The preamp/control unit is “the heart of any hi‐fi system”. Townshend told us: “The Allegri+ Passive Autotransformer preamp is a very small control unit with a very big heart”.

Max Townshend went on to explain further: 

“The nature of the transformer design eliminates the problems usually associated with resistive passive controls. At the zero dB setting the input signal is directly connected to the output.This means that the output impedance of The Allegri+ is the same as the output impedance of the source component”.

Further, the input impedance of The Allegri+ is equal to the input impedance of the  power amplifier at this setting.   At ‐6dB (output voltage half the input voltage), the input impedance of The Allegri+ is four times the  input impedance of the power amplifier and the output impedance of The Allegri+ is one quarter of  the source impedance. At ‐20dB (10 to 1), the input impedance of The Allegri+ is one hundred times the power amplifier impedance and the output impedance of The Allegri+ is one hundredth of the impedance of the source component. It is thus clear that the interconnect cable capacitance will have no effect on the  performance of The Allegri+”.

There are no coupling capacitors or active devices in the signal path in The Allegri + and there is no power supply. The Allegri+ Passive Autotransformer has a six position input selector, a mute switch and a 24 position volume control with intervals chosen to cover a wide range of volume levels in different  systems. Its autotransformers are wound with Townshend Audio Fractal‐Wire™ and laminated with ultra‐thin mU metal laminations. There are six pairs of gold plated stereo phono inputs and two pairs of outputs and a 3.5mm input jack on the front panel. The case is made of anodized aluminium.  Unlike many conventional passive controllers Townshend say that the Allegri+ matches the impedance requirements of source and amplifier.

DC coupled with no capacitors in the signal path.

There is a 5 year guarantee.

SPECIFICATION 

Frequency response:  8Hz‐100kHz +/‐ 0.1dB 

Maximum signal level:  4V RMS 8Hz; 10V RMS 20Hz

Maximum DC offset :  5mV. (For undistorted 8Hz)

Distortion: Less than 0.01% at 400Hz, 10V (2nd and 3rd harmonic only)  Input impedance: Is dependent upon the load impedance and gain setting.

Inputs: 6 pairs of phono sockets (gold plated), one 3.5mm stereo socket on front panel.

Outputs: 2 pairs RCA phono sockets (gold plated)

Width: 135mm (5,3in)  Height:     53mm (2.1in)  Depth:      326mm (12.8in) 

Weight: 2.0kg (4.4lb) 

 

 

 

 

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