Audio Database

Image of A-980
Commentary

A pre-main amplifier that employs a super-linear circuit to cancel out non-linear distortion of transistors.

Taking note of the inherent nonlinearity (distortion) of semiconductors, we have adopted a super linear circuit in the first stage of the power section.
The Super Linear Circuit, which is Pioneer's original technology, is a circuit that eliminates the non-linearity (distortion) of transistors without relying only on NFB (negative feedback) like conventional amplifiers. It is a circuit that sets a transistor with a reverse mode non-linearity in the non-linearity of the transistor and cancels the non-linearity by using a current mirror circuit to obtain an equivalent excellent linearity.
As a result, the fundamental characteristics (bare characteristics) are improved, so that a large amount of negative feedback (NFB) does not need to be applied as in conventional systems, and it is reduced to about 10 dB, 1/1000 of the conventional level.
As a result, the NFB-induced TIM distortion, degradation of frequency characteristics during phase correction, and instability in the high-frequency range are eliminated, and the inherent advantage of NFB, which produces output signals similar in shape to input signals, can be utilized.

The power stage and driver stage are equipped with non-switching circuits in order to ensure sound quality without distortion.
This method is based on Pioneer's proprietary high-speed bias servo circuit. By controlling the bias current according to the input signal, the transistor is always kept in an operating state. By this method, the transistor does not switch in principle, and switching distortion is essentially 0.
We also pursue 0 crossover distortion and carefully select the transistors to be adopted. By using transistors with high pair characteristics and setting the operating point to the optimum point, input / output characteristics with output characteristics with higher linearity.

A clean servo regulator is used to supply power to the first stage of the equalizer amplifier and power amplifier.
Compared with the conventional serial control type, it is a parallel control type with a smaller output current loop. The impedance of the power supply becomes 0 equivalently, and the influence on other signal circuits is suppressed.
As a result, crosstalk, such as signal leakage, is eliminated, resulting in higher sound quality.

DC servo circuits are used for both the equalizer amplifier and the power amplifier.
As a result, all coupling capacitors in the signal system from the MC input terminal to the SP output terminal are removed, and non-coupling capacitors are used in all stages.
This suppresses the generation of phase shift and transient intermodulation distortion.

It is equipped with a line straight switch in order to obtain more refined sound quality.

MC cartridge can be used and MC/MM can be switched.
In addition, MM / load capacity and MC / load resistance can be switched to bring out the performance of the cartridge.

It is equipped with a subsonic indicator that notifies mixing of unnecessary ultra-low frequency (20 Hz) by light.

It is equipped with a Rec Out selector and an indicator to let you know at a glance which terminal of Rec1 or Rec2 outputs the recording output.

Model Rating
Type Pre-main amplifier
Effective power 90W + 90W (8 Ω, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, both channel drive)
Harmonic distortion factor (20 Hz to 20 kHz) 0.008% (at effective output)
0.007% (8 Ω at 45W output)
Intermodulation distortion factor (50 hz : 7 khz = 4 : 1) 0.008% (at effective output)
0.004% (8 Ω at 45W output)
Output bandwidth 5 Hz ~ 40 kHz (IHF, both channel drive, THD 0.008%)
Output terminal Speaker : A, B
Tape Rec:150mV
Damping factor 60 (20 Hz ~ 20 kHz, 8 Ω)
Input Sensitivity / Impedance Phono MM : 2.5mV/50k Ω, Load Capacity : 200 pF, 400 pF
Phono MC : 0.25mV/0.1k Ω, load resistance : 0.1k Ω, 0.033k Ω
Tuner, AUX, Tape Play1, 2 : 150mV/50k Ω
Phono maximum allowable input (1 kHz) MM:300mV
MC:30mV
Frequency characteristic Phono MM : 20 Hz to 20 kHz ± 0.2 dB
Tuner, AUX, Tape Play : 5 hz to 200 khz + 0 to 3 db
Signal-to-noise ratio (IHF, A-network
Short circuit)
Phono MM:89dB
Phono MC:72dB
Tuner, AUX, Tape Play : 105 dB
Tone control Bass : ± 10 dB (100 Hz)
Treble : ± 10 dB (10 kHz)
Filter Low : 20 Hz, 6dB/oct.
Muting -20dB
Power supply voltage 100 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz
Power consumption (Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law) 185W
External dimensions Width 420x Height 132x Depth 423 mm
Weight 13.3kg