ASTORASTOR AS-XP88EZⅡ Vacuum Tube Preamplifier

Ultra wide-range playback faithful to the original sound, created by a mirror-finish stainless steel chassis and a 41-contact VR

The AS-XP88EZⅡ is a model in the EZⅡ series of vacuum tube preamplifiers, bringing together years of experience and technology. It is designed with the goal of faithfully reproducing the original sound, demonstrating excellent characteristics that can reproduce frequencies almost flat from 10Hz to 100kHz. It elevates the sound quality of analog playback to a truly superior level.

Thorough vibration and noise countermeasure chassis structure

• Screwless design: By creating a chassis without exposing any screws, it not only enhances design aesthetics but also prevents unnecessary vibrations.
• Double-layer structure: Adopts a double-layer structure using 2mm thick oxygen-free metal fittings and 2mm thick mirror-finish stainless steel plates of the XP type, folded for reinforcement. This greatly enhances vibration and noise countermeasures.
• Oxygen-free copper machined feet: The feet are made by machining solid 50mm oxygen-free copper rods. Placing soft calf leather between the feet and the bottom plate further enhances vibration control.

Carefully selected high-quality parts

• High-precision volume control: Uses a semi-custom 41-contact VR attenuator by Alps Electric Co., Ltd., enabling precise volume adjustment.
• Select capacitors: For coupling capacitors, AMCO metallized film capacitors by Amtrans are used. Semi-custom Nichicon electrolytic block capacitors are used for a stable B power supply circuit.
• Rhodium-plated terminals: AC inlets use INLET(R) rhodium type to minimize signal transmission loss.
• Entirely handmade. We carefully select and use reliable parts for all components and produce each unit entirely by hand.