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MASSIMO FONOBRIO™

MAJOR FEATURES

  • Ultra-precise and rock-stable power supply with extremely low output impedance (16 milliohm). Hum and ripple at or below threshold of measuring equipment (< 1μV)
  • Isolation transformer, medical class IEC II, shielded with resonance damped stainless steel hood
  • Mains earth-free operation due to medical class II operation
  • Power factor correction
  • Mute function when unit is switched on or off
  • Mechanically decoupled chassis, providing an anti-microphonic environment for the sensitive electronics
  • Phono circuit boards hand-soldered with silver-content solder (1400 solder points)
  • Discrete, mirror-symmetric dual-mono circuitry in three gain blocks with ultra-linear ‘class A’ output stages. Each channel on a dedicated circuit board
  • RCA inputs symmetrical (tantamount to XLR connection)
  • Circuit board material of 6x better dielectric quality than standard epoxy boards
  • Ensemble RCA ALLINO™ jacks made of copper-tellurium, silver plated, gold plated
  • DC coupled output (AC coupled output can internally be activated, via Ensemble PROCAP™ capacitor)
  • Circuitry optimized for high linearity and very low distortion levels, allowing maximum signal resolution
  • Active/passive RIAA network for full high-frequency dynamics and precise equalisation across the entire audio frequency band
  • Wide frequency band operation and generous overload margins
  • Linear frequency curve with infrasonic 12 dB per octave taper (10 Hz -3 dB)
  • Separate inputs for MM and MC, with switch-activated mute for open input
  • Impedance loading for MC by means of gold-plated piano key (dip) switches, accessible from outside (16 values)
  • Custom positions on PCB for special impedance (MC) and capacitative (MM and MC) loading
  • Selectable gain for MC stage (24 dB = 16x and 30 dB = 32x) by external toggle switches for left and right channel
  • Output stage capable of driving low impedance loads (> 3 kohms)
  • Output level internally adjustable (to 75 % or 50 % of full output level)
  • Ultra-low noise transistors and resistors (0.1% precision ‘military grade’, low thermal drift) at critical points of circuitry for excellent S/N ratio, allowing use of (very) low output cartridges.
  • High-grade components selected for sonic quality, reliability, and precision e.g. 1% polystyrene capacitors, custom-made for FONOBRIO, ultra-low impedance Ensemble PROCAP™ electrolytic reservoir capacitors, ultra-fast soft-recovery diodes
  • Ensemble DYNALINK™ screened and FTP™ double insulated, double screened internal wiring
"…dispels the haze and acts as a revealer; our records seem to have been cleansed, even enhanced. The dynamics are meticulously traced, background noise becomes inaudible, and sounds in the background are magnified to the point where one rediscovers - and the phrase is not overused - one’s recordings, in the manner of a test pressing."
Vincent Cousin
DIAPASON 755
"The Ensemble Massimo Fonobrio serves as a blank canvas for any music played through it, more than any electronic component I can think of at this moment."
Eric van Spelde
hifi+ 249 and 250 (award page
"Considering the musical results obtained, it is one of the best MM/MC phono stages, even compared to much more expensive ones."
Bruno Castelluzzo
Haute Fidélité 257/2022

The MASSIMO FONOBRIO™ is radical and without compromise, taking things right to the technical limits and phono reproduction to a new level. It blows away the ground level mists that still blurred a last layer of information sitting in the ‘grooved landscape’. Spurred by the accolades the predecessor model FONOVIVO had received, the quest was on to unlock the last secrets of vinyl.

Taking leave from standard voltage regulators, the ultra-precise power supply is more than a thousand times quieter than a very good standard regulated design, ie hum and ripple are at the edge of the measuring range of even the best test equipment. The power supply further couples to the phono stage with an impedance so extremely low no accu-based design could ever have, making it ultra-fast and stable at the same time.

In addition, the MC stage as part of an equally uncompromising amplification design, consisting of three discrete, mirror-symmetrical, ultra-linear stages, has discrete ultra-low noise transistors, surrounded by ultra-precision, low-noise resistors.

The architecture consists of two separate boards, one for each channel. They are mounted decoupled from the chassis and are shielded from the power supply by a partition. The medical class isolation transformer is further screened by a substantial stainless steel cap mounted on dampers.

The sonic result is stunning. The room that opens before the listener immediately provides a new feeling. It is spacious and filled with crisp air, every object in it has a close-to-touch naturalness, and sounds emerge that must have been covered by a floor of noise before. All of a sudden things begin to move. The rhythm is intoxicating because every little inflexion can be followed. The energy released is incredible. Transients are lightning fast. The music is flowing without a sign of fatigue. And all this from a piece of vinyl…

The MASSIMO FONOBRIO™ is easy to operate, even though it is rich in features that will prove very useful. There is a separate (switchable) input for moving coil (MC) and moving magnet (MM) cartridges, and for the former there is a 4-pole dip switch accessible from the outside, allowing the configuration of 16 different load impedance values (for unusual cases there is even provision for a dedicated resistor to be inserted in the load circuit).External switches give the choice of doubling the output level in MC operation. Even the level of the output stage can be adjusted internally in three steps.

The MASSIMO FONOBRIO™ is a declaration of love to the gramophone as a guardian of musical treasures that stand little chance of becoming accessible again in today’s music market.

The totality of the many superlative technical features summarized below situate the MASSIMO FONOBRIO™ in a position apart from pure tube designs on the one hand and pure IC designs on the other, let alone designs using a step-up transformer for MC.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • 10 Hz – 85 kHz (-3 dB points)
  • 20 Hz – 20 kHz ±1 dB
  • Max. 9.5 VRMS
  • Phase correct
  • Tolerating low impedance loads of > 3 kohm
  • Output impedance < 100 ohm
  • MC 4 mV
  • MM 60 mV (= 23.5 dB overload margin)
  • MC 250 µV for 4 mV output : 24 dB gain setting
  • MC 125 µV for 4 mV output : 30 dB gain setting
  • MM 4 mV for 640 mV output : 44 dB gain
  • Total maximum gain (MC : 30 dB) : 74 dB
  • MC switchable between 16 values (51.7 ohm – 1 kohm)
  • MC in parallel with 2300 pF
  • MC custom value insertable internally
  • MM 47 kohms in parallel with 220 pF
  • MC better than –68 dB, referenced to 0.775 VRMS, unweighted
  • MC better than –74 dB, A weighted
  • MM better than –80 dB, referenced to 0.775 VRMS, unweighted
  • < 0.03%, MC input, 24 dB gain setting,
    Referenced to 0.775 mVRMS
  • 100 V 50-60 Hz
  • 115 V 50-60 Hz
  • 230 V 50-60 Hz
  • 2 x 0.1 A T / 250 V slow-blow for 100 – 230 VAC
  • 115 V neon light (Ba9s bayonet socket)
  • 395 x 315 x 138 mm (15.5″x 12.4″x 5.4″)
  • 550 x 430 x 350 mm (21.6″x 17″x 13.8″) boxed
  • 8.5 kg (18.5 lbs) net, 12 kg (26 lbs) shipping weight

2 years on parts with the exception of faults due to mishandling, unauthorized modification or overvoltage