Twelve years after the release of the original Ypsilon Phaethon, a successor has been announced: the Ypsilon Phaethon Neo integrated amplifier. The unit is built upon the original hybrid amplification platform, which has now undergone significant modifications.
The original Ypsilon Phaethon was a powerful amplifier designed to drive a wide range of loudspeaker systems. It delivered 110 watts per channel into 8 ohms, increasing to 180 watts per channel into 4 ohms. The Ypsilon Phaethon Neo version offers same output power of 2 x 110 W into 4 ohms and 2 x 180 W into 8 ohms, across a frequency range of 11 Hz to 75,000 Hz, with an impressive output impedance of 0.5 ohms (input impedance is 75 kohms).
Ypsilon Phaethon neo uses at the input a low noise double triode and in total is a three gain stage design. The power amplifier section uses a specially designed interstage transformer for coupling the driver and the output stages. The output stage biased in class A for the 1st most important watts. The output stage uses same polarity semiconductors for both phases in a “balanced single-ended ” design and can drive most speakers. There are separate power supplies for the tube and output stage utilizing five power supply inductors for low noise filtering, two power supply transformers and four signal transformers. All functions are remote controlled.
Ypsilon Phaethon Neo features three RCA analog inputs and one XLR input (operating in unbalanced mode). The gain factor reaches 60, and the amplifier itself is built with a robust, heavy-duty design, measuring 400 × 185 × 425 mm and weighing 35 kg.
Ypsilon has confirmed that shipments of the Phaethon Neo to the international market have begun, though specific release dates for individual countries and the recommended retail price have yet to be announced. So, twelve years after the debut of the original Phaethon, the Greek manufacturer returns to a proven platform, offering an evolution within the High-End integrated amplifier segment.
