Фонокорректоры — Esoteric Grandioso E1

The Grandioso E1 is the phono stage of the Esoteric Grandioso series and followed the Grandioso T1, the first turntable in the brand's history. Shipments began in late November 2024. It is built as two chassis, a main amplifier unit and a separate power and control unit, and combines current-mode inputs for moving-coil cartridges with a voltage input for MM designs and a dedicated circuit for optical cartridges.

Key specs that matter

Three XLR inputs accept MC cartridges in current mode, one RCA pair takes MM or high-output MC signals in voltage mode, and a second RCA pair is reserved for optical pickups. The voltage input offers MC loads of 10, 50, 100, 200 and 560 ohm, 47 kohm for MM and capacitance of 100, 220 or 320 pF. Gain is 65 dB from XLR and 59 dB from RCA in MC current mode, 72 dB and 66 dB in MC voltage mode, 46 dB and 40 dB for MM, and 32 dB and 26 dB for the optical input. Current gain trims from -9 to 0 dB in 3 dB steps, voltage gain from -6 to +4 dB in 2 dB steps. Output impedance is 50 ohm on XLR and 18 ohm on RCA, with rated levels of 2 V and 1 V. RIAA deviation stays within 0.3 dB, and distortion is 0.008% for MM and 0.02% for optical. The main unit measures 445 x 131 x 445 mm and weighs 20.7 kg, the supply 445 x 131 x 451 mm and 23.4 kg. Consumption is 48 W.

Engineering and use context

An MC cartridge delivers a much larger current than an MM type at about one twentieth of the voltage. The current input feeds both ends of the coil straight into a balanced discrete amplifier, so no load resistor turns that current into a tiny voltage and impedance matching stops being a concern. The MC and MM paths share a fully balanced, dual-mono discrete stage with CR-type variable equalisation. Six curves are stored - RIAA, Columbia, Decca, NAB, Teldec and AES - plus four user presets set by low limit, turnover and roll-off. A demagnetiser clears the core of an MC cartridge or step-up transformer in about 30 seconds of playback, a 16 Hz subsonic filter handles warped records, and a mono mode serves single-channel pressings. The power unit holds four independent supplies, with separate transformers for the left and right phono channels, and links to the main unit over three DC cables, while control signals pass through a large isolator.

Pairing

Its balanced socket doubles as an ES-Link Analog output for Esoteric preamplifiers built for current transmission, and an HCLD buffer with a 2,000 V/us slew rate drives the line. Nearly every setting is reachable from the double-sided aluminium RC-1343 remote supplied with the unit.

Alternatives

The Esoteric E-02 is a single-chassis phono stage with one XLR input dedicated to MC, two RCA inputs and eight switchable MC loads from 10 ohm to 10 kohm.