Фонокорректоры — Aurorasound VIDA-MkⅡ

The VIDA MkII is a phono preamplifier for MM and MC cartridges, housed in two boxes, from Aurorasound, the Yokohama firm of former Texas Instruments engineer Shinobu Karaki. VIDA stands for Vinyl Disk Amplifier, and the original model launched in 2011 with LCR equalisation using inductors sourced from Lundahl in Sweden. After a decade of revisions the design earned MkII status, with a UK price of GBP 3,659 in standard form.

Key specs that matter

Gain is 65 dB for moving coil and 40 dB for moving magnet, and the MM input is loaded at 47 kohm. The output is rated at 2 V RMS, and output impedance is 910 ohm. RIAA deviation stays within plus or minus 0.25 dB from 10 Hz to 20 kHz, THD+N is 0.012 percent at 1 kHz on the MC input (A-weighted), channel separation is 90 dB at 10 kHz and equivalent input noise on MC is -138 dBV with the input shorted. The main unit measures 260 x 100 x 250 mm and weighs 2.8 kg, and the outboard supply adds another 1.4 kg.

Engineering and use context

Each channel is laid out separately, and the signal passes through three blocks - a switchable op-amp gain stage, a passive LCR RIAA network and a custom output stage with its own regulation on board. Four inductors sit in the equaliser, two for high-frequency and two for low-frequency compensation, chosen for their DC resistance to raise quality factor. For the MkII the Aurora Amp module-1 gave way to Amp module-2 Rev. 3, the mainboard and signal flow were redrawn with a claimed 6 dB gain in left-right separation, the external power supply was improved and the chassis was reinforced against RFI and EMI. Front toggles select stereo or mono, direct or subsonic filter, high or low MC load, MM or MC and Phono 1 or Phono 2, beside an illuminated mute button. The degauss control moved to the rear, where it sits with the RCA outputs, two earth posts, the three-pin supply socket and the MC load rotary. The fascia is silver alloy inside a real wood sleeve.

Pairing

Both inputs accept either MM or MC cartridges, so two turntables or two tonearms can be connected at once. In standard form the MC load is a simple switch - low for cartridges below 100 ohm, high for those above. The optional VI6 six-way selector adds settings of 30, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 470 ohm, and Aurorasound suggests running the degausser on an MC cartridge once every six months, a process of about 30 seconds. A balanced XLR output is available as an extra for linking to preamplifiers with XLR inputs.

Alternatives

Below it in the VIDA range sits the Aurorasound VIDA Prima, a simpler phono stage that offers only high and low settings for MC cartridges.