Technics continues to pursue the ideal sound by challenging new sonic dimensions realised by a full digital amplifier.
JENO Engine
Jitter is a major cause of distortion in digital systems, and is caused by mis-timing in the master clocks used in digital-to-analogue conversion. To eliminate the degradation of sound caused by jitter, Technics has developed an original jitter reduction circuit, comprising a clock generator in the noise-shaping system to reduce jitter in the low-frequency range and a high-precision sample rate converter for suppressing jitter in the high-frequency range.
Thus it reduces jitter in an ideal way over the entire frequency range. This works with original high-precision PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) conversion circuit, optimising the noise-shaping speed, the degree and re-quantisation number, and the PWM gradation, in order to convert high-resolution signals to PWM without causing any damage to the dynamic range. These technologies enable Technics digital amplifier designs to reproduce the natural and delicate nuances of music.
ADCT (Active Distortion Cancelling Technology)
The Active Distortion Cancelling Technology newly developed by Technics accurately extracts and removes distortion in the power output stage which is generated by the speaker’s counter electromotive force and voltage drops. In the Hi-Fi audio market where an unlimited number of audio systems can be configured by combining various products, high-end audio amplifiers need to optimally drive a diversity of speakers.
The Active Distortion Cancelling Technology accurately extracts distortion by determining the difference between the speaker terminal output and JENO output and then applies correction to the output digital signal, thus correcting the conventional digital amp system. This provides powerful speaker driving force and acoustic energy while offering the superior benefits of a digital amplifier, such as low noise, precise sound image and expansive sound ambience, regardless of the types of connected speakers.
Advanced Speed Silent Power Supply
The SU-R1000 uses a switching power supply system to ensure a stable supply of voltage and current required by the digital amp. In a conventional switching power supply system, the ON time of the switching operation was controlled in order to stabilise the voltage, and this causes the switching frequency to fluctuate according to the load, resulting in a modulation noise to affect the sound quality.
The Advanced Speed Silent Power Supply has eliminated this noise by fixing the switching frequency in the 400kHz band. Furthermore, a Super Low Noise Regulator is provided in the later stage. This prevents the decrease of regulation resulting from the fixed switching frequency and impedes the mixing of noise component into high frequencies. The result is a high-response power supply that results in the best performance from the digital amplifier.
Four Independent Power Supply Units
In the SU-R1000, every element comprising the power supply has been diligently studied and revised for higher sound quality. What’s more, four independent power supply units are provided for different circuit blocks for further enhancement of sound quality.
Since the SU-R1000 is an integrated amplifier, the internal circuits consist of a pre-amp stage and power amp stage in a mix of analogue and digital circuits. The Phono-EQ section which processes minute analogue signals is particularly susceptible to the effect of noise transmitted through the power supply line.
The SU-R1000 uses separate power supply units for the analogue circuits and digital circuits in the pre-amp stage. It also uses separate power supply units for the right and left channels in the power amp stage that requires large electrical power. With the four independent power supply units, the SU-R1000 prevents power-line-induced interference among the circuit blocks and realises a high S/N ratio and superb separation.
High-grade Digital/Analog I/O Circuit
Pictures of component parts for High-grade Digital/Analog I/O Circuit
The phono input section and analogue input section feature a full-discrete circuit design. Technics has realised an ideal, symmetrical circuit layout and performed meticulous tuning. The new circuits prevent interference between the right and left channels and achieve excellent channel separation.
Furthermore, the phono input section and XLR input section employ completely balanced transmission to ensure high-purity signal transmission with minimum effect of noise. The USB input circuit in the digital input section is equipped with a capacitor of high-quality ruby mica and a power conditioner with nonmagnetic carbon film resistors for blocking electrical noise e.g. from a PC and for minimising the effect of external noise.
The A/D converter incorporates a high-performance chip made by Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) for high-precision A/D conversion. Thus, the SU-R1000 reproduces outstanding sound quality from any analogue or digital input sources