Silver Rock Toroidal Phono Amplifier

Silver Rock Phono Amplifier

 - By Jonathan Valin

High End Product Of The Year Awards For 2017 -

For Audio Consulting’s Silver Rock Toroidal Phono Amplifier

 - By Jonathan Valin

“This superbly crafted Swiss unit uses twin lead-acid battery power supplies (one for each channel) and twin, silver-wire, toroidal-core step-up transformers, followed by active solid-state circuitry
for RIAA and a toroidal-core output transformer, to generate 70dB of gain—quite enough, it would appear, to avoid the usual pitfall of transformer-based phonostages (to wit, dynamic compression). Though no fan of transformer-based phono preamps (or of units without capacitive loading) in the past, JV finds the Silver Rock to be an exception. Paired with CH Precision’s M1/L1 (or other high-qual- ity tube or solid-state electronics), the thing simply sounds like the absolute. While not quite as hard-hitting in the bass as phonostages without transformers, it is so neutral and natural in timbre ev- erywhere else, so extraordinarily high in detail, and so quick on transients JV doesn’t care. Nor should you. Perhaps the highest-resolution phono preamp JV has auditioned—and in the midband one of the most fool-you realistic—the Audio Consulting Silver Rock richly deserves the second of TAS’ 2017 Phonostage of the Year Awards. “ - Jonathan Valin -

Positive Feedback Award for Silver Rock Totoidal Phono Amplifier

The Silver Rock Phono was made available in 2003. It has been a very successful Phono stage that the press and many of our customers have accepted with great enthusiasm.

The basic topology was quite simple, while the complexity was included in the 4 inductive elements per channel.

MC step up at the beginning, followed by an active device including inductive RIAA crossover, and finally an output transformer, which together reached a comfortable 70 dB of gain @ 1KHz.

Over the last 5 years we have developed several products containing new toroidal core transformers (Mc step up, Meteor AVC, Mipa Reference).

We gained knowledge in this specific field and decided to improve the already excellent Silver Rock Phono Amplifier, replacing all 4 inductive elements with toroidal cores.

The power supply capacitors as well as the resistive elements were also improved while working on this “no compromise” Silver Rock Phono Amplifier.

We call it the:

“Silver Rock Toroidal Phono Amplifier”

Product Features:

• Solid state circuit
• Toroidal Silver Rock MC step-up transformer at the input using cryo silver wire
• RIAA equalization is achieved with resistors and toroidal silver wire inductors
• Toroidal Silver Rock output transformer using cryo silver wire
• Gain: 70 dB 
• Lead/acid batteries as power supply
• Very low production of heat
• Power consumption: idle 0.5 watt

Two from Audio Consulting: The SWGLA Preamplifier and Silver Rock Toroidal Phono

- Positive Feedback - by Marshall Nack -
" Infrequently, gear comes along that asks you to put aside the analytical side of your brain and just listen. The components from Audio Consulting do that. When the analytical retreats, music appreciation comes forward. The new SWGLA Preamp and Silver Rock Toroidal Phono Amplifier do things that you don't hear from other components. They reveal the kind of performance details and insights that conjure live sound.

This is not to short change how well they perform on the audiophile report card, with excellent grades across the board. But the Audio Consulting gear will obviously have greatest appeal to those who treasure musicality.

The Audio Consulting duo stimulated a pleasure factor, and all who heard it agreed: reproduced music should have that more often.

If the shoe fits (and you can afford it), there's no need to look further. Your search would likely be futile."
more..

 Silver Rock Toroidal Phono Amplifier in Green Maple cabinet

 "Stereo Times most wanted components 2012 - Silver Rock phono preamplifier

".... So far, with the Silver Rock in the system, it's been one of those "died and gone to heaven" type experiences. I can only imagine what the rest of his components would do. It's hard to believe folks that just starting out with battery-powered phono stage, could infuse this much magic into my own rig. Yes, and it's only the start! "  - Stereo Times  - ....more

	Test LP 4/2010
"Serge Schmidlin has built a sensationally good phono preamp. This is a phono preamp with almost magical properties of sound. " Article LP-Magazine 04/2010