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Amplifiers

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY   Conventional amplifiers have serious problems when forced to drive electrostatic loudspeakers. Roger Sanders has developed the first amplifier specifically designed to drive these unusual speakers. •    . Conventional amplifiers have serious problems when forced to drive electrostatic loudspeakers. Roger Sanders has developed the first amplifier specifically designed to drive these unusual speakers.   Electrostatic loudspeakers (ESLs) are very different from conventional magnetic speakers and place unusual and difficult demands on the way amplifiers deliver power to them.   A magnetic speaker presents a resistive/inductive load to an amplifier, while an ESL appears mostly as a capacitor.   We have developed both the ESL amplifier and the Magtech amplifier to meet these demands. Our pre-amplifier has been designed to match the faceplates of our amplifiers.

Amplifier and Preamplifier in Silver

 

 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ESL AMPLIFIER AND THE MAGTECH AMPLIFIER?

 

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 Both the ESL and Magtech amps use the same special amplifier modules that Roger designed to drive electrostatic speakers.  The difference between the two is that ESL amps use a conventional, free-floating, unregulated power supply while Magtech amps use Roger's unique, 100% efficient, linear, regulated power supply.  
 
Magnetic speakers draw tremendous current from an amplifier and that causes the internal power supply voltages to fluctuate dramatically in response to the music (typically by about 30%).  This reduces the power from the amp and causes the distortion and bias to be modulated by the music.
 
A regulated power supply maintains stable internal voltages at all times.  This is a tremendous improvement over a free-floating power supply.  All amplifiers should use regulators, but virtually none do because their designers have not figured out how to make a powerful regulator that doesn't waste vast amounts of heat.  Our regulator is unique in that it runs cold and wastes no heat.  So we offer virtually the only regulated power supply amplifier on today's market.
 
Electrostatic speakers operate on voltage, not current.  So they don't cause major fluctuations in the internal voltages like magnetic speakers do.  But they will still cause some voltage modulation and mains voltage is not stable either.  So even electrostatic speakers will benefit from an amplifier with a regulated power supply.

A regulated power supply will provide the best performance, so most of our customers (even our electrostatic speaker customers) opt for the Magtech. We  keep the ESL amp in our line-up because it costs less than a Magtech and so represents a tremendous value.  So those customers for whom money is a major concern, use the ESL amp instead of the Magtech.
 
In summary, the Magtech amp is the best for all speakers because it not only has the electrostatic amplifier modules, but it also includes a regulated power supply.  So unless money is a major concern where the value of the ESL amp is essential, Roger recommends the Magtech.

 

Analog Preamplifier

Price: $5,000

The preamplifier is the control center of your system. This preamplifier is designed to provide the finest and most transparent acoustic performance available while increasing the value to our customers. Specifically, the new Sanders Preamplifier combines the performance and features of our previous Line Stage and Phono preamps into one.

 

Click to enlarge Our previous preamps (line stage and phono) were $4,000 each, for a total cost of $8,000 for our customers who needed a phono preamp.  Since both preamps are now combined, customers who need a full-function preamp can now save several thousand dollars as the new preamp sells for half the price of the previous two. Additionally, more modern circuit design technology has reduced distortion and noise figures from those in the earlier preamps.  The styling has been redesigned to better match our amplifiers.  A video processor pass through also is included in the new preamp.  All the previous ergonomic and performance features of the earlier preamps have been retained.

The goal of a true audiophile grade preamplifier is to offer gain, switching, and other conveniences, while at the same time passing the original signal downstream without adding distortion, noise, or a sonic signature of its own.  The Sanders Preamp does exactly that but includes many ergonomic features for convenience and ease of use that are not available on even far more expensive preamps. The levels of each individual input can be adjusted to get them all matched so that you don't get "blasted" or have to turn up the main level each time you switch sources.  A stereo/mono switch remains standard equipment.  The overall gain, individual gain between devices, and channel balance can be adjusted in precise, 1 dB increments.  Muting by remote control is standard.  A video readout makes it easy to monitor the levels. Controls are available both by remote control and on the front panel.  Front panel controls are done through micro-touch electronic switches.  Internal switching is done by miniature, sealed, gold relays.  Conventional rotary volume controls have channel matching error of around 20%, which causes the left/right balance to shift as you change the level.  To solve this problem, some preamp manufacturers use discrete, precision resistors on a multi-step switch.

 

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While this solves the channel tracking problem, they introduce new ones.  Specifically, they have very limited resolution due to too few steps (typically 31 steps of 2 dB each).  These "stepped attenuators" produce very annoying switching transients at each step. The Sanders Preamp solves these problems by using the "volume control" knob to drive an optical comparitor circuit.  The optical circuit operates a microprocessor that controls an electronic gain system.  This controls the level using one hundred, one dB steps, with precision of greater than 0.1% between channels. The microprocessor monitors the signal voltage and waits for it to cross the zero voltage point between waves before switching to the next level.  This prevents any switching transients. The volume control knob has detents at each 1 dB point and it rotates continually.  So it as an infinite number of detents and you can feel each 1 dB change in level. There is a digital display with beautiful, blue, light emitting diodes (LEDs).  The display continually shows the output level of the unit and switches automatically to show level differences between channels, when you adjust the balance, or when you adjust the input levels.  You no longer have to guess at the levels or try to see fine gradations on a knob to know the levels, since you can see them from several feet away.

Most components come with a remote control transmitter that only controls that particular component.  Therefore you end up adding that remote transmitter to the pile of remotes you have for all your other electronics. Rather than contribute to "remote clutter", the Sanders Preamp comes with a programmable remote that can be used to operate all your components.  You will then no longer have to dig through a pile of remotes every time you want to adjust something in your audio/video system. The phono preamp offers exceptional flexibility and features, including virtually all the features of the most expensive, dedicated phono preamps.  These include switchable gain for both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, and user-adjustable cartridge loading for both resistance and capacitance so that users can match their cartridge manufacturer's specifications for optimum performance.  The phono circuit has the benefit of extremely low distortion and an ultra-quiet noise floor. Click to enlarge

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 SPECIFICATIONS OF PREAMPLIFIER 

Service and Support

 

Sanders Sound Systems Manuals 

  Model 10b Speakers

  Model 10c Speakers

 Model 10e Speakers

  Programming Crossover for 10C Speakers

  ESL Mark II Amplifier

Analog Preamplifier

Digital Preamplifier

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LMS Essential Adjustments (click image to view video)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assembling 10e Speaker System (click image to view video)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sanders Sound Systems Legacy Products Manuals

 Phono Preamplifier

 Line Stage Preamplifer

Sanders electronics are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns them.

The warranty applies only to the original owner. It is non-transferable.

During this period, Sanders will, at its option and without charges, either repair any part or assembly of parts that is found defective in material or workmanship or replace the product with one of comparable quality, subject to the following limitations and exclusions:

This warranty shall not apply to any product which has been subject to misuse, abuse, modification, negligence, or accident.To obtain warranty service, the owner need only contact the factory using the information below. The owner is responsible for paying shipping costs to return the faulty component to the Sanders factory.

Sanders Sound Systems
12054 Deer Trail Road
Conifer, CO 80433
Phone: (303) 838-8130
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.sanderssoundsystems.com

 

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Innersound Legacy Products Manuals

 

ESL MK II Monoblock Amplifier

 

 

Price: $12,000 pair

  

The Sanders Sound Systems ESL amp is now available as a Monoblock power amplifier. Performance is similar to the ESL amplifier with the exception of dramatically increased power output capability! As with the Sanders Sound Systems ESL amplifier, the ESL Monobloc offers superb build quality, superlative sonics with extremely high output capability.

 

FEATURES

• The quality of construction is typical of the finest components made today

• All exterior and interior aluminum parts are anodized. Steel parts are powder-coated

• Resistors are high reliability, precision metal film, 1% tolerance.

• Capacitors are of the highest quality, and none are used in the signal path.

• Connectors are gold plated. Both balanced and unbalanced connectors are standard.

• Wire has been eliminated wherever possible. Where wire is necessary, it is silver-plated copper, 141 strand, 18 gauge, with silicone insulation.   

SPECIFICATIONS OF ESL MONOBLOCK AMPLIFIER

 Speakers and Electronics are manufactured in Conifer, Colorado.