Preamplifiers — Ypsilon Electronics PST 100 Anniversary Edition

The PST 100 Anniversary Edition is a flagship-tier preamplifier from Ypsilon Electronics, a well-established Greek manufacturer known for transformer-based volume attenuation, built to commemorate the brand's 30th anniversary. The PST 100 Anniversary Edition represents Ypsilon's most ambitious current statement in preamplifier engineering, developed as a further refinement of the existing SE model.

Key specs that matter

The preamplifier retains the SE model's single C3m tube per channel plus rectifier tube, but introduces distinctive transformer attenuators built with custom nanocrystalline core material, using silver-wound nanocrystalline transformers at both input and output for what Ypsilon describes as a special ultra-pure topology in the active gain stage. No capacitors are used anywhere in the signal path - only high-quality film capacitors appear in the power supply, backed by a very-high-inductance double-C-core amorphous choke filter. All internal wiring uses point-to-point ultra-pure silver wire. The front display has been redesigned with larger, more informative characters and selectable colours.

Sound and use context

Expect the exceptionally transparent, musically engaging character Ypsilon's transformer-attenuator philosophy is broadly celebrated for, with the nanocrystalline-core attenuators and capacitor-free signal path representing Ypsilon's most accomplished current preamplifier engineering to mark three decades of the brand.

Pairing

Ypsilon's own power amplifier catalogue offers natural, brand-coherent pairings within the same broader catalogue.

Alternatives

Ypsilon's own standard PST-100 SE offers a more accessible alternative without the nanocrystalline-core attenuators within the same broader catalogue.