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The HE series products had the longest term of design and test in audio-gd history . Even though audio-gd had release the regenerative power supply products since 2006, and Mr. Kingwa had publish the article in the magazine explain the technology detail .
The HE series products had finished the design in the New Year of 2014 , we were plan to release them in the date of audio-gd 10 anniversary , but for got the best sound quality and performance, we have even 3 times change the full design for made the compare, and compare different power frequency and voltage, create the longest design term record.
The HE series products have better detail and dynamic reproduce ,blacker backstage ,better focus and larger sound stage , but the sound is better analog .
The right saddle must is set on the right horse ,if you had not enough good system units, and had not enough cable match experiences, don't waste the money on HE series products.
Please note the HE series products are upgrade from Master series, even though the price had a big rate increased but the sound quality had not same rate improved.
The different between HE-1 and HE-9 : The HE-1 is a decent preamp , HE-9 is a preamp with headphone amp, their sound quality is close, if customers want the headphone output, choice the HE-9 is proper.
Audio-gd products had design and test based on the AP SYS-2722 (The top-drawer professional equipment in world)
        
Built in regenerative power supply
Uses three R-core transformers (In total 260W ) and more than 100,000uf audio grade NOVER capacitors are used to ensure ample and smooth power delivery.
Separate class A PSUs power supply for regenerative drivers and audio signal amps .
Fully balanced class A Non- feedback ACSS analog design built by discrete analog stages without any OPA or coupling caps in the signal path.
Four-channel 100 steps digitally controlled relay-based volume control avoids channel imbalance and improves sound quality.
Supper Exponential Volume Characteristic, easy match the volume with different power amp and speaker .
5 analog inputs: RCA X2, XLR X2, ACSS X1 ( Even with RCA or XLR inputs, the output still had ACSS aviable)
3 outputs: XLR / RCA / ACSS
Static storage mode control software for avoid disturb sound quality , the MCU output once control data and save in the perform parts ,then stop output data until users next operation.
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Detail of the Current Conveyor Technology
What's the regenerative power supply :
While audio is life , the Power supply is water , Pure water create the wonderful life ,clean power supply reproduce the beautiful sound .
The regenerative power supply like a proprietary electric generator built in the unit.
It can block most disturb from the power line , supply the ultra clean power supply for the audio amps , reproduce the most neutral and analog sound like audio signal for the system and the users.
In the regenerative power supply design, the AC power through the regenerative input transformer , conversion to DC power ,through the class A PSUs power supply for the regenerative wave generator and driver stages .
A balance regenerative regular wave generator produce the ultra low distortion 50Hz wave ,through the balance gain amps and the strong output stages , drive the regenerative transformers produce the clean AC power supply feed to the separate class A PSUs power supply for the L and R channel preamps .
The class A parallel connection PSU has very high input impedance to avoid disturb through the PSU from affecting the signal parts and low output impedance with very fast speed and high linear, it is a very clean power supply.
Audio-gd on the regenerative power supply design points :
1, Through analyzed the AP SYS-2722 , full analog design of the regular wave generator have much lower distortion than the digital generator.
2, Digital drive stages have higher efficiency , but full analog drive stages have much better analog sound like .
3, 400Hz regenerative wave have higher efficiency , 50Hz regenerative wave had much far away the human ears sensitivity area than the 400Hz, boost the sound have much better analog sound like.
ACSS:
HE-1 is a true balanced design applying the newest ACSS design which can improve the XLR connection to sound as good as the ACSS connection. The HE-1 seem complex , but in fact they are the most simple design the world has ever had , their a lot components to process the power supply. The simplest and shortest signal journey brings out the most neutral and least colored sound.
HE-1 applies ultra-low distortion single stage ACSS amplifier , an OPA already had built in two stages amplifier. they are soldered directly on the motherboard.
The ACSS is a non-feedback technology made with discrete amplifiers. Most people know the global feedback design can offer better specs in test measurements, and non-feedback can't do well in test measurements but can offer better sound for the human's ears. Here is a conflict of the classic circuits.
But the ACSS opens a new field, it can offer a least coloration sound which is more neutral with very low distortion and high linearity. So it can retain the dynamics, detail and neutral sound but not sound bright or harsh.
All signal gain is in current area, all transistors work in class A mode and applies class A power supplies.
The XLR /RCA output buffers are Non-feedback, for low impedance, we applied a two-stage parallel connection, the output impedance is only 10 ohms.
HE-1 has all components of four channels exactly matched before installation.
Volume control:
The volume control is also different from conventional technology. Conventional volume control technology is the volume control implement in the analog amp input stage through a volume pot to reduce the signal . The volume pots quality effect the sound quality direct , the low quality volume pot cause lost the detail and channels imbalance cause the soundstage distortion . Even the high performance volume pot ,in the attenuation then gain the signal mode ,still cause the detail lose and cause the S/N worst .
In the HE-1 , we applied the I/V conversion volume control , the volume control just a variable passive I/V conversion place at the ACSS amp output , where the output is the current signal, not the voltage signal. The volume control is I/V conversion, and the volume depends on the current (I) conversion to the voltage (V). (Like R-2R D/A chips output passive I/V conversion) It can keep the signal frequency band flat and not lost any detail. It can't degrade on sound quality in every volume level . After the volume , there are four groups FET non-feedback buffer output stages offer the very low output impedance .
The volume control quality is much important in the real balance gear . It must guarantee the four channels signal control exact to achieve the performance of the real balance gear . If the cool and hot of the balance signal can't guarantee exact, the balance output will has large distortion cause the sound quality and performance even much worst than a single end gear , waste the balance gear design and the cost.
In HE-1 is applied a four channels digital control relays based volume control, through changing the DALE resistors to control the volume for avoid channels imbalanced ,achieve the best performance and sound quality of the gear.
HE-1 have 100 steps volume control, applied Supper Exponential Volume Characteristic, easy match the volume with different power amp and speaker .While change the volume, the different relays break or close, it may had slightly switch sound on output and disappear while stop change the volume.
Supper Exponential volume characteristic The Volume steps comparison to normal volume knob
 
Shield:
HE-1 has complete separation of left, right amplifier channels, regenerative drivers and transformer, even the 230V / 120V power input lines had shield in the two thick aluminum boards .
HE-1 uses heavyweight all-aluminum chassis to prevent the eddy current of transformers from interfering on circuit board.
Components:
Uses all audiophile grade components, including DALE resistors, WIMA caps, custom order NOVER (UK brand) caps, all audiophile grade input & output sockets (Neutrik ) and gold IEC socket. HE-1 all parts of four channels had exact match before install.
Static storage mode control software:
In most control softwares design, the MCU will continuously output data to the perform parts , the MCU had the very high speed, so the output data become high frequency impulses disturb the audio signal circuits make the sound worst . This product had applied static storage mode control software , the MCU output once control data and save in the perform parts while just power on and users operate ,then stop output data until users next operation. This design make the sound quality improve on the clear and transparency .
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