The Densen BEAT-200 is the result of over 3 years intensive research
and development, providing the focal point for all future Densen
products. As you would expect, it bears the Densen trademark of engaging
musicality, but the BEAT-200 is also technically sophisticated and is
fully engineered for the Gizmo system remote.
The B-200 marks the begining of a new phase for Densen, as it contains several unique, exciting solutions.
Soundwise
the B-200 is – as with all other Densen products – designed with the
absolute highest sound-quality as its goal. From the second the signal
enters the B-200 there is no compromise. The input selection is done
with a special version of CP Claire’s best relay. The CP Claire PRME
25005 is a mono relay, providing the B-200 with relays for both left and
right signal - and a total of no less than 18 CP Claire relays, though
the layout of the signal path means that the signal will travel through
an absolute minimum of relays. From the input relays the signal is sent
to the first stage of the preamp. Normally the signal would be sent
directly to the potentiometer, but by starting with the first amplifier
stage, the amplifier stage can be designed not only to take care of its
normal function, but also to interact perfectly with the volume
potentiometer that follows it. This ensures that signal sources with
inferior output-stages will stil work perfectly with the B-200, because
it is easier for them to work with the input stage rather then with a
potentiometer that changes electrical ccharacteristics with the volume
setting. From the volume potentiometer the signal is sent to the final
stages of the B-200. The last stages are designed to be able to drive
long cable runs, enabling it to work perfectly with several power
amplifiers at once, even if they are placed alongway away from the
B-200. This is done by making the output-stage a 6W Class-A power
amplifier with no feedback… Naturally the amplifier stages are totally
discrete designs, using ultrafast transistors and massive power
supplies.
The whole of the circuitry is designed with the best
components, and as such all inputs are goldplated, all resistors are 1%
laser-trimmed metalfilm or better, all capacitors are selected for their
sonic quality, and a Alps RK27 motor-driven potentiometer is used in a 4
times version. The power supply is built with the same encapsulated
transformers as in Densen's top of the line preamp, the DM-20. We use no
less than 5 custom-made capacitors, with a total capacity of 50.000 uF.
There are seperate transformers for audio and for the CPU/Link system.
The design is optimised to perfection, with only a minimum of leaded
components, the rest being high quality SMD components, mounted with a
precision of 0.05 mm! There is used a special teflon double-sided PCB,
which is highly unusual, but has dramatic effects on the signal quality.
As
always, the B-200 is prepared for bi-amping, but this time it is also
prepared for quad-amping, allowing it to drive up to 4 stereo power
amplifiers, or 8 monoblocks! If the connected power amplifier is
Densen’s BEAT 300, it will be possible to make the system active by
using electronic crossovers mounted internally in the BEAT B-300. This
provides a clear upgrade path, from one B-200/B-300 to one B-200 and up
to four B-300's using electronic crossovers, in an state-of-the-art
active system.
It is naturally possibile to mount a DP-01 phono-stage internally in the B-200.
As
allways with a Densen product, the circuit itself is built using no
feedback, which results in an open, transparent and dynamic sound with
the Densen trademark musical involvement in the foreground.
The
B-200 is not only optimised soundwise; the remote and link system are
also state-of-the-art, the result of 2 software programmers work since
February 1996.
The B-200 link system allows two-way communication
in multiroom installations. It is made to be an intelligent system,
where every product helps the others, so that IR signals recieved by the
B-200 or another product are transferred to the product for which they
are intented, securing a perfect reception of IR information. Each
product will be avare of which other Densen products are in the system,
allowing for problem free use of the remote etc.
On the B-200,
the link system will allow the user to power-up a link amplifier in the
kitchen, or in another room and then control the main system in the
living room, sending the signals to and from the kitchen, for playback
in the kitchen only (or in the bedroom, or somewhere else). It will be
possible to have full display information on the status of all units in
another room.
It will also be possible to take the remote to
another room and control the link from there, or to use the remote in
the main system like a normal remote.
The whole link system interacts with a type D-Subconnector, and as such uses a computer standard, allowing for easy updating.
The
frontpanel functions are also improved, without sacrificing the Densen
trademark of no-nonsense. One of the new features is stand-by, allowing
not only the B-200 to be put in stand-by, but also all other connected
Densen products. Another feature is the processor loop, allowing for the
use of the forthcoming surround processor.
To secure high
quality sound in this multiroom system, the B-200 has also a seperate
preamp stage for the link system, securing perfect quality, without
interfering with the B-200’s main preamp. The link preamp is designed
with a 833 IC which is run in balanced mode to secure no hum, even in
link installations with long cableruns. Even though the 833 is of high
quality, used in many of our competitors preamps, we feel it works best
as a balanced amplifier in the link system, and that our discrete
single-ended circuit is much better for real high-end use.
All in
all, this system is extremely versatile and will form the backbone of
Densen products for many years to come. It is even prepared for
extensions, meaning that the CPU, which is the heart of the system, can
be updated.
To avoid making the CPU in the B-200 too costly, we
have been able to optimize the Link/remote system considerably. Between
the initial prototype and the final product, we have We have actually
been able to remove 250 components, while improving the performance of
the CPU.
All these features are built into the BEAT-200 in a discrete way that never detracts from the true goal: musicality.
