Viola Labs Spirito Preamplifier

The Viola Spirito offers a level of transparency and musicality that is truly state-of-the-art. Its modular design uses an open architecture to give the maximum flexibility for upgrading and expansion. To ensure the greatest isolation from mains borne noise, it employs a choke input filter type power supply housed in a separate chassis.

No-Compromise Audio Design

The Spirito uses Class A discrete circuitry and is fully balanced throughout. The input impedance of the input module is unusually high at 1Mohm. This avoids the loading that can be imposed on source equipment with conventional lower input impedance designs. The use of a fully balanced topology ensures the maximum rejection of common mode noise. This greatly contributes to the stunning clarity and silent backgrounds that the Spirito provides. The ability of audio equipment to reject noise is an important consideration in the modern domestic environment.

Surround Sound Processor Loop

Any input on the Spirito may be set to function as either a standard stereo input, or a surround sound processor (SSP) loop. This approach avoids having redundant inputs when no surround sound function is required.

Low Noise Power Supply

The Spirito uses a choke input filter type power supply. This produces far less Electro-Magnetic Interference than the capacitor input designs most commonly used in pre-amplifiers. It also places less stress on the power supply components, leading to higher reliability and longer life. In addition, the Spirito's power supply design completely avoids the generation of the high frequency noise that often occurs when switch mode power supplies are used.

The Spirito's choke input power supply virtually eliminates high peak ripple currents, thereby minimizing inter-modulation distortion on the power supply rails and ground returns. This further enhances the sound quality by reducing both noise and distortion.

Simple User Interface

Discrete volume and balance controls are located on the front panel. All other unit functions are controlled by a large touch sensitive display (shown left). This allows the unit to be easily configured and controlled in stereo, multi-channel and multi-room modes. It also provides the flexibility necessary to allow other types of modules to be easily added in the future. The operation of the Spirito is further simplified by a facility that allows the user to assign alpha-numeric names of their choice to each input.

Modular Construction

The Spirito's main chassis has ten user accessible card slots. These are loaded from the rear of the unit and permit the Spirito to be configured to suit a wide range of applications.

The basic Spirito configuration for stereo use requires one V20 input module (3 inputs - 2 balanced and 1 unbalanced) and one V30 output module (3 outputs - 2 balanced and 1 unbalanced). If more than 3 inputs are required, it is a simple job to add a second V20 input module, to give 6 inputs. Up to 4 V20 input modules may be used to give a total of 12 inputs.

Ease of Upgradeability

The use of a modular system makes it very easy to add upgrades and enhancements to the unit's functionality. Currently a sophisticated phono module for the Spirito is under development. D/A converter and equalizer modules may also be added in the future.

Versatile Remote Control Facility

The Spirito is supplied with a Palm Pilot which is loaded with software that allows it to be operated as an infra-red remote control for the unit and gives control of all of the unit's functions. The Palm Pilot's graphic user interface mimics that of the Spirito's main display and is very easy to use. It also provides the flexibility necessary to allow the addition of new modules in the future.

In addition a 0/+12V control line on the unit's rear panel allows the Spirito to remotely switch amplifiers such as the Viola Bravo on and off.

Elegant Chassis Design

The Spirito chassis uses a precision die-cast front panel and heavy custom aluminum extrusions for the top and side panels in a design that gives a very clean appearance, with no fixing screws readily visible.

Warranty

Products of Viola Audio Laboratories are warranted to be free of defects if used under normal conditions for a period of five years from the date of manufacture.