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Kondo's
first-in-the-world silver wired MC step-ups have long
been received for their sound being quite natural. Today, over 20 years after
the coming out of CDs, it is interesting to see increased numbers of analog disc
listeners, who commonly wish and pursue higher grade of musicality.
The SFz was first introduced into the market in
Apr., 2001.
With KSL technology at the forefront,
Kondo
Audio Note Japan has developed a new epoch-making transformer
designed with an aim to reproduce higher sound quality with reality and accuracy
of original performance. Reproduction references have highly advanced from conventional standards.
Kondo KSL-SFz.
SILVER TRANSFORMER
"If core materials sound so much differently in comparisons, then the
material of coil would make the sound different, a simple
logic.
And I tried silver as a coil of transformer, first in
the world. The sound with this transformer was just
fabulous, far different from the former product, resulting
in a sound so clean and so pure, arousing the addiction to
listen.
As the core material, I have asked one of the
manufacturers to use sharp sound material.
Some may say it
is maniacal, but there are things that cannot be
explained in the field of electricity. The reason is because
sound is the world of mechanical vibrations." - Hiroyasu
Kondo, Audio Note Co., Ltd., Tokyo - Dec., 1998
TECHNOLOGY
MC transformers reveal a breathy air that charges the room -
this is due to a larger quantity of small-scale information.
In contrast, high gain phono stages tend to sound gray and
tight...not the way Kondo thinks music should be reproduced,
not the way in which Audio Note products are made to sound.
The MC cartridge is essentially a low voltage/current
generating device and the inductive-reactive, low DCR, MC
transformer is the perfect load.
The proportions of the music's energy are much better
preserved when a high-quality transformer is the load that
the cartridge "sees".
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The transformer load is the gentle bridge that allows the
most complete signal energy transfer. Another reason this
"gentle bridge" is so effective at reproducing small scale
information is that a properly designed transformer provides
an impedance match that minimizes reflections from the load
side of the cartridge/gain interface. Voltage loss of a
transformer is fundamentally 'zero' !
One of the most important aspects of MC transformer design
is the selection of core materials. High permeability (i.e.:
Superpermalloy/T-10) core materials are expensive and hard
to make. Due to their extreme permeability, these exotic
core materials make it very difficult to design quality
transformers.
The designer must carefully balance wide bandwidth with a
wide permeability ratio area. The shape or 'aspect ratio' of
the core must be experimentally derived and the final
results must be proven in listening tests under actual music
conditions.
Our tests have shown that 'E/I and L' type cores generate
local magnetic saturation due to their mechanical structure
with joints.
The resonance or 'beat' of a core material must also be
considered. Kondo has done much research on the resonant
character of core materials and construction.
When forming cores, permeability decreases by 50-60% if hard
press stamping is used. To regain permeability, hydrogen
annealing must be used. Kondo uses more advanced forms of
stamping, annealing, and finishing than any manufacturer in
the world.
Kondo KSL-SFz Specifications
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Type |
MC Step-Up Silver Transformer,
KSL silver-wound |
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Input Impedance
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1, 3, 40 ohms |
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Output Impedance |
4K ohms |
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Output Cable |
1m KSL-Vz output cable with AN-P |
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Size |
145H x 115W x 190D mm |
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Weight |
3.2 kg |
Kondo KSL-SFz
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For local customers, our UOB Credit Card Zero % Interest Free Installment
Plan available, 12 to 24 months !
