We have been impressed by the Sonoma Model One system which the British manufacturer first outed in 2017, but Warwick Acoustics has now announced its “next generation” offering which is rumoured to cost around £20,000.
The APERIO is "a reference studio monitor headphone system for High-Resolution Audio production, mastering, mixing and recording applications" and features the latest version of the company's proprietary 15-micron metalised Balanced Drive High Precision Electrostatic Laminate (BD-HPEL). The driver is formed of a 0.1mm thick stainless steel screen, along with a die-cut Formex spacer that is sandwiched between the driver laminate and the stainless screen to create a 0.66mm gap.
APERIO, which means “to reveal, uncover or open” when translated from Latin, includes a new amplifier with integrated network streamer and “ultra-high performance DAC.” The open-backed headphones plugs into the APERIO amp/DAC via a pair of 4-pin connectors.
The energiser/amp/DAC boasts a discrete MOSFET (with high Class A bias) design, Ethernet/USB/AES/EBU, SPDIF-based streaming DAC architecture that supports up to DSD256 (DoP), 32-bit/384kHz PCM via USB/Ethernet. Rounding the ins and outs off are balanced/unbalanced inputs and outputs. Information is displayed on the unit's full-colour 5.1cm screen.
Martin Roberts, Managing Director, Warwick Acoustics told StereoNET:
Our second product has been a long time in development, but the very best things in life are always worth waiting for. The APERIO represents the pinnacle of our 'complete system design' approach by eliminating compromise for every element of the system and employing extraordinary attention to detail. It is an experience that we believe our customers will find truly remarkable.
The official launch event for the APERIO happens at the Munich High-End Show, held between 9th – 12th May 2019.
You can visit Warwick Acoustics and experience the APERIO in person for the first time at booth C11, Hall 1.
Posted in: Headphones | HiFi Show
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