ASR Emitter II Exclusive - Musical Sounds

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100amplifier integratedAll who appreciatemusic signalsensure they getgood amplification.Those wholove them transformthem in ahigh-end Germanstronghold into asurge of emotion.By Johannes MaierSackcloth and ashes,” muttered eventhe most hard-nosed testers as theEmitter II Exclusive was placed down onthe listening room table. Or to be moreprecise, the huge acrylic glass unit flankedby heat sinks with the actual amplifierand the solid brass control knobs onthe front. Split into three plate steel units,the power pack, which provides the supplyvia power lines as thick as your thumband weighty contacts, was on the floor– positioned at a distance of two metres,which any interfering magnetic fieldswould be unlikely to bridge.Made by ASR (Audio Systeme FriedrichSchäfer – the R stands for co-founderMichael Rompf, who has since movedon to motorbikes) of Herborn in the Germanstate of Hessen, the Emitter II Exclusivecertainly looks stunning. However,it is not just its outer appearance thatmakes it so fascinating. Even the maincircuit board’s finely engraved, goldplatedconductor tracks show that it’s thecombination of might and delicacy thatgets you so deeply hooked. And althoughin its test in stereoplay way backin 1985 (thus over a quarter of a centuryago) the far simpler pre-predecessor, theEmitter I, succeeded in becoming thefirst integrated amplifier to be rated absolutelytop class, even the most addictedfan can scarcely judge how much experiencethe current ASR flagship has incorporatedwithin it today.Yet, Friedrich Schäfer, who constantlyexchanges ideas and experiences withhis customers, never let himself be ledby the audiophile scene’s know-alls ordogmatists. Whenever, for example, thepower and other connecting cables beingused, despite all efforts to prevent it,nevertheless have a certain influence onthe sound, he and his employees keptsearching for the optimum in conductorshape, profile and shielding, as well asfor the best balance between inductivityand capacity, until listening tests showedthat the electron slip could not be increasedany more.While it already took countless sessionsuntil the signal conductor gui- >In addition to theelectrolytic capacitorsin the mainspower units, theamp itself also hasmassive currentstorage capacity:4 x 4,700microfarads forthe drivers and48 x 10,000 forthe two poweramps.ASR Emitter IIExklusiveThe ‘On’ button is used toselect standby or operatingmodes 1 or 2. In mode 1 andwith the volume set relativelylow (users can define theirown limit) the Emitter poweramps run in energy-savingstyle at half operating voltage.In mode 2 the two highpowermains units constantlydeliver their full potential.
102amplifier integratedThe power ampmains unitsThe input rechargeablepower pack mainsunitThe mains voltage reaches the relaysvia a 10-amp fuse, provided forextreme emergencies. Dependingon whether the system is in energysavingor permanent high-voltagemode, the relays connect differentof the large transformers’ primarywindings. Groups of Schottky diodeswith a low switching peak provide asecondary rectifying function.Although the total of six Panasoniclead gel rechargeable batteriesare not able to provideanything other than clean current,ASR still gave each channeltwo iron-core inductors, six33,000-microfarad electrolyticcapacitors and WIMA film capacitorsfor further purification.When the system is not playingout audio, a mains transformerrecharges the batteries via adigital electronic regulator.de system assisted by shielded conductorsurfaces was cracked, the thicknessof the copper was also increased fromoriginally around 50 to 150 micrometres.And because it gave pleasure to bothears and eyes, a generous coating ofpure gold, costing over €40, was alsoadded. It is no wonder that ASR addslots of silver to its flow soldering bathand, where they are needed in criticalplaces (for example, for connecting theCD2 and CD3 balanced inputs), the onlywires that come into question are puresilver ones with Teflon insulation.However, it is still a just a case of minortweaks, as essentially the rarely satedyearning of amplifier stages for multiple,abundant and completely pure provisionof power drove up the costs. Thus thetwo stereo channels and the power ampson both sides, the drivers and the inputIC each get their feed served from theirown big kitchen.In the case of the latter, it is not justenough to provide princely nourishmentand theoretically the available powercould even vaporise the unit in a flash.Nevertheless, it was not until using arechargeable power pack, ergo the mostpulse-rich of all sources, that Schäfer undCo. began to explore the best possiblein auditory spaciousness and lack of noise.For the Emitter II Exclusive they thereforebuilt a production version with atotal of six Panasonic lead gel rechargeablebatteries, plenty of additional filteringelectrolytic capacitors and grand chargingelectronics.This gives the remaining amplificationcircuits far from any reason to complain.In one steel cabinet each for right andleft channels two 700-watt transformersshare the responsibility for the positiveand negative voltages. After rectificationusing fast-switching Schottky diodes (inorder to increase the current propensity,ASR always jump straight to switching acouple in parallel), plus purging and stockingup using eight 33,000-microfaradand four 4,700-microfarad electrolyticA connectivity option (centre) keeps main DC offsets away from the Emitter.capacitors, what then comes out is +/-90volts for the drivers and +/-80 volts forthe power amps.Yet even more than the quantity, it isthe quality of the components that thehigh ender admires. The transformercores, for example, are made of expensivepanels procured from Switzerlandand cut in a design named after the physicistbrothers Bernhard and Karl Philbert.In contrast to run-of-the-mill iron statorswith EI lamination, with the Philbert coresa relatively small gap is closed using awedge. They thus offer rounder magneticflow and improved power storagecapacity (especially compared to ringcores).Other manufacturers would, incidentally,never consider using the terriblyexpensive blue Vishay BComponentselectrolytic capacitors in a product forthe consumer market. Schäfer, nevertheless,uses these long-lasting and fastpulsedelectric energy stores unapologeticallyby the dozen.Thus the technician can turn – with noworries at all about the power supply – tothe actual emitter switching. It beginswith five high-level phono inputs and twoadditional balanced ones, the si- >Emitter familyStill young at heartIt was as long as 25 years ago thatthe ASR I, launched at a price of3,000 marks and with two mainstransformers in a separate unit,picked up its first test victory. Significantlyit was in the same edition(August 1985), in which stereoplayfirst described the distortion theoryin an article entitled ‘Dem Klang aufder Spur’ (On the trail of sound).The ASR fitted wonderfully into thepicture of regular and quickly declining‘warm’ harmonics. The EmitterII Exclusive now delivers distortioncharacteristics of unbeatable quality.And this is true of the entire family,i.e. also of the current Emitter Ifrom €5,800 and the ‘basic’ EmitterII from €8,800. It is not possiblegive precise prices, as ASR makesits amplifiers – in terms of numberand type of inputs and outputs, forinstance – on an individual basis tocustomer specifications.Well loaded up even then: the1985 ASR Emitter I. Rectificationand electrolytic capacitorcurrent storage still took placeinside the amp itself.
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ASR Emitter II Exclusive - Musical Sounds

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