Acute Ear-ing from Tim De Paravicini
The Acute CD player is Tim de Paravicini’s first foray into digital territory. While it starts life as an Arcam CD player, it utilizes nothing of the original machine except the transport and the excellent Wolfson, 24/96 upsampling DAC.
Everything beyond the DAC (except the display) is of Tim de Paravicini’s design, including the filters and the output stage. One thing that makes the player unusual is the fact that the filters are analog, not digital.
Another is the transformer-coupled tube output stage as in EAR pro audio equipment, using 2 x PCC88 tubes . This allows true floating balanced output as well as identical quality unbalanced line out by RCA connectors. A third is the fact that it has enough gain (maximum output is 5v) to drive a power amplifier directly, with the front-panel volume control (also analog).
The Acute CD player offers both true balanced and single-ended analog outputs, and both coaxial and optical digital outputs.
Front panel style is 19in rack style or 17in chrome with gold knob and buttons.
