The Voyage Begins!
Since we hired Electrical Engineer Mike Bettinger we have been asked about VPI's future in electronics. Mike is known for his award winning "Arion" phono, which is how we met him. Harry Weisfeld liked his phono so much he bought one for his personal use. Mike has taken what he learned combined it with the R&D resources and feedback of the VPI team and together has created a more affordable and robust flavor.
The goal of the Voyager is to create an easy phono option for music lovers getting involved in the VPI line. Voyager has been designed using VPI turntables and is naturally synergistic with our line. In addition, the Voyager gives customers who might own a different turntable brand a chance to join the VPI family through our phono preamplifier.
VPI's new Voyager phono preamplifier is the latest addition to the VPI product line and will retail for 2,500 USD.
The Voyager is a true high-performance design that provides both MM/MC gain and two input capability.
With a front panel selection of inputs and MC/MM gain and loading, tonearm and cartridge swaps are easily accomplished.
MM gain is 42db, loading 47K ohms; capacitive loading is selectable between 100pf, 200pf and 270pf.
MC gain is 62db with loading selectable between 100, 500 and 1K ohms.
Internal switching of gain and loading is accomplished using high reliability small signal relays.
The Voyager faceplate is interchangeable and could be swapped down the road with different finishes.
Circuit Overview:
The Voyager utilizes a two stage design: a JFET-based input stage providing the interface with the cartridge, and the gain and drive for the 75 microseconds passive equalization network that follows it. The second stage provides an additional 24db of gain and provides active feedback for tracking the low frequency portion of the RIAA curve.
Both stages are based on matched cascoded Linear Systems JFETS and are servo controlled. Cascode references are supplied by precision/ low noise reference devices.
The power supplies are unity gain voltage reference designs for fast response and low noise.
The circuit layout is a work of engineering art and the results of many years of study and experimentation.
The Voyager presents a sense of purity and low level detail resolution that is highly musical. The design is intentionally symmetrical and single-ended.
The Voyager is expected to ship in the USA early to mid-November, just in the time for the holidays. Shipping internationally first quarter 2018.
The Voyager will be on display both at the Capital Audio-fest show and at CES 2018.
