Aesthetix, Saturn Series, Calypso - American Made Linestage Excellence

Aesthetix is the brain child of engineer and music lover Jim White. Avid concert-going from the age of 10 and a well read subscription to Stereophile at age 13 were the early hints of what would become a life consuming obsession with music and vinyl playback. After advanced studies in physics, mathematics and electrical engineering, Jim began honing his skills in 1990 at Theta Digital. His contributions to the Theta Casablanca and Dreadnaught were his first examples of outstanding design.

Linestage? A straight wire with gain? That's what a line stage is supposed to provide, but few in our experience actually accomplish it, and we're not sure that most audiophiles would really want it that way. Some want a bit of tightening and brightening, while some prefer a bit of added warmth and richness. But whatever the preference, none of us wants too much of a good thing—the tighter, brighter line stages better not sound etchy and hard, and the warmer, richer ones better not sound thick and plodding.

We loved the Calypso right out of the box... One of our staff members has the Signature version of this line stage so he/we know it well. The unit looks as if you get something substantial for your now $6,000 (new). The nicely finished faceplate of brushed, anodized aluminum has five triangular input pushbuttons and associated blue LEDs, plus additional buttons for Mute, Tape, Bypass, Phase, Display, and Standby. The volume control is built into the large, rectangular, transparent display. Press the left side to lower the volume, the right side to raise it. Very neat. The balance can be adjusted only via the full-function remote control.

On the rear panel are five sets of RCA and balanced XLR inputs, a set of RCA tape output jacks, two sets each of RCA and balanced XLR main outputs, and a set of dummy holes, labeled Phono, for the Saturn Janus preamp, which includes a phono board.

Inside is a symmetrical dual-mono design, the main circuit boards (also derived from the Jupiter series) packed with components from RelCap, Roederstein, and other suppliers of premium capacitors, resistors, and transformers. Right behind the faceplate, and the cause of the unit's oddly front-heavy balance, is a shielded, stainless-steel enclosure containing the transformers—one for the high-current/low-voltage tube-heater circuit, the other for the low-current/high-voltage solid-state and control circuitry—and a noise-reducing high-voltage circuit choke.

Could sit here all day and sing the praises of this linestage, it screams HQ in every way. Adds ZERO color to your sonic package and this unit has been significantly upgraded with the finest hand-picked tubes for this piece available. Matching set of 1961 Brimar, 12ax7 & 1964 Amperex, Gold Pin 6922 - a $500 value. The staff member here at HHA who owns the Sig version personally pulled these tubes to take this Calypso next level. Have it here paired with a set of Audio Research Reference 250 monos and older Von Schweikert V4 towers and it is a truly magical setup; just incredible. Been fully tested/run through by our in-house expert tech staff and its deemed ready to go. In strong 9+ visual with a 10+ performance rating. Complete with remote, OM, Warranty card and box & packaging.

DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!

Aesthetix Saturn Series, Calypso Linestage w/ Vintage Brimar & Amperex Tube Package: $2999.00 plus sales tax and shipping when applicable.