AUDIO ANALOGUE BELLINI ANNIVERSARY

The Bellini Anniversary preamplifier, a new addition from Audio Analogue designed in the Airtech laboratories, is part of the Anniversary line and revisits one of Audio Analogue’s historic products. The only thing this new model shares with previous Bellini versions is the name, while the design and technical solutions used are completely new. Starting from the excellent foundation provided by the preamplification section of the Maestro Anniversary integrated amplifier, there are many innovations compared to the latter. The first is the power supply stage, completely redesigned with an inductive-capacitive filtering system to minimize power supply noise. The filter inductance was specifically designed and manufactured for this device. The amplification stage, called SeGeSTA (Single Gain Stage Transconductance Amplifier), was conceived to make the preamplifier even quieter, maintaining a fully balanced structure without global feedback. The circuit has four layers, and the component placement was carefully planned to avoid crossover between input and output signals and especially between digital control signals and sensitive analog signals. The setup is completed by the use of top-quality components and internal wiring made with 7N OCC pure copper cables. The Bellini Anniversary is available in silver or black and comes with a solid aluminum remote control and an Airtech power cable.

The power supply uses inductive filtering to reduce any noise coming from the mains to the line stage, with zero global feedback from input to output. The circuit is fully differential (differential input and output), with a dual-mono configuration using discrete components. Volume control is digital, without operational amplifiers, and input switches use relays to minimize non-linearities. Oversized military-grade resistors are used to minimize thermal distortion, and “audiograde” capacitors are specified by Airtech. Control is managed by a microcontroller, internal wiring and the power cable are Airtech products, and the input and output connectors are gold-plated.

Technical specifications:

• Number of channels: 2
• RCA inputs: 3
• XLR inputs: 2
• Unbalanced outputs: 2
• Balanced outputs: 2
• Input impedance: 47 kΩ
• Unbalanced output gain: 5 dB
• Balanced output gain: 11 dB
• Frequency response (0.5 dB attenuation): 200 kHz
• Unbalanced output noise (0 Hz – 8 kHz bandwidth): 24 µV
• Unbalanced output noise (0 Hz – 8 kHz bandwidth, A-weighted): 9 µV
• Balanced output noise (0 Hz – 8 kHz bandwidth): 37 µV
• Balanced output noise (0 Hz – 8 kHz bandwidth, A-weighted): 14 µV
• SNR (0 dB/A-weighted/2 Vrms reference) – unbalanced output: 107 dB
• SNR (0 dB/A-weighted/2 Vrms reference) – balanced output: 103 dB
• Standby power consumption (230 VAC): 0.7 W
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 140 x 450 x 380 mm
• Weight: 12 kg