User Manual

GainStation 1

Inside the GainStation 1

The most time-consuming part of the development of the

GainStation 1 was searching for, selecting and matching compo-

nents, PCB‘s and IC‘s. One decisive factor in achieving impec-

cable audio quality is the refusal to accept any weak spots in

the chain—the insistence upon each link being as good as the

next. It makes no sense to use a world-class op-amp with an

improperly engineered power supply or lower-quality passive

components such as resistors and condensers.

The GainStation 1 is based on fully discrete op-amps that operate

in class A mode. Class A operation dictates that both end tran-

sistors are constantly conducting current to prevent distortion.

In conventional class B amplifiers, each transistor carries a half-

wave, and distortion occurs every time current moves from one

transistor to the next. Class A operation requires much higher

closed-circuit current—approximately 6 mA with this op-amps or

roughly three times the total current consumption of a conven-

tional amplifier—which in turn leads to increased heat genera-

tion.

Several months went into the development of the GainStation 1

op-amp. First, we tested several different circuit configurations,

using test equipment as well as listening tests with a wide

variety of program material. It became more and more apparent

that less complicated circuits provided better audio results.

The GainStation 1‘s input differential amplifier utilizes an extre-

mely low-tolerance, thermal-coupled matched transistor pair in

a single casing. This prevents deviances between the transi-

stors to ensure minimal THD (total harmonic distortion) even

at various temperatures. The resistors in the initial differential

amplifier are connected to a secondary differential amplifier—

also based on a matched transistor pair—that handles current

conversion.

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