SOUND DESIGN DISTRIBUTION WELCOMES HALCRO TO THE UK
Sound Design Distribution, an independent UK distribution company specialising in premium audio systems, has signed a deal with Australian HiFi brand Halcro to offer its Eclipse ultra-low noise amplifiers to UK audiophiles.
HALCRO ECLIPSE AMPLIFIERS
Designed by physicist and audiophile Bruce Candy to challenge the theoretical lower limits of distortion, Halcro’s original DM58 amplifier was launched in 2001. After five generations of product evolution, Halcro’s Eclipse stereo and mono amplifiers embody twelve fundamental conceptual changes in circuit design.
PATENTED AMPLIFIER DESIGN
Protected by five international patents in areas covering aspects of Halcro’s unique power factor corrected power supply and amplifier topology, the Eclipse design uses substantial shielding and physical separation to isolate the power supply from the delicate audio circuitry, delivering Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) at less than 1000 parts per billion at full power
Elegant pillars house the power supply, an input amplifier section, power amplifier and output filter hide large heatsinks, which keep the system running at optimum temperature. Meanwhile, the solid casework panels provide acoustic isolation and damping to reduce vibration-induced distortion. All components used are industrial grade.
Twelve MOSFETS provide amplification – stereo 180/350W/ch 8/4 Ω, mono 300/550W/ch 8/4 Ω. Six-layer Printed Circuit Boards in the amplification stage are designed to isolate and shield functional areas, while substantial eddy current and electrostatic shielding is used throughout to reduce noise coupling. Elsewhere, the application of large capacitors delivers extremely low Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR), enabling faster response to the signal.
HALCRO’S UNIVERSAL POWER FACTOR CORRECTED
Halcro’s Universal Power Factor Corrected (UPFC) power supply has no toroidal transformer. It is a switching not a linear power supply, designed to improve power supply efficiency to allow for maximum power transfer from the mains to the amplifier while providing complete isolation from mains-borne noise. In addition, Halco tells us that the UPFC supply avoids inducing distortions onto the mains itself, protecting the performance of other HiFi components in the system.
HALCRO ECLIPSE AMPLIFIERS UK PRICING
Availability: April 2023
Typical retail prices (inc VAT):
Eclipse Stereo (powdercoat finish) – £40,000
Eclipse Stereo Signature (premium paint finish) – £46,000
Eclipse Mono (1 pair) – £60,000
Eclipse Mono Signature (1 pair) – £72,000
HiFi Pig Says: Some very high end and interesting amplifiers from Halcro to excite UK audiophiles!