Presented by Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems.
The nucleus of every great stereo is the preamplifier, and the 132-pound, three-piece Relentless Preamplifier is an all-out assault on the preamplifier category. It is the most sophisticated system-control center in the world of two-channel audio. While the preamplifier’s job of sending low-level source signals to a power amplifier may seem simple, the signal at that stage is small and particularly subject to noise and distortion. The Relentless Preamplifier drives the connected amplifier with a signal that is musically rich, spatially accurate, and strikingly dynamic. To achieve this ultimate performance, the Relentless Preamplifier’s architecture requires three separate chassis stacked atop one another. Exquisitely machined in aluminum and copper, the top and bottom chassis are dedicated to the left and right audio channels. Front and center is the D’Agostino volume control —a design signature—that is inspired from Swiss watch pieces. Elegant to operate from the front panel, a bidirectional Bluetooth remote control provides all preamp functions in a user’s hand. The center chassis houses the power supply and control circuitry, an architecture that ensures ultimate channel separation and prevents the power supply from interfering with delicate audio signals.
The modular Relentless Preamplifier offers an optional Digital Streaming Module. This digital enhancement adds digital sources and streaming capability. Customized apps for iOS devices provide easy control of music collections, streaming content, and unit control. Subscription streaming services Tidal, Qobuz, and Spotify are included within the app. Additionally, Roon Music management is also available as an alternative music management program. Capable of handling today’s highest resolution sources, PCM signals up to 32 bit/384 KHz and DSD signals up to DSD256 (11.2MHz) are decoded natively using a balanced dual DAC configuration.
