Zesto Audio Andros Deluxe Phonostage

Description

ZESTO AUDIO ANDROS DELUXE PHONOSTAGE
“
The Andros Deluxe Vacuum Tube Phono Stage from Zesto Audio is one of five, or maybe six, top phono stages I have ever auditioned. With its ultra-black background, excellent flexibility, and suave presentation, it is exactly the kind of phono stage that floats my boat. I am sure it is one of two or three tube phono stages that clearly compete for gain, definition, quietness, and neutrality, compared to the multi-box solid state beasts roaming the planet right now in the mega-buck price range.  George Counnas is as clever as he is a genius. The Andros Deluxe, with its unique tube selection, clearly produces the passion contained in the musical performance itself. The Deluxe belongs at the top of your short shopping list now, and for years to come.
”
— BOB LEVI, POSITIVE FEEDBACK, 2018
The Andros Deluxe Phonostage is an exciting blend of Zesto’s award winning Phonostages, taking the very best attributes from both. It’s developed from the same footprint of the Andros 1.2 Phonostage and many of the internal features of the Andros Tèssera Phonostage, yet maintaining its own unique sonic personality.
One of the unique features is an entirely new output circuit design that is based on the 12DW7 tube to drive the balanced output transformers. The main printed circuit board is dual-mono for better stereo separation. The input circuit incorporates the large,
high quality built-in MC step-up transformers that are used in the Tèssera. The Andros Deluxe is built with a passion for Analog, designed with 100% tube circuitry and no solid state devices anywhere in the signal path.
The tube compliment is a pair of gold pin, high gain, low noise 12AX7’s and a pair of gold pin, high current, low noise 12DW7’s.

Some of the other features are the 10 position MC loading “on the fly”, 2 gain settings for both MM and MC and ground switches to eliminate hum.
Features
Mechanical signal switching
No transistors anywhere in the signal path
Significant upgrade to MC transformers which are much larger, heavier and twice as expensive
The sonic benefits are big as well. You have a larger lamination core so you get better low-frequency response. The multiple windings simply pack more wires for lower noise and flatter phase response.
Dedicated output tubes and output transformers to drive
Specifications
2 tonearms
4 tubes: 2 ea. 12AX7/ECC83s and 2 ea. 12DW7/ECC832
Dual Mono
Controls on the back
4 transformers (2 upgraded MC step-up, 2 output)
True transformer floating ground balanced XLR outputs, 150 Ohms impedance
Maximum output level 8V RMS
Single Chassis
2 Internal linear regulated power supplies
10 MC load positions: 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000 Ohms
1 MM load position
2 Gain positions, MC and MC