Virtue Audio

[Edvard]

Pred nekaj leti se je na trgu pojavil Virtue Audio s svojim naborom izdelkov. Prevladovali so digitalni ojačevalci na osnovi IcePower modulov, dva ojačevalca na osnovi tripath čipa (VirtueOne.1 in VirtueOne.2) ter tripath ojačevalec (Sensation) z opcijo vgradnje elektronke. Nekaj časa so ponujali tudi lasten cd pogon, v ponudbi pa se najdejo tudi kabli in zvočniki.
Po razprodaji zalog so se zadeve ustavile. Kolikor sem zadevo spremljal, je umrl razvijalec, verjetno pa to ni bila edina težava.

Gre za “budget” blagovno znamko, ki je dvignila kar nekaj prahu, recenzije so bile (6moon) ugodne. Kolikor se spomnim, je pohvalno mnenje na tem forumu podal tudi Ajka.

Danes se vračajo v igro z dvema izpeljankama ojačevalca VirtueONE.3. K osnovni trojki so dodali še izpeljanko z vgrajenim 24/96 dacom in izhodom za slušalke. Cena osnovnega bo 350 USD in 450 USD za model z dacem. Trenutno so možna prednaročila.
Zanimivo bo spremljati odziv trga na njihov come-back. Ko so prišli na trg so bili med prvimi, sedaj so eni izmed mnogih.


VirtueONE.1


VirtueONE.1 (na sredini slike)


Nekaj za Audiofilla

Več tu


Pripravljajo tudi iMake platformo, na kateri boš lahko sestavil svoj ojačevalec.
Izvleček iz foruma:

The second batch (the one for which new metal production has begun) will be built on our new iMake platform. For starters, it will have a more customizable pre-amp section and a great big hole on the back of the unit. What this means is that every variation will have a custom back plate that screws in simply. If you change around the input and output fixtures, you just need to replace a small aluminum plate which in some cases we can ship with connectors pre-attached.

So let’s say you buy the ONE.3 Tripath amp and then decide that what you really want is the more powerful IRS2092 blade or our new tube pre-amplifier. Rather than buying a whole new amp, you can buy the iMake module (“the guts”) which will ship with a new back-plate. You’ll unscrew the old back plate, unscrew the amplifier board and unhook a few wires. Then, you will take the board, screw it in and fasten up the back plate. Then you can keep the Tripath amp board for a DIY project, 3D print your own enclosure, or sell the board on a marketplace we will create. Cool, right?

What if you want to change out the pre-amplifier? You can. What if you want to put a Twisted Pear DAC or miniDSP or SURE Blue Tooth module (among thousands of other pre-made daughter-boards) inside? You can. What if you want to reprogram the micro-processor to support your favorite I2C peripherals? You can.

Although all of the units will look the same from the front, they will be what you want them to be inside. We’re going to be doing “semi home-made” right. We were the first to offer “BUILD YOUR OWN” amps with our Sensation product and perhaps the first to offer this new level of upgradeability with the “iMake” platform. There’s more to the platform that I will share closer to ship date. You’re going to love it.

So the second batch of ONE.3s will have more features and will be built on the iMake platform. The first one to ship will include a Tenor 24/96 USB daughter board (analog inputs also provided), DIY scratch area (inside), dual headphone outputs (one high and one low power), and user upgradeable +/-12v headphone pre-amplifier op-amps.
We will start with 500 of these units and hope to sell these out quickly. You can pre-order one today for $450 with fixed, low-price shipping. Click here to pre-order: http://store.virtueaudio.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VRTU-IA-VAIMAKEONE.3-PB-1

Orders processed before Monday morning, December 30th, will include a 2ft pair of Nirvana interconnect cables. Expect delivery in April 2014.

Here are some other iMake options that we have prototyped and will make when there is enough interest:

• XMOS 24/192 USB daughter board
• ICEPowerASX2-50 board adapter
• IRS2092 power amplifier (requires +/- power supply)
• Tube pre-amplifier
• Transformer output DAC
• More to be announced later…
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“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” ― Stephen Hawking