Trilogy H1 Energiser for Electrostatic Headphones
Ahead of the curve, Trilogy has opted to make its first Special Products Division component an electrostatic headphone energiser—a component where nuance and tangibility are etched in fine detail.
The SPD H1 is a fitting first statement product for the Trilogy Audio Systems SPD range, built with meticulous sonic craftsmanship. After trialing variations of the Stax circuit used by many other manufacturers, Nic Poulsen realized that accepted wisdom and circuitry failed to advance the product to Trilogy's design goals: to only ever evolve and improve.
The SPD H1 circuit is a unique solution. The design consists of two toroidal transformers—one for heating the triodes and the other for the rest of the H1. The vacuum tube circuit utilizes high-transconductance military-specification tubes, specifically one pair of 6C3 input tubes and one pair of 6H6 output tubes, with a service life of approximately 5,000 hours. They can be simply returned to Trilogy for replacement.
The H1 is a pure Class A, fully balanced circuit with both wide bandwidth and zero feedback, providing a pure connection between the listener and the music. Naturally, on this no-compromise design, wiring is point-to-point, Teflon-coated, silver-plated copper. The Stax sockets are PTFE/Teflon with gold-plated contact surfaces.
The H1 provides palpable bass and a forthright, authoritative midrange, in addition to the quality airiness that electrostatic headphones are so renowned for. The ephemeral yet conversely frustrating qualities of the traditional electrostatic headphone presentation have been addressed. It took time to reverse conventional thinking, but the result was worth it. Experience the openness and pure escapism the H1 provides.
To the rear, the SPD H1 features four inputs (two RCA and two XLR), and one pair of Stax sockets is elegantly recessed into the front fascia. A direct mode model (DMV) allows for remote input selection, and a more fully-featured remote includes additional operations like volume, balance, and mute. The DMV model may be upgraded to the full-featured remote version by simply returning it to Trilogy for chip and firmware updates.
As with any Stax-compatible energiser, performance depends on the quality of the source, such as a CD player's analog output stage and the quality of other manufacturers' digital volume controls. However, buyers of the H1 can rest assured that Trilogy has once again redefined the standard by which Stax-compatible energisers must be judged and experienced to be believed.
Key Features
- Like new
- Original box & packaging
- Includes cables
- Remote Control for volume adjustment etc.
- **Gold Award** review: Trilogy H1 Energiser for Electrostatic Headphones
- Pure Class A, fully balanced circuit
- Wide bandwidth and zero feedback
- Point-to-point, Teflon-coated, silver-plated copper wiring
- PTFE/Teflon Stax sockets with gold-plated contact surfaces
Specifications
| Size |
260 x 392 x 88 mm (W x D x H) |
| Size (including connector) |
260 x 405 x 88 mm (W x D x H) |
| Weight |
6.7 kg |
| Packaged Size (combined) |
590 x 510 x 260 mm |
| Packaged Weight (combined) |
9.2 kg |
| Power Consumption |
55 Watts (1 Watt standby) |
| Inputs Balanced |
2 pairs of XLR 3-pin female |
| Inputs Single Ended |
2 pairs of RCA phono sockets |
| Input Impedance Single Ended |
≥33KOhms |
| Input Impedance Balanced |
≥66KOhms |
| Gain (max) |
56dB |
| Frequency Response |
10-50KHz +/- 0.5dB |
| Valve Complement |
4* 6C3PI, 2* 6H6PI |
| Phase |
Phase correct (non-inverting) |
| Bias Voltage |
580VDC |
