Sound Design Distribution adds Halcro luxury Hi-Fi amplifiers

UK distribution company Sound Design Distribution has signed a deal with Halcro to offer its ultra-premium Eclipse ultra-low noise amplifiers, exclusively to UK music lovers.

Designed by physicist and audiophile Bruce Candy, Halcro’s original DM58 amplifier was launched in 2001. Since then they have heralded five generations of conceptual changes in amplifier circuit design.

SDD will offer four iterations of the Halcro Eclipse: two cosmetic versions of the Eclipse Stereo, plus the Eclipse Mono and the Eclipse Mono Signature.

Five international patents protect aspects of Halcro’s unique power factor corrected power supply and amplifier topology included in the unique Eclipse design, which uses substantial shielding and physical separation to isolate the power supply from the delicate audio circuitry. This is said to deliver Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) at less than 1000 parts per billion at full power (versus 200,000 parts per billion from nearest competitors).

Within this ultra-low distortion environment, Eclipse aims to maintain the phase coherence of the signal source, preserving the relative timing of various notes or tones within a musical piece.

All components used are industrial grade. Solid casework panels provide acoustic isolation and damping to reduce vibration-induced distortion, while twelve MOSFETS provide amplification, stereo 180/350W/ch 8/4 Ω, mono 300/550W/ch 8/4 Ω, allowing the amplifiers to drive all loudspeaker loads.

Six-layer Printed Circuit Boards in the amplification stage are designed to isolate and shield functional areas, while substantial eddy current and electrostatic shielding is used throughout to reduce noise coupling. Elsewhere, the application of large capacitors delivers extremely low Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR), enabling faster response to the signal and resulting in a more natural sound.

Halcro’s Universal Power Factor Corrected (UPFC) power supply has no toroidal transformer. It is a switching power supply, said to improve power supply efficiency to allow for maximum power transfer from the mains to the amplifier while providing complete isolation from mains-borne noise. In addition, Halco’s UPFC supply avoids inducing distortions onto the mains itself, protecting the performance of other hi-fi components in the system.

The Eclipse Stereo (with powder coat finish) sells for £40,000, while the Eclipse Stereo Signature (with premium paint finish) is £46,000. One pair of Eclipse Mono amplifiers is £60,000, while a pair of Eclipse Mono Signature are priced at £72,000.

For more visit  sounddesigndistribution.co.uk.