Audionet ART G5

Architecture
ART G5 is an entirely new construction, based on an uncompromising concept and implemented with maximum attention to detail. Every phase of retrieval and playback was subjected to rigorous testing and optimisation.

Audionet Aligned Resonance Technology
The new ART G5 houses the silver disks with the precision and safety of – a safe, away from all external influences. The housing is an elaborate mixture of amorphous granite, steel, aluminium and low-resonance MDF. The ART G5 is also fitted with an ingenious noise-free ventilation concept.

Audionet Aligned Resonance Technology (ART) decouples the read-out unit and the control board from the housing. A mounting system ensures that damaging movement energy is dissipated in a targeted fashion and that the read-out process is subject to a minimum of disturbance. The reading module is a solid tape deck fitted in full aluminium, dampened with heavy foil, sitting on acoustically friendly brass pins. Developed for professional use, the new drive has an exceptionally robust mechanical and electronical construction. It guarantees the highest read-out quality and stability as well as excellent CD acceptance both in terms of surface quality as well as copy protection procedures. Further innovations are the puck and its cylindrical receiver. These two precision rotation parts fit together exactly without any play. The reduced contact surface and the low revolution impulse work together with an exceptionally strong, ring-formed magnet to produce a strong and even contact pressure. The pre-load guarantees an exceptionally stable and smooth disc run.

A solid slider plate isolates the drive from external influences. The slide runs equally and deeply in strong aluminium rails. Together with the machined aluminium ventilation lid of the MDF cover bowl this provides additional stability.

Sound Data Processing
Only the use of the best-quality materials enables the hih performance quality of reproduction achieved by the new ART G5. The first sound-relevant point is the current flowing through a special fuse at the network entrance of the ART G5, made of rhodium and copper. We use exclusively pure silver for the current feed to the separately structured analogue and digital network components. This produces a significantly calmer and more spacious sound. A generously-sized network filter and push-pull I-core coils strengthen the ART G5 in the mid and subwoofer area.

The newly-developed, multiple-layer, impedance-linearized circuit board layout makes the ART G5 even more broad-band and low-resistance. The energy flow is homogenous and unlimited over the entire frequency spectrum.

Audionet’s intelligent sampling technology ensures an entirely clean analogue signal recovery from the digital data flow. In doing so, PCM data is run through an elaborate, two-stage filtering and decoupling procedure. The output data is filtered and upsampled simultaneously in a high-performance signal processor using Audionet software. The filters are set for optimal impulse and frequency faithfulness under audiophile criteria. Optimized in this manner, the data is then unlocked with an asynchronous 192 kHz/24 bit upsampling procedure and decoupled from its input cycle. The PCM data is then transferred to two high-performance converters and processed to an analogue signal in separate channels.

Jitter
Since the presentation of the first source drive 13 years ago, we have worked continually to reduce jitter, i.e. tremors in digital signal flanks. Jitter errors restrict the sound reproduction in every possible manner, affecting the reproducibility, stage and depth of performance.

In developing the new ART G5 we were able to reduce the jitter of the individual circuitry elements to an almost immeasurable minimum, using a unique structural achievement. For example, our engineers have effectively reduced the jitter of the D/A convertor to a unique 60 picoseconds sigma. To deflect sound-impairing oscillations, the dampened precision tact generator for the sampling convertor and the DACs are located in the read-out unit swinging in the Z direction.

There is no information loss, and all data is processed at the correct time. This enables a unique clarity, depth offset and platform lighting.

Analogue preparation is effected via a differential current/voltage converter and an extremely complicated filter/amplification circuit. The switches are set on an extremely impulse faithful and high border frequency and thus established on the best individual components. The newly-developed Audionet operational amplifier employed here uses the finest tolerated, high audiograde film capacitors. The decoupling stage works internally with a triple degenerative feedback mechanism and an even higher current drive capacity. Overall distortion and internal malfunctions in the new ART G5 have been reduced to an absolute minimum.

Data Transmission
The digital audio data transmission also represents a unique development: Audonet’s intelligent sampling technology prepares and decouples the PCM information, transmitting it to a high-performance output transmitter via a low-jitter LVDS data transmission system absolutely resistant to interspersion. In its HighBit mode, all data is made available on Audionet’s proprietary HighBit interface with 192kHz/24 bit, on the AES/EBU output with 96 kHz/24 bit and on the optical output with 44.1 kHz/16 bit. In its LowBit mode, the digital outputs are provided with 44.1 kHz/16 bit. Thus in digital mode, the best possible PCM output data is always available.
User-Friendly
The ART G5 can be controlled simply and easily with the ergonomically-formed Audionet system remote control Harmony One included in the scope of delivery. All functions can be accessed easily and can be read-off from the well-illuminated colour display. An attractive row of hard keys and the background illumination enable easy control even in dimmed rooms. The remote control is preprogrammed for all Audionet components and can be programmed for up to 15 devices. A recharging cradle and a lithium ion battery are also included in the scope of delivery.

Function
Compact Disc Player
D/A converter function for audio- and pc-data
Special Features
Top loader with damping MDF, aluminium and granite casing construction, solid aluminium cover (10mm), run on Teflon bearings
Audionet “Aligned Resonance Technology”, decouples transport unit, boards and the clock generator
Reference CD drive VAU 1254/31LF
Disc stabilizer (puck) and its cylindrical receiver made of POM
Separate power supplies for read-out and converter unit
Completely DC-coupled, no capacitors in the signal path
Discrete, extremely fast and stable filter and output stages
D/A converter function with USB/SPDIF digital input and optical TosLink input
Audionet HighBit-Interface with 192 kHz/24 bit output
AES-EBU output with 96 kHz/24 bit
Digital outputs can be switched off
Professional operating concept
Audionet Metal Remote Control RC 1

In- and Outputs
Analog audio outputs:
1 pair RCA line, gold-plated
2 XLR balanced, gold-plated
Digital audio outputs:
2 RCA, 600 mVs into 75 ohms, gold-plated
1 AES/EBU, 110 ohms, gold-plated
1 optical (TosLink)
Digital audio inputs:
1 USB, as USB-Audio (44,1 kHz/16 bit or 48 kHz/16 bit) or SPDIF (32 kHz-96 kHz/24 bit)
1 SPDIF optical TosLink (32 kHz-96 kHz/24 bit)
Remote activation:
1 Audionet-Link in, optical (TosLink)
2 Audionet-Link out, optical (TosLink)
External power supply:
5-pin input