Classé Audio Inc., well known to audio fans around the world for its uncompromising high-end audio components, has announced the re-invention of its Omega stereo preamplifier. The Classé Omega Preamplifier Mark III is a new ground-up design conceived to establish the brand's leadership position among the world's best audio electronics. The preamplifier serves as a switcher, volume control and buffer, and remains essential to any world-class hi-fidelity system. The Mark III makes advances in the preamplifier's critical role along every front, achieving substantial technical as well as sonic improvements. With the new Mark III, the resolution and dynamic range brought about by new media such as SACD are fully revealed. Benefits of the latest loudspeaker designs and execution become more apparent when source signals are delicately handled by an Omega Preamplifier.

Rather than a refinement of the acclaimed Omega Mark II preamp, the new Mark III was the proverbial "clean sheet of paper" exercise, which yielded results that more than compensate for the extensive time, energy, and expense the firm invested.

"We knew what we needed to achieve with the Omega III project," says Classé's Executive VP of Brand Development Dave Nauber. "Simply put, we had two objectives: to unequivocally establish the credentials of the Classé design team by demonstrating world-class technical execution and sonic refinement, and even more importantly, to create a preamplifier that we would enjoy using as our reference for many years to come. We are absolutely thrilled with the results."

The Classé Omega Preamplifier Mark III is a two-chassis affair, enjoying the total supply isolation that only a separate power-supply component can provide. And while it shares the footprint and basic chassis of the original and Mark II designs, the Mark III is entirely new within, with all-new circuit boards, layouts, and designs.

As does every Classé component, the Mark III rises from the foundation of meticulous power-supply design. In this case this means a hybrid-class-A push-pull topology that delivers a rock-steady constant load, never varying in its current demands on the AC source, nor the impedance it presents to the preamplifier itself, thereby ensuring perfect isolation, an attribute critical for the signal purity and astonishingly quiet operation that Classé demanded.

The actual preamplifier circuitry boasts two independent input stages for each channel, one optimized for balanced operation via XLR jacks, one for unbalanced via RCA jacks. Both are refinements of Classé's PDXB™ (Pure Differential Cross Balance) circuit topology, which delivers unmatched dynamic potential, sonic purity, and freedom from all forms of noise and distortion. Because Classé understands that the most critical element of any preamplifier circuit is the volume control, the Mark III employs a true "R2-R" resistive network, which maintains the constant-load, constant-source-impedance operation so important to the preamplifier's unequalled performance.

This relay-based section employs gas-filled, gold-over-silver relays (as are used throughout the preamp), which combine with the Mark III's exacting differential DC-servo circuit to ensure absolutely silent operation. At its output, the Classé relies on advanced, proprietary discrete-complementary cascode (DCCA™) circuitry, running from remarkably high ±30-volt supplies, to ensure unrestricted dynamics and noise-free output.

The Classé Omega Preamplifier furnishes inputs for three line-level stereo sources, each one available at balanced (XLR) or unbalanced (RCA) jacks; balanced and unbalanced outputs are both provided, as is a single, unbalanced tape output. The preamp also features a stereo unity-gain "pass-through" unbalanced input for main-channel signals from a surround-sound processor.

Throughout the Mark III, Classé utilizes the most exacting circuit components available, including non-inductive metal-foil resistors of 0.1% absolute tolerance, and fully modular, temperature-compensated circuit layouts that ensure that every Omega Preamplifier will exceed its specified performance under real-world conditions. And while the proof is in the listening, the Mark III yields paper results that are all but jaw-dropping, including THD+noise of less than 0.0002% (at 2-volts output on RCA jacks), a maximum signal-to-noise ratio of 121 dB, and response from 10 Hz to 100 kHz within ±0.15 dB. Classé further recognizes the vital importance to stereo imaging and a soundstage of near-perfect channel-balance; consequently, the Omega Preamplifier is specified for channel-to-channel gain matching of better than 0.05 dB at any volume setting-an astonishing feat.

Classé is confident that the Omega Preamplifier will take its place as the world's technology reference for stereo preamplifiers. A matching outboard phono preamplifier is currently under development. The Omega Preamplifier Mark III will be available March 2003, at a manufacturer's suggested price of $14,000.

For additional information about Classé Audio visit www.classeaudio.com.
 

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