Chapter Preface-S Stereo Preamplifier

Retail $8,495 CAD

(with Nevo remote)

Silver or black finish

Contact us for sale price

Product Manual

Brochure

The Chapter Preface Pre-Amplifier is a new ‘state of the art’ audiophile two-channel line stage pre-amplifier that has evolved from the acclaimed Preface and latterly Preface Plus pre amplifier launched in 2003 and 2006 respectively. The Pre-amp features a number of new design features along with scrupulous attention to technical detail. Our objective is to provide a product capable of great musicality and realism whilst boasting exemplary technical specifications. By bringing together engineers and designers with a lifetimes experience in audio and power system design we believe this objective has been more than achieved.

The Chapter Preface is able to handle all of today’s high-resolution sources, with the fidelity that you would expect of any Chapter product. Our goal, as always, is to produce a true reference quality line stage. A product that can be held in the highest regard from both objective and subjective perspectives.

After several years of research and development, we believe that we have succeeded in fulfilling the requirements of even the most discerning audiophile.

Design Features

Finest Part Selection: The Preface uses the best sounding OPAMPS from Burr Brown. All electrolytic capacitors are all ultra low ESR Samwha or Panasonic Gold series. On the power supply we use the finest sounding regulators our own custom screened mains transformers. At Chapter we also use the finest full immersion gold Printed Circuit Boards and ‘Melf’ surface mount precision resistors.

Wide bandwidth: This is important in preserving the vital H.F. phase information essential to stereo sound staging and realism. The output stage was designed specifically for its speed of response, further improved by a high-speed differential input stage. Frequency compensation of the pre-amplifier is achieved in such a way as to allow excellent phase and gain margin into complex amplifier loads without compromising high frequency phase or power bandwidth.

Balanced ground layout: Cancels the ground currents that can cause Inter-modulation distortion and crosstalk in a conventional stereo design.

Full Immersion Gold Printed Circuit Boards: Audio signals travel on gold track. As you would imaging, compared to copper and gold plate this is a very expensive to manufacture, but the sonic benefits are hugely tangible in terms of space, air and dynamics.

Custom Designed Differential Volume Control: At Chapter we auditioned many different volume pots, all of which had their own traits. Instead of designing electronics to counter the sonic signature of any particular pot, we have designed our own, using a series of precision resistors and relays. This gives us unprecedented levels of resolution with complete volume repeatability.

Large Very Low Noise PSU: The heart of the pre-amplifier, where digital, analogue and control power supplies are derived from a custom made 400VA transformer, utilizing cascaded super regulators and banks of Low ESR capacitors.

Specifications

THD + N:

Less than 0.0006% (-104dB) at 1KHz. 22Hz to 22KHz bandwidth

Less than 0.003% (-90dB) at 1KHz. 10Hz to 500KHz bandwidth

IM Distortion:  Better than -115dB (19+20KHz dual tone test - 1 KHz product at 1V input)

Signal to Noise:

Better than -110dB (22Hz to 22KHz bandwidth.

Better than -95dB (10Hz to 500KHz bandwidth.

Frequency response:  DC to 90KHz +0 - 0.1dB (Driving 100K ohms, 85KHz driving 600 Ohms)

Cross talk (channel to channel):  -120dBv at 1KHz, -110dB at 20KHz, -100dB at 100KHz 1V RMS input

Cross talk (Phono to Tape):  -100dB at 1KHz, -90dB at 20KHz, -90dB at 100KHz 1V RMS Input

Common mode rejection ratio:  Less than -90dB (1kHz @ 0dBV)

Gain range Minimum to maximum:  -86dB to +12dB

Audio inputs

Impedance (unbalanced) 47K Ohms

Impedance (balanced) 94K Ohms

Audio outputs

Impedance (unbalanced) Less than 10 Ohms.

Impedance (balanced) Less than 10 ohms.

Input sockets

2 pairs of XLR for balanced line operation

5 pairs of RCA Phono for single ended operation

Output sockets

1 Pair of XLR for Balanced Line operation.

1 Pair of RCA for unbalanced operation.

1 Pair of RCA for unbalanced line monitor operation.

Finish:  Fully bead blasted, anodized aluminum alloy casework.

Power on/off:  Switch and indicator. IEC mains input socket .

Weight:  Approx. 20 Kg

Size: 390 x108 x300 mm (WxHxD) approx.

Note: Although the information given is in good faith, Chapter Electronics reserves the right to improve specifications and details without notice.