Copland CTA 405 Amplifier
Fortunately, despite of considerable age, valve technique does not lose relevance nor over music lovers, no the specialized manufactures. Production of both: radio tube and equipment, base on it, continues. It is amazing to realize that in the first case the lion's share of world production is concentrated in Russia. So, the famous for its accessories for electro guitars American firm "Electro-Harmonix" makes tubes for guitar amplifiers on the capacity of the plant of receiver-amplifier tubes "Reflector" in Saratov. Production Association "Svetlana" in Saint-Petersburg doesn't also reduce the production of radio tubes, most of which are exported.
Tube components of stereo systems do not apply to mass production - a small audio atelier makes them most often. And even if the nomenclature of these companies can't make boast of dozens of positions, maximum developers' attention and love are given to each model.
Danish fir Copland is a vivid example of such atelier, whose history goes back more than 30 years. It I specialized in the manufacture of electronic components of stereo systems, in the basis of which usually there is a tube circuitry. Vacuum devices are not used only in CD player CDA 825. Except this in the catalog of Copland there are tube pre-amplifiers CTA 305 and CVA 306 (the last one is a rather exotic six-channel pre-amplifier, focused on work in home theatre and in multi-channel music systems of high resolution), two-channel power amplifier CTA 506 and stereosonic integrated amplifier CTA 405.
At first acquaintance with the amplifier Copland CTA 405 you will never suspect a hot inside. Unlike most competitors, flaunting by original design with exposed envelopes, this model is dressed in quite usual rectangular steel case and only its considerable height, due to the sizes of the output tubes and transformers, hints that everything here is not so obvious. From practical point of view such decision has undeniable advantages: the device is easily mounted in the stand and completely enclosed body safely protects soft, internal parts. Although it will still require a separate shelf in the rack - we would not recommend you to put other components on the top of it, because CTA 405, like any tube amplifier, literally has quite a hot temper. To enjoy the inner beauty of the device it is necessary to remove the top cover. And it has something to look at! First of all you pay attention to three big transformers. In supply unit a big torrid transformer of Danish company Noratel is used and two outputs, largely determined the voice of any tube amplifier, are of own-produced. They are made on EI-shaped cores and have separate taps for connection acoustics with nominal impedance of 4 and 8 Ohm. We are pleased to note a very neat installation of all nodes and thorough approach to their location inside the body
A built-in phono amplifier for the work with heads of MM or MC type wit high output will be a nice bonus for the buyer of Copland CTA 405. This is not a single-ship solution, inserted for show into the integrated amplifier, but a complete block, mounted on the back wall of the body and created on four tubes - a pair of dual triodes ECC83C (12AX7) and two double triodes E88CC (6922). Probably, if you take the challenge to select external phono amplifier, you can reach better quality of sound, but even in this case Copland CTA 405 will give respite for finding a suitable option providing an existing built-in block of quite high class.
Prestages of amplification are the same here as in Copland preamp CTA 305. They are organized on two tubes 12BH7 by the company "Electro-Harmonix" made in Saratov and one tube ECC83S. In output amplification stages four powerful pentodes of Russian origin 6550EH by "Electro-Harmonix" are used. They function in ultra-linear mode, which ensures high power output in combination with low distortion level.
In the same way the preference was given to push-pull circuit of the amplifier. At the same time output tubes operates in pure A class up to a half of power, providing excellent sound quality. Film resistors and polypropylene film capacitors of American firm "Jamicon" were used in the construction. High-qualitative relays "Axicom" were taken for inputs commutation.
The appearance of the model answers luxury filling well. In the center of the foreside the name of the company is routed out in the form of thick, polished aluminum plate. The design of the faceplate is fully symmetrical. In the middle there is a round infrared sensor for the remote control, LEDs of active input and amplifier's power on are settled around the sensor, to the left and right - small buttons of translation the amplifier in Standby mode and switching of end-to-end channel of the tape recorder. Generally, the combination of modern functionality and old-fashioned possibilities gives the device a special charm. Motorized volume knob to control the gain by the remote control is adjacent to the input/output for the tape recorder with end-to-end channel (Tape button on the faceplate switches these modes). I wonder how many buyers of Copland CTA 405 saved such a rarity in the system.
The most visible elements on the facade are volume control handles (to the right) and input selector (in left side). And if input switch key is fully electronic and is implemented on the pulse switch (to activate the next input you need to do two clicks and at first it seems unusual), volume control is honest here - on variable resistor with servo drive.
Despite of the classic tube circuit technique, Copland CTA 405 is quite a modern component. It has lots of such small things which rarely seen in the tube technique. For example, the attached remote control with rectangular aluminum body is universal and allows controlling not only the amplifier but also CD player CDA 825. Existing here Standby mode doesn't occur to be in tube amplifiers, although to realize distance control by power supply technically is not a particular problem. At least this task is difficult for a tube amplifier too. Accordingly, the main power off switch is tucked away at the back wall of the body - you won't use it very often. You can also find there trigger output 12W for organization of general music system control. Such opportunities - attribute of "smart home" technique.
Commutation arsenal of the model includes four linear inputs on RCA, input and output for connection the tape recorder, separate pair of Phono input connectors with screw grounding terminal for connection the speakers with nominal resistance of 4 and 8 Ohm. Unfortunately, the amplifier hasn't got a balanced commutation, but, for example, the only one in the nomenclature of the company CD player Copland CDA 825 has XLR outputs. However, even preamp Copland CTA 305 doesn't have balanced commutation, therefore to talk about any lameness of integrated solution is not necessary.
A good tube amplifier differs from other counterparts by combination of advantages of tube sound with positive sides of transistor devices. For example, if it is possible to expand frequency range beyond the usual boarders of 20 Hz- 20 kHz, to reduce distortions to acceptable level, to achieve the damping coefficient above a few units and at the same time to keep the warmth and lightness of the tube techniques, to combine the softness with dynamic submission of energetic moments of soundtrack, the developers can bravely chalk up victory.
Copland CTA 405 became this triumph of Danish engineers. Even with our not very simple for amplifier laboratory speakers PMC OBli it demonstrated excellent performance and scaled sound stage. Compositions of different music styles sounded extremely comfortably and airy and lost neither rhythm nor drive. Bass part of operating range differed by elasticity and had a pronounced relief. Rich by information symphonic compositions, played by grand orchestra, were legible and filled with tiny details. Master transfer of piano tones and careful handling of the vocal in the jazz recordings were combined with the ability to keep confidently rock'n'roll rhythm and enthusiasm. A tendency to mitigate the attack slipped sometimes only in the most energetic tracks. However, this feature in the case with a tube amplifier can hardly be attributed to the disadvantages. It is important that in the energy-rich areas a musical canvas still staid strikingly detailed. Descants were worked out perfectly, and the smallest overtones were distinguishable in the sounding of the cymbals. Due to such features, the amplifier created a three-dimensional virtual stage with precise localization of sound sources.
However, the real revelation was a built-in phono amplifier. Above, studying internal architecture of Copland CTA 405, we have already suggested that this block exists in the construction not for formality. The results of the listening not just confirmed this, but let say that the built-in phono amp is quite able to compete with the separate devices at half the cost of the amplifier. So, it makes sense for vinyl lovers, who haven't got a needed amount of appropriate equipment yet, to pay very close attention to Copland CTA 405.
