Phasemation CM-1500 Hybrid Passive Preamplifier

Description

Planning Back Ground

Phasemation has been advocating the “Control Meister,” a hybrid passive preamplifier with no built-in active circuit, which is outstanding from the standard preamplifiers. In 2022, the CM-2200, a culmination of these efforts, was released with a +6 dB amplification function and has received much acclaim from both Japan and abroad.

In 2024, we will release its brother model, the CM-1500. The CM-1500 is equipped with Phasemation’s patented hybrid attenuator technology, making it possible to enjoy the pure playing of the “Control Meister.” The CM-1500 can be used in all kinds of situations, including high volumes played with today’s low-efficiency speakers and low-gain amplifiers used together.

New Functions for CM-2200

Equipped with a patented hybrid passive attenuator that delivers a very fresh sound

As well as CM-2200, CM-155 is equipped with Phasemation’s patented “Hybrid Passive Attenuator” that achieves the ideal preamplifier having high input impedance and low output impedance. This ideal design, which is a combination of taking only the pros of the resistive type and transformer type attenuators, plays a highly expressive sound with a high degree of clarity

A new development for balanced and optimally coiled attenuator for superior sound image localization

For the attenuator transformer, we adopted a balanced attenuator transformer with two attenuator windings for the HOT and COLD sides of the balanced connection coiled onto a single transformer. Furthermore, since there are two attenuator windings, the COLD side signal is generated inside the transformer even for an unbalanced input, enabling a complete balanced output. The balanced volume control circuit transformer produces excellent frequency and phase characteristics over a wide range, reduces phase distortion within the audible bandwidth, and above all, contributes to a clearer and sharper sound image localization

3 step gain switching (-10, 0, +6 dB) making any volume setting to be possible

The balanced attenuator transformer with +6 dB gain that was used in the CM-2200 is also adopted for CM-1500. The CM-1500 has three gain switching of +6dB/0/-10dB, which, in combination with the attenuator’s 23 contacting-points that can be changed within a range of 0 dB to -50 dB, allows even finer volume settings. The transformer winding structure has been re-examined to ensure a wide-range frequency response and guarantee impedance characteristics regardless of which combination is selected so that the CM-1500’s fine, clear sound image localization can be enjoyed at any gain level. The CM-1500 is now available at a price that makes it affordable for many people, due to improved productivity with the use of printed circuit boards and a simplified chassis structure.

Balanced/unbalanced outputs can be used at the same time

Three unbalanced (RCA) and two balanced (XLR) are provided for the input. Unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) are provided for the two outputs and the circuit design allows simultaneous outputs and therefore improves the flexibility of the system construction.

Core and winding materials of high performance reproducing a high low-range reality and a subtle high-range.

The core material of the transformer is the same “ultra-thin 0.1mm super malloy material” as used in the CM-2200 high-end model. The winding material also uses PC-TripleC polyurethane wire, which is the most suitable wire for audio materials to achieve excellent low-range linearity and subtle and relaxed high-ranged characteristics in combination with a large core.

Thoroughly eliminates external induced hums and unwanted vibrations to produce pure, blur-free sounds

The core material of the transformer is the same “ultra-thin 0.1mm super malloy material” as used in the CM-2200 high-end model. The winding material also uses PC-TripleC polyurethane wire, which is the most suitable wire for audio materials to achieve excellent low-range linearity and subtle and relaxed high-ranged characteristics in combination with a large core.

Adoption of parts for various high-quality that improves the expression in detail

All rotary switches are gold-plated, and the RCA terminals are machined brass and gold-plated having high quality and the XLR terminals are gold-plated terminals made by Neutrik, which contributes to the improvement of a thorough expression.