The heart of the Citadel 1.5 contains fully-balanced differential, zero-feedback circuitry, and zealously selected solid-state devices throughout. We scrutinize the selection to optimize component parts in each and every stage, and for the performance of the amplifier as a whole. Custom-made capacitors, Vishay precision resistors, copper buss bars, Litz / Teflon wires and a custom-made output connector are just some of the components that combine to make the Citadel 1.5 an unprecedented technical statement.
Sonically, this quality is expressed as a new level of veracity and intimacy in the experience of music, and in the prospect of movie soundtrack performance that no commercial theater can hope to rival.
The Citadel 1.5’s power supply design is an exercise in delivering massive brute power with absolute integrity. We give its output stage a high-current Kilowatt power transformer itself, which feeds a unique dual-choke and capacitive filtering system. This technique is rarely applied because of the huge choke size necessary to avoid impeding high current demands. Its filtering system employs two massive chokes almost as large as the power transformer. These are fed from an ultra-fast / soft-recovery 35 Amp full bridge rectifier, which are then filtered by two capacitive banks totaling 80,000uF. The synergistic effect of this filtering system results in high-current power supply lines that are more than 8,000% cleaner than conventional supplies.
The sonic result of these super-clean supply lines to the output transistors has not previously been achieved at such a high power levels.
The mechanical housing for the Citadel 1.5 is no less specialized than its internal components. More than an aesthetic statement, its seamless housing, devoid of traditional fasteners on top, front, and sides, provides a strong, stable environment for the operation of the amplifier. The power supply resides in its base, isolated from the amplifier module above.
The Citadel 1.5 has been created to power the most demanding two channel and home theater systems, effortlessly recreating the vast spectrum of music and soundtracks with both silky finesse and authoritative control.
