@solobone22 Sorry about the delayed response, been in my cave during much of Covid. I did get the Aesthetix Calypso preamp (which I bought new in 2004), upgraded to the Eclipse version. I've been an audiophile for 50 years and had some very nice gear, but nothing that touches the Aesthetix Calypso Eclipse. I can't imagine any change that would be worth the effort in improvement. You asked about my previous pre-amp - it was a Pass Aleph, very nice, I enjoyed it a lot. But as seems to happen to many of us, with age our taste in music and sound changes and we transition to tubes, which is what I have done. I am completely thrilled with my current all-tube set-up, in which the Aesthetix plays a central role (SME 20 into Luxman EQ500/Marantz SA-10 into Aesthetix Calypso Eclipse into Wyetech Labs Sapphire 300B monoblocks into Verity Audio Otello speakers, connected with Siltech Royal Sig Queen/Crown PRince/Prince/Crystal Cable Dreamline Plus.
As for my assessment of Aesthetix service, they were exemplary in all regards, among the best I have ever experienced. |
Anybody do the Pandora SIG to Eclipse upgrade ? |
@ejholtom Did you get your Aesthetix piece upgraded? What were you using before you picked up the Aesthetix?
I'm looking to add a tube pre to my setup and Aesthetix is at the top of the list. Currently I'm using a MSB Analog as DAC/pre. |
According to Aesthetix, the Calypso Eclipse will outperform the Callisto Signature, but not the Callisto Eclipse. I'm late to the party here, but just went through deliberations on what to do with my Calypso, which I bought new in 2004 and has served me well since. I decided to do either the Signature or Eclipse upgrade, and after some thought, had decided to do the Signature. The price quoted by the Canadian distributor for the Signature was US$2400 and the Eclipse US$4300. The Signature upgrade would be done by an Aesthetix approved tech here in Canada (I checked him out and he is highly regarded, one of the original principals in Sonic Frontiers gear). However, after I learned that the Cdn distributor had neglected to include the power supply upgrade in the Signature quote, and revised the price to $2850, I thought I will just go whole hog and spend the extra $1450 for the Eclipse. I am currently waiting to hear when this work will be scheduled at Aesthetix before shipping the Calypso off. Regarding the comparison between the Calypso and the Callisto, here are the words of Glenn Buckley at Aesthetix: "Comparing the Calypso and Callisto is not always easy as they are indeed different animals. The Callisto also comes in the same 3 editions as the Calypso: Standard, Signature and Eclipse. At the end of the day, a Calypso Eclipse will sound better overall than a Callisto Standard or Signature. Only the Callisto Eclipse will surpass a Calypso Eclipse in this area".
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Audioconnection:
Are you suggesting run the sub at speaker level instead of pre-amp split?
what damage will it cause to Calypso?
Thank you!
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Have you tried your subs via speaker level?
I think you may be in for a pleasant surprise
No, but I don't always run my subs. They stay connected but are often off. |
(((My subs are powered, and I've read that it's better to run them via line out and not through speaker level.)))
Have you tried your subs via speaker level?
I think you may be in for a pleasant surprise.
Best JohnnyR
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Running dual sub outs at line level plus low input impedance amp
will prove fruitless for you and is suicide for any fine tube pre amp,
Try going out with subs at speaker level and find an pre owned Atlas.
My amp (Sanders Magtech) has 100kohm input impedance. Is that considered low input impedance? I'm not sure that I understand your post about subs. My subs are powered, and I've read that it's better to run them via line out and not through speaker level. |
Johnny, are you suggesting to try Saturn Eclipse over Jupiter Eclipse? |
I can also tell from the words written here that most of you have not actually experienced the Saturn Eclipse.
In my opinion it is some of JimmyWs best work and the sweet spot in the Aesthetix line up.
You will know when you hear it!
Best JohnnyR
Audio Connection
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I don't plan to upgrade to the Eclipse version or Callisto. I can
barely tell any difference between my Odyssey Candela ($1500) and my
Aesthetix Calypso Signature.
Limniscate
Running dual sub outs at line level plus low input impedance amp
will prove fruitless for you and is suicide for any fine tube pre amp,
Try going out with subs at speaker level and find an pre owned Atlas.
Best JohnnyR
Aesthetix dealer
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I don't plan to upgrade to the Eclipse version or Callisto. I can barely tell any difference between my Odyssey Candela ($1500) and my Aesthetix Calypso Signature. |
I see myself living with a Signature version as well. I think with Signature upgrade you get the most bang for your buck. IMO, the Eclipse upgrade particularly in an esoteric context, it's a fifth element. The benefits in this category are only realized if rest of the components are in same echelon.
My plan is to mate Callisto Io with Atlas stereo amp in bi-amp mode. It's going to come down overall $$$, which version I end up with. I am approaching this upgrade as 10 to 15 years of investment.
Happy Listening!!!! |
I can easily live w/ the Signature model. |
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From Aesthetix website,
The Eclipse upgrades consist of the use of new exotic Stealthcap™ capacitors; electrical upgrades including hand-tuned capacitors, super-matched output devices and distributed node technology; advanced mechanical chassis isolation; and sophisticated electrical signal grounding in the power supply.
First Phase
The first phase of the Eclipse upgrade incorporates numerous Stealthcap™ capacitors in critical interstage and output coupling functions, tailored specifically for Aesthetix Eclipse. Famous for his line of super audio grade components, the StealthCap from Peter Moncrief is tailored exclusively for use in the Saturn Series. Using radical new Stealth Technology™ (patents pending), these caps use exotic new conductors, dielectrics, and exotic composite resins to dramatically reduce reflections. A typical capacitor behaves like a long plate, and the signal's many reflections off the boundaries of this long plate can cause numerous echoes that mask your music.
An excellent example of this is when you stand at one end of a gymnasium floor and your friend stands at the other end. When speaking, the two of you can hardly understand what the other one is saying. Why? The multiple reflections from the gym's boundaries garble the sonic message. As we speak more loudly and dynamically, the problem gets more pronounced. The same reflection problem happens in all typical capacitors.
StealthCap™ cures this reflection problem as the electromagnetic wave that carries your music signal throughout the long capacitor plate is similar to the electromagnetic wave we call radar. The new Stealth Technology in StealthCap™ dramatically reduces corrupting signal reflections in the capacitor plate, just as stealth technology in an aircraft dramatically reduces radar signal reflections. These capacitors bring your Saturn equipment to new levels of performance.
With our Eclipse versions, you'll notice the incredible intertransient silence and the very quiet black background. Lesser capacitors, plagued by internal reflections, add a haze of noise to what should be a black, quiet background.
Experience the amazing transparency of StealthCap™, revealing a wealth of subtle musical information and reproducing rich spatial imaging that you never heard before from your recordings. Hear every musical note and and its transient envelope come into clear focus and articulation with the StealthCap™. StealthCap's focused, tactile coherence gives you a new level of musical realism. You'll enjoy the stunning musical dynamics of StealthCap , the cumulative impact of reducing background noise and enhancing focus, fully capturing the recording's micro-dynamics.
Second Phase
The second phase of the Eclipse upgrade consists of electrical upgrades to the signal path and output stages. In the preamplifiers, high frequency tuning capacitors are installed and hand-adjusted to tailor the frequency response to a tight .1dB standard. The Atlas power amps feature super-matched output devices, lowering certain output stage distortion components by as much as 40dB. In every version of the Atlas, each Bi-polar output device (16 per channel) is supplied power through a copper bus bar design, radically reducing impedance compared to standard circuit board traces. In the Eclipse version, Distributed node film capacitors are added at each output device, further reducing impedance for increased current capacity and improved transient capability.
Third Phase
The third phase of the Eclipse upgrade addresses mechanical isolation and heat dissipation. In previous versions, the transformers are mounted directly on the chassis through a damping material. In the Eclipse version, the transformers are isolated from the chassis using specially designed isolation mounts, dramatically reducing the amount of mechanical vibration introduced into the chassis.
Damping material is added at critical chassis points, particular with large surface areas, which reduces noise added to the system due to airborne or mechanical sources.
All Eclipse Rhea, Calypso and Janus units receive a new power supply, with improvements in heat dissipation capability, overvoltage and spike protection. The casework changes bring the preamps to new levels of articulation and clarity. It also allows each piece to ventilate better, improving longevity and reliability.
All Eclipse units feature Harmonic Resolutions Systems' Nimbus Couplers specially made for Aesthetix replacing the four rubber feet of standard units. This upgrade, also found on our Signature units, results in a lower noise floor and more air and space around the instruments.
Fourth Phase
The fourth phase of the Eclipse upgrade is sophisticated electrical signal grounding in the power supply. Since the transformers are no longer electrically grounded to the chassis via physical contact due to their isolation mounts, a single point ground system is now used to ground the transformer cases, significantly reducing the amount of ground induced noise. All Eclipse Rhea, Calypso and Janus units receive a new power supply, which has been refined by improved trace routing to further reduce extraneous noise.
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I have heard the Signature version. What does the Eclipse upgrade
add to the Sig ? |
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"a used Aesthetix Callisto Sig would be much better than a Calypso Eclipse"
This is a very interesting statement. I was considering Calypso Signature or Eclipse which are as it is rare to come by on used market. I don't think I have seen a used Callisto listing in a long time (btw, they seems serious piece of engineering and aesthetics).
I welcome any feedback on tube rolling with Calypso or Callisto.
Thank you! |
The Romulus Eclipse upgrade is awesome |
Thanks for the information Albert.
I am also wondering about upgrades of the Aesthetix Saturn series components from standard or Signature to the Eclipse level. So I will be following this in hope of some on point input from others. I have a Rhea, Calypso and Atlas.
I don't have room on my rack for extra boxes, so although I have considered some of the Jupiter series components (Io and Callisto), it would require changing racks, which is not something I want to do at this time.
Jim Perry |
Sorry, I don't know current market value of your Calypso versus used version Aesthetix Callisto.
If value of your Calypso plus $3500.00 would put you in a Callisto, I would move to the higher range model. Later you can upgrade the Callisto to Eclipse if you wish.
These two are on different performance levels, Callisto is Jupiter series, Calypso is Saturn series.
This is just my opinion, I used Aesthetix in my system for more than a decade and when tubed up right it’s way up the chain in performance.
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I’ve upgraded from Callisto basic to Signature and then to full Eclipse. However, the Aesthetix Calypso is another animal.
I don’t know the cost of the upgrade you are asking about, but would venture a guess that a used Aesthetix Callisto Sig would be much better than a Calypso Eclipse.
This based on listening tests in my system when I had both for an extended period of time. Aesthetix is greatly effected by tubes, as are most designs. I have lots of posts at Audiogon discussing tube swaps and results of same.
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