Esoteric Grandioso C1X solo Linestage Preamplifier

MYR 126,999.00

The C1X is the ﬂagship model of Esoteric’s preampliﬁers. It bears the proud Esoteric trademark “Grandioso”. The Grandioso C1X is a reference standard for the next generation, featuring a carefully designed dual balanced circuit, a complete dual mono conﬁguration, a powerful buffer ampliﬁer and power supply circuit to drive the power ampliﬁers, and ES-Link Analog current transmission that challenges the limits of ﬁdelity. It is a flagship preamplifier that incorporates all of Esoteric’s wisdom and numerous technological innovations.

The Grandioso C1X “solo” edition is housed in an integrated chassis without changing the internal circuit conﬁguration of the original C1X, as well as its ﬁve independent power transformer configurations for each circuit block, achieving an elegant and beautiful size form factor while maintaining the C1X’s signature sound.

Dual balanced circuits with 4 circuits per channel

Based on two original new module technologies (UFA-1792, IDM-01), a lot of materials suitable for a ﬂagship model are employed. The Grandioso C1X solo is conﬁgured with a dual balanced preampliﬁer circuit that employs four Ultra Fidelity Attenuator System per channel. All input signals are balanced and internally transmitted with low impedance to minimize noise effects, while the dual balanced conﬁguration employing the best module technology is completely free from channel crosstalk and level balance issues; powerful, and above all, ﬁrmly transmits the vibrancy of music to the power ampliﬁer.

Powerful power supply section

We believe that 70% of the sound quality of a preampliﬁer is determined by the design of the power supply section. The C1X solo consists of a total of ﬁve main components: left and right input/output ampliﬁers and a control section. All five of these are powerfully driven by five independent power transformers for each section (audio system: toroidal core, control system: R core).
By separating the power supply components for each section and investing far more amount of materials than intrinsically required, mutual interference between circuit blocks is fundamentally eliminated, resulting in extremely pure and dynamic sound quality. In addition, carefully selected parts appropriate for a ﬂagship model, such as the high-capacitance Grandioso custom block capacitors and Schottky barrier diodes, are employed in pursuit of high sound quality.

Upper inside
(Power transformers for each L and R input section)

Lower inside
(Power transformers for each L and R output sections, and Control section)

High-quality feeling that satisfies the pleasure of operation

The volume control and input selector employ solid construction knobs machined from an aluminum block. By adopting a bearing mechanism developed in the design of VRDS drive mechanisms for the rotary axis, extremely precise rotation without core shake is achieved. By adjusting the rotational torque to the optimum level, a smooth, analog-feeling operation is achieved, befitting Esoteric’s flagship preamplifier.

📥 Catalogue Download