to explain them in more depth! Rest assured, though, that they are absolutely top quality and you really won't get much better.
This all comes wrapped up in a custom steel enclosure (steel enclosures protect the circuitry from picking up noise from external sources) finished with a beautiful solid walnut coated in Danish oil, adorned with a black solid aluminium volume knob and a high polish brass nameplate. I have a photo of the front panels - unfortunately it'll be a few weeks to a month before a fully complete photo.
http://www.epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/resources/FP1empty800.png
In the above photo you can see the recess for the brass nameplates, the small hole above that for the power LED and holes for the headphone socket and the recessed volume knob.
But why is the EHP-1 so much better value than other big name branded gear? Simple - because you are buying direct from me, the manufacturer. I don't have all the costs of stocking, retailer mark ups, running a shop etc which (necessarily) inflate prices of other 'bigger brand' hifi. Buying direct from the manufacturer also offers a much more personal approach with feedback, questions and queries all being resolved by me personally rather than a sales assisstant who may or may not know about the product in any depth.
Pre-orders and reviewer applications
Pre-orders are now open. To place a pre-order, simply send an email to orders@epiphany-acoustics.co.uk and we will add you to the list. Those on the pre-order list receive regular progress updates and are among the first to know about the latest news regarding development. If you place a pre-order, you will only have to pay £180 - a dramatic saving from the £225-£250 (to be finalised) RRP.
We are looking for people to review the first two units we make. If you are interested, please send an email to me at oliver@epiphany-acoustics.co.uk with your name, any credentials that may be relevant etc. Reviewers only have to pay £157.50 if they choose to also add their names to the pre-order list. This discount is conditional on the writing of a well written review and applied at my personal discretion.
The Environment
The Class-A design, although being the absolute best for high fidelity amplification, is inefficient and uses more electricity than other designs. We are conscious of the environmental impact of hi-fi, so for each sale, we will make a donation on your behalf to Carbon Footprint to offset one tonne of carbon.
A one tonne offset equates to over one full month of the average carbon footprint of a household in the developed world. If you want to offset more, let us know because we have a Carbon Offset Booster scheme, where will add to your donation.
And more...
There are a couple more details on the website if you are interested in reading more.
I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have either here, PM or on email.
Thanks for reading,
Oliver Freeborn
Founder of Epiphany Acoustics
www.epiphany-acoustics.co.uk
oliver@epiphany-acoustics.co.uk
Pre-order price: £180 for the first 20 orders.
Hi,
A new benchmark for headphone amplifiers - the EHP-1
I have just set up a hifi manufacturing company with a very different ethos to many others out there. I believe that hifi should be more accessible to the masses, and I hope to achieve that by offering really high quality products designed with solid engineering principles at genuinely competitive prices. The first (hopefully of many!) product to shake this industry up a bit is the EHP-1 headphone amplifier.
The EHP-1 high power, high fidelity solid state headphone amplifier based on dual mono, highly optimised audiophile shielded operation amplifiers followed by a MOSFET output stage. This amplifier is biased to run in pure Class A mode because it is simply the topolgy which offers the lowest distortion characteritics.
The EHP-1 includes a very high quality power supply in built - not a cheap, low quality wall wart. We use a large bank of low ESR Panasonic capacitors to filter the DC power which is then sent on for regulation. This is much more expensive than a wall wart supply, but high quality, high power amplifiers need very high quality power supplies to avoid any distortion or clipping. In fact, this design principle is found in flagship Naim products.
In simpler terms, it is a design where quality and fidelity have been put first. We use some of the best components available - all of them premium through-hole parts. They include:
* Large toroidal transformer
* 8000uF of filter capactitance using premium low ESR electrolytic capacitors
* Specially optimised 'audiophile' op amps in shielded metal can cases (you won't find better... anywhere!)
* 0.1% tolerance, 15ppm (in the most critical places) resistors
* 1% tolerance resistors used everywhere else
* Polypropylene caps used in critical places
* Polyester and ceramic bypass caps used everywhere else
* Alps RK27 'Blue Velvet' pot
If you don't fully understand all of the component choices, I'd be more than happy to explain them in more depth! Rest assured, though, that they are absolutely top quality and you really won't get much better.
This all comes wrapped up in a custom steel enclosure (steel enclosures protect the circuitry from picking up noise from external sources) finished with a beautiful solid walnut coated in Danish oil, adorned with a black solid aluminium volume knob and a high polish brass nameplate. I have a photo of the front panels - unfortunately it'll be a few weeks to a month before a fully complete photo.
http://www.epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/resources/FP1empty800.png
In the above photo you can see the recess for the brass nameplates, the small hole above that for the power LED and holes for the headphone socket and the recessed volume knob.
But why is the EHP-1 so much better value than other big name branded gear? Simple - because you are buying direct from me, the manufacturer. I don't have all the costs of stocking, retailer mark ups, running a shop etc which (necessarily) inflate prices of other 'bigger brand' hifi. Buying direct from the manufacturer also offers a much more personal approach with feedback, questions and queries all being resolved by me personally rather than a sales assisstant who may or may not know about the product in any depth.
Pre-orders and reviewer applications
Pre-orders are now open. To place a pre-order, simply send an email to orders@epiphany-acoustics.co.uk and we will add you to the list. Those on the pre-order list receive regular progress updates and are among the first to know about the latest news regarding development. If you place a pre-order, you will only have to pay £180 - a dramatic saving from the £225-£250 (to be finalised) RRP.
We are looking for people to review the first two units we make. If you are interested, please send an email to me at oliver@epiphany-acoustics.co.uk with your name, any credentials that may be relevant etc. Reviewers only have to pay £157.50 if they choose to also add their names to the pre-order list. This discount is conditional on the writing of a well written review and applied at my personal discretion.
The Environment
The Class-A design, although being the absolute best for high fidelity amplification, is inefficient and uses more electricity than other designs. We are conscious of the environmental impact of hi-fi, so for each sale, we will make a donation on your behalf to Carbon Footprint to offset one tonne of carbon.
A one tonne offset equates to over one full month of the average carbon footprint of a household in the developed world. If you want to offset more, let us know because we have a Carbon Offset Booster scheme, where will add to your donation.
And more...
There are a couple more details on the website if you are interested in reading more.
I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have either here, PM or on email.
Thanks for reading,
Oliver Freeborn
Founder of Epiphany Acoustics
www.epiphany-acoustics.co.uk
oliver@epiphany-acoustics.co.uk