Globe Audio Marketing

Audio Aero Logo

Passion for music is the reason why AUDIO AERO exists. Their slogan “Fly to the music” summarizes their area of France and their way of living, mixing art and the aerospace industry.

Influenced by the town of Toulouse, with an alliance of a long history and high technologies, they have developed a range of hybrid products with a special ability to reproduce very natural and realistic sound, always bringing out emotion from music.

As for amplification, they avoided conventional tube designs to turn towards a combined parallel triode/pentode system. After two years research, they perfected the match of these two in power and achieved the new power amplification concept called TRAC® system (Tube Relay Amplification Concept). This configuration allows an exceptionally natural musical reproduction.

As for digital, they are famous for the Capitole CD Player 24/192 which re-samples the CD digital signal to 24 bit / 192kHz, using their exclusive 32 bit / 192kHz S.T.A.R.S.® process developed for Audio Aéro by the Swiss company Anagram Technologies and featuring a subminiature tube output stage with a high quality IC attenuator. This unique player brings the audio CD to a new level of performance and represents the missing link between analogue and digital equipment, offering the flawless musicality of analogue and the advantages of digital support. Thus their saying,"Take the Redbook challenge!"

Capitole CD Player 24/192 received the “Reviewers Choice 2001” award by Soundstage!
"If you think digital, particularly CD, sounds dry and sterile, then listen to these players. They are as smooth, sultry and sweet as the finest analog and, quite simply, two of the best CD players I’ve heard. In fact, CD players like this don’t even have me wanting for DVD-A and SACD."

The Capitole CD player has been reviewed in many other publications also and is consistently mentioned with the best CD players in the world.

The Capitole has changed over the years with the introduction of preamplifier abilities, and the introduction of analogue inputs. It has recently been improved again with the introduction of the Capitole CD player Reference.

For those who do want their SACD, Audio Aero is now offering the Prestige two channel SACD player/preamp, with plans to add a multi-channel player with video capabilities in the near future.

Audio Aero Website: http://www.audioaero.com/

2 channel SACD/CD player with 24/192 STARS2 RE-sampling, analog tube output stage, volume control and analog inputs.

This player is dedicated to customers who want to focus on the audio aspect and are looking for a machine offering the best performance in digital and analogue treatment for SACD and CDs. The Prestige SACD player offers the highest quality level and is intended to be the source in a top-of-the -range audio system.

Based on the latest Philips SACD laser mechanism, digital signal is treated using our exclusive re-sampler featuring the DSD compatible STARS2 ® module. The incoming signal is re-sampled to 24/192, and in the case of SACD, DSD is first converted to PCM 88.2 kHz (high frequency noise suppression, 9dB S/N improvement) and then re-sampled to 24/192.

The output stage consists in sub-miniature tubes and a built-in IC ladder attenuator that provides constant quality whatever the setting and offers ultimate performance.

Moreover, the danger of emission and interference from a video section is eliminated, and the audio quality of the player is preserved for maximum pleasure and emotion

Frequency range (with SACD or 24/96 input): 3 Hz - 48 kHz (- 1dB)
Frequency range (with CD or 16/44.1kHz input): 5 Hz - 21 kHz (- 1dB)
Output voltage: up to 6 V RMS
Output impedance: 100 ohms
Signal to noise ratio: 127dB
Total harmonic distortion: 0,2 %
Read software: 16 bit / 44.1 kHz audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW

SACD mechanism on an aluminum sub chassis
Custom S.T.A.R.S. 2 process performing DSD to PCM conversion and 24 bit / 192 kHz RE-sampling
Jitter control software
Burr-Brown PCM1792 24 bit / 192 kHz Digital to Analog converter
6021W subminiature tube

Analog outputs: single-ended RCA and balanced XLR
Analog inputs: single-ended RCA and balanced XLR
Digital output: BNC
Digital inputs: BNC, RCA, AES/EBU, AT&T, TOSLINK
Chassis: 25/10 aluminum
Lid: 40/10 aluminum
Weight: 33 lbs.
Dimensions (W x L x H): 17.32 x 17.72 x 5.51 inches

Prestige Monoblocks represent the latest development of the exclusive TRAC® system (Tube Relay Amplification Concept).

Single-ended triode and high voltage pentode are matched to bring out the best of both worlds (musicality and low impedance for triode - power and efficiency for pentode). Far beyond classical single-ended designs, these reference mono blocks are able to reproduce music in an outstanding way, offering the most open, dynamic and realistic sound you’ve ever heard.

Indeed, this 40 W Class A special system allows single-ended to keep its body and magic, and enables higher speed, large bandwidth, incredible true soundstage, improved details and focus. Step forward and go to the exception.

Specifications:

Typical audio performance :

Frequency range : 15 Hz - 25 kHz (-1dB)
Output power : 40 W Class A / 8 ohms
Input impedance : 2,2 Kohms
Input sensitivity : 1,0 V
Rise time : 5 µs
Signal to noise ratio : 70dB
Total harmonic distortion : < 0,3 %

Power supply :

100 / 120 / 230 / 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz selected at factory. Voltage visible at the rear on the fuse drawer.
Power consumption (each block) : 300W

General :

Tubes : 6SN7GT, VT4-C, 813
Inputs : single-ended RCA
Outputs : gold plated five-way binding posts
Chassis and bottom plate : 15/10 steel
Upper plate : 30/10 polished stainless steel
Delivered with Black Diamond Racing Pyramid Cones
Weight (each) : 30kg. / 65.22 lbs.

Exclusive STARS® 32bitFP/192kHz processing for a 24bit/192kHz RE-sampling, subminiature tube output stage, digital input, remote volume control and analogue inputs.

Capitole CD Player Reference has been designed with the idea to equal the SACD and DVD performance.

This is the ideal player for discerning audiophiles with a huge CD collection and not willing to go for new digital formats.

First, we selected a high-end laser mechanism from Philips for its excellent playback performance, long lifetime, low play noise and long product life cycle. Supported by a specific aluminium suspension, its excellent readability allows to retrieving a maximum of CD’s data.

Then, we included the state-of-the-art in digital processing : our exclusive STARS ® process (Solution for Time Abstraction Re Sampling), a combination of very high speed 192 kHz RE-sampling (a new jitter free clock is created), 24 bit re-quantization and signal enhancement techniques (extraction of “hidden” information from 16 bit data, improvement of dynamic, precision, soundstage and details), developed for Audio Aero by Anagram Technologies SA.

The core of the system is a 32 bit SHARC DSP which, by performing hundred millions of calculations per second, rebuilds a high precision 24/192kHz signal, independent from the input clock, and keeping total dynamic range in all stages.

Then, after a 1024 times up-sampling on demand, D/A conversion is performed at 6.144MHz by a high performance 24 bit / 192 kHz DAC.

Analogue output stage features sub-miniature tubes and high precision buffer with built-in high quality volume control for a perfect match between high-tech digital treatment and musicality.

Capitole CD Player Reference has been designed with the idea to equal the SACD and DVD performance. This is the ideal player for discerning audiophiles with a huge CD collection and not willing to go for new digital formats.

Then, after a 1024 times up-sampling on demand, D/A conversion is performed at 6.144MHz by a high performance 24 bit / 192 kHz DAC.

Analogue output stage features sub-miniature tubes and high precision buffer with built-in high quality volume control for a perfect match between high-tech digital treatment and musicality.

Frequency range (with internal CD player and 16/44.1kHz input): 5 Hz - 21 kHz (- 1dB)
Frequency range (with 24/96 input): 3 Hz - 48 kHz (- 1dB)
Output voltage: up to 6 V RMS Output impedance: 100 ohms
Signal to noise ratio: 127dB
Total harmonic distortion: 0,2 %
Read software: 16 bit / 44.1 kHz audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW

Philips CDPRO2 mechanism on an aluminum / rubber suspension
Custom S.T.A.R.S. process performing 24 bit / 192 kHz RE-sampling
Jitter control software
Burr-Brown PCM1792 24 bit / 192 kHz Digital to Analog converter
6021W subminiature tube
Volume attenuator