Versatile
The Emperor Preampflier is part of our new Emperor Extreme range of high-end audiophile electronics
It has been designed to provide a perfect match with the Emperor Extreme stereo and Emperor Extreme mono power amplifiers. Careful selection of the input impedances and sensitivities, as well as the output impedances and levels, ensures that it will also work well with good quality power amplifiers from other makers.

3 balanced and 3 unbalanced inputs are provided per channel, allowing flexibility for use in a wide range of system configurations. Each channel also has 2 balanced and 2 unbalanced outputs, making it easy to use in multi-amp systems.

Technical excellence
The signal path is totally discrete and the design is fully balanced throughout for optimum noise rejection
The design’s very wide bandwidth provides exceptional transparency and resolution.

High voltage power supply rails ensure a very wide dynamic range.

The volume control uses a sophisticated relay-switched resistor network design, allowing precise adjustment with very accurate channel balance. This also gives the volume control stage a constant input and output impedance, which prevents the changes in sound quality that can occur at different settings with simpler designs.

The heart of an amplifier is the power supply, so great care was taken with the design to ensure that it would be able to provide the audio section with a source of power that was as stable and noise free as possible.

The preamplifier’s incoming mains power is not routed through the power switch, as these can have a detrimental effect on the sound. Instead, this switch supplies power to the standby circuit and when the front panel On button is pressed, this turns on a high-current relay which connects the mains source to the unit’s power supply.

The power supplies for the audio and control sections have their own independent toroidal power transformers. These were chosen for their low external magnetic fields. To reduce this further, they are housed in their own screened enclosures.

High quality power supply capacitors are used with additional decoupling capacitors located physically as close as possible to where they are needed in the circuit.

Great care was also taken with the internal grounding to prevent the introduction of noise.

Dynamic range
140dB

Signal to noise ratio
-103 dB A
Ref 2V, A weighted
Input XLR, output XLR

Signal to noise ratio
104 dB A
Ref 2V, A weighted
Input RCA, output RCA

THD + Noise
0.001% @ 2kHz output (22Hz to 22kHz)

Maximum output voltage
20V into 600Ω

Frequency response
0.5Hz-95kHz (-3dB) @ 2V output

Controls
Source select
Volume
Ground lift
Display on/off

Pre-amp inputs
RCA x 3 pairs
XLR x 3 pairs

Pre-amp outputs
RCA x 2 pairs
XLR x 2 pairs

Supplied accessories
Infra red remote control

Other information
Trigger input & output for remote operation
Custom cable used for internal wiring

Finish
Silver anodized aluminium

Dimensions
474 mm W x 160 mm H x 474 mm D

Weight
30kg

Warranty
5 years

As part of our process of continually improving our products, we reserve the right to change specifications without notice.