Michell Audio, based in the UK, has unveiled its latest electronic offerings at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, featuring a tunable phono amplifier named the Apollo and an external power supply known as the Muse. These components are engineered to function in tandem, with the Apollo's integrated power supply circuit purportedly enhancing the performance of the Muse to optimize and stabilize the DC current from the dedicated power source. Both units are crafted from a solid block of aluminum and are interconnected via a specially designed cable.
The Apollo and Muse combination was conceived and manufactured entirely in the UK by the Michell Audio team. The engineers prioritized noise reduction, making the separation of the phono stage and power supply a logical design choice.
The Apollo phono amplifier is designed to accommodate both MM and MC cartridges, featuring extensive adjustability through microswitches located on the base plate. It incorporates a finely calibrated passive RIAA circuit alongside Class A circuitry for both the preamplifier and subsequent amplification stages, which the manufacturer asserts results in precise signal processing and a clean, accurate audio output.
On the other hand, the Muse power supply focuses on minimizing noise, a significant concern for phono amplifiers due to the low voltages they manage. By placing the low-noise toroidal transformer in a separate housing, any noise produced is effectively isolated from the Apollo’s amplification circuits. Additionally, the Muse is equipped with substantial smoothing capacity and high-quality voltage regulators to mitigate ripple and noise.
The new combination of Apollo and Muse is anticipated to be available for delivery in March, although pricing details have not yet been disclosed.
