Norman Audio

VPI Voyager Phono Preamplifier  – Between S$3,000 to S$4,000

“I just wonder how many buyers of $6,500 cartridges will consider a $2,499 phono preamp. If they don’t, that’s a mistake.” — Michael Fremer, Stereophile, Class B Recommended Component

Since VPI hired Electrical Engineer Mike Bettinger they have been asked about VPI’s future in electronics. Mike is known for his award winning “Arion” phono, which is how they met him. Harry Weisfeld liked his phono so much he bought one for his personal use. Mike has taken what he learned combined it with the R&D resources and feedback of the VPI team and together has created a more affordable and robust flavor. The goal of the Voyager is to create an easy phono option for music lovers getting involved in the VPI line. Voyager has been designed using VPI turntables and is naturally synergistic with theirline. In addition, the Voyager gives customers who might own a different turntable brand a chance to join the VPI family through their phono preamplifier. The Voyager is a true high-performance design that provides both MM/MC gain and two input capability. With a front panel selection of inputs and MC/MM gain and loading, tonearm and cartridge swaps are easily accomplished. MM gain is 42db, loading 47K ohms; capacitive loading is selectable between 100pf, 200pf and 270pf. MC gain is 62db with loading selectable between 100, 500 and 1K ohms. Internal switching of gain and loading is accomplished using high reliability small signal relays.

Circuit Overview:

The Voyager utilizes a two stage design: a JFET-based input stage providing the interface with the cartridge, and the gain and drive for the 75 microseconds passive equalization network that follows it. The second stage provides an additional 24db of gain and provides active feedback for tracking the low frequency portion of the RIAA curve. Both stages are based on matched cascoded Linear Systems JFETS and are servo controlled. Cascode references are supplied by precision/ low noise reference devices. The power supplies are unity gain voltage reference designs for fast response and low noise. The circuit layout is a work of engineering art and the results of many years of study and experimentation. The Voyager presents a sense of purity and low level detail resolution that is highly musical. The design is intentionally symmetrical and single-ended.

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VPI Voyager Phono Preamplifier - More info