Shinobu Karaki, the designer of Aurorasound electronics, designed his Vida Mono phono preamplifiers at the request of Isashi Tanaka, a great vinyl lover and audio editor who is very well known in Japan.
These mono “blocks” are developments of the Aurorasound Vida MKII Stereo phono preamp. This version is also composed of two parts:
the preamplifier and its external power supply. This means that with the Aurorasound Vida MKII Mono phono preamp, we end up with 4 boxes: 2 phono preamplifiers and 2 power supplies!
Aurorasound Vida Mono MKII: facade and chassis
The two products delivered are perfectly identical and therefore matched.
The brushed aluminum ingot-shaped power supplies stabilize and regulate the left and right channel separately, both voltage and current. For this, a toroidal transformer and fast Schottky diodes are used. It is connected to the electronic part via an excellent quality multi-connector locking cable.
The RIAA part is enclosed in an aluminum case treated against electromagnetic disturbances, covered with a satin varnished “wooden case”. This gives it an appearance from another time. Personally, I really like this approach! This completely differentiates it from the competition which, often, shows very little originality. The front of each of the 2 phono preamps offers a backlit mute push button, an MM input or MC input selector, a high or low impedance selector, a subsonic filter selector and a Mono/Stereo selector. Added to this is a cell demagnetization command.
Everything is housed in an aluminum chassis slipped into a magnificent solid wood frame.
Aurorasound Vida Mono MK II : circuit
The LCR type RIAA correction circuit is placed between two active stages with constant input and output impedances.
The input stage uses a Linear Technology LT1115 chip. This is followed by the RIAA correction by Lundhall inductance filter carried out under specifications for Aurorasound. RIAA equalization requires 19.6 dB of level boost in the bass frequencies and 19.6 dB of cut in the high register, all with 0 dB of reference at 1 kHz.
The majority of phono preamplifier manufacturers use resistors and capacitors in the feedback loop of a high gain amplifier. The fault of this solution is that we do not obtain a homogeneous and linear response depending on the frequency processed.
The Vida Mono MKII uses a series inductor LCR and parallel RC network. This allows the circuit to exhibit an impedance that is completely independent of frequency. And the absence of resistance and capacitor in series reduces losses and other colorations.
We note that the new circuit as well as the choice of new components has made it possible to improve the gain (1dB more in MM and MC), to reduce the distortion which goes from 0.028% to 0.012%, and to increase the separation of the channels by 6db!
Distortion measurements compared to signal-to-noise ratio and gain are remarkable. They approach and even exceed the characteristics of devices worth 3 or 4 times the price of the Aurorasound Vida Mono MKII!
The Vida Mono MKII now receive two completely separate inputs which allow, after their selection, their own settings. To summarize, we can therefore have two MM inputs or two MC inputs or one MM and one MC! However, in the VI-12 MKII version, the impedance selector on the back of the devices only works on the Phono 1 input.
Aurorasound Vida Mono MKII : connexions
The rear panel accommodates three beautiful pairs of Rhodium RCAs: two separate turntable inputs and one output to the Line amplifier or preamp.
The VI8 version is also equipped with a 6-position variable MC impedance selector. It gives the choice between 6, 12, 47, 120, 240, 320, 450 and 1000 Ohms. The basic version admits low level MCs between 0.6 and 100 ohms.
Aurorasound Vida MKII Mono : installation
We have been living with the Vida MKII VI-6 for months... So it is with joy and desire that we unbox these Vida MKI Mono! Obviously, they take up twice as much space and you need a shelf to place the 2 beautiful dedicated power supplies.
Implementation is simple. The Vida MKII Mono can be combined with almost all phono cartridges, all tonearms and, consequently, all vinyl turntables on the market. We associated it with two very different cells, an MC cell AUDIO TECHNICA AT-ART 1000X and one ORTOFON MC DIAMOND.
Aurorasound Vida MKII Mono : Ecoute
The restitution is lively and very communicative. The instruments are perfectly readable and they seem to have more air between them than on competing products. The soundstage is surprising in its openness, depth and precision.
At certain times, we find the best of tube electronics with the precision and neutrality of the best transistor productions on the market.
The male and female voices are transcribed with an unusual presence and beauty. The quality of the timbres and their harmonic richness offer a restitution that is both subtle and organic, always favoring neutrality and realism.
After listening to the Vida MK II Mono for several hours, it is difficult to go back to the Vida MKII. Would we have twice as much music with the Vida Mono? Well I'm afraid so, and it totally justifies the price difference between these two models!
The Aurorasound Vida MKII Mono are designed for the most demanding music lovers.
This Vida Mono MkII phono preamp is definitely the best we've had between our ears in a very long time! Well done Mr Karaky!
Our favorite!
To recommend without any moderation!
FranckCompatibility: MM and MC
Inputs: Phono 1 and Phono 2
MM Gain : 40 dB
MC Gain : 65 dB
MM impédance : 47kohms/100pF
MC impedance: 12, 47, 120, 240, 410, 1000 ohms
MC Low impedance: 0.6 to 10 ohms
MC High impedance: 10, 100
MM signal-to-noise ratio: 80 dB
MC signal-to-noise ratio: 78 dB
Channel separation: 90 dB
Frequency response: 10-20,000 Hz
Correction RIAA : 10-20 000 Hz +/- 0.25 dB
Distortion: 0.012%
Dimensions : Vida 26 x 10 x 30 cm x 2
Life Poids: 3 kg x 2
Dimensions alimentation : 11.5 x 20 x 7 cm x 2
Power supply weight: 1.4 kg x 2
Power supply: 230V/50 Hz
Consumption: Max 60 w
