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audio Viganoni - New Zealand

sachem v.3 hi-end monoblock amplifier

Please click here to read the review of a sachem system, made by Dr. Richard Varey on the Witchdoctor hi-fi magazine.
the new sachem v.3 (black version)
The success of the original sachem first series inspired us, years later, to continue the journey with sachem v.2, and now we're proud to introduce the latest evolution: sachem v.3 The v.3 version features a redesigned PCB (Printed Circuit Board) with a layout as compact as possible, and minor modifications to the circuitry and components. All is housed in a new cabinet with a clean, linear design, crafted from solid aluminium bars and machined to perfection. Additionally, the v.3 boasts another significant difference from other hi-end amps: it's wire-free! Another distinctive peculiarity is its unusual response to musical transients: lightning-fast speed and total sound control, both of which are paramount in an amplifier. Many of my live recordings feature large classical orchestras performing intricate modern compositions, and, playing this highly complex music, the v.3 really comes to life, delivering remarkable clarity and seemingly limitless power, especially on peaks that exceed 90 dB of dynamic range at true live volume! To get a sense of its qualities, you might want to take a look at the testimonials page on this website. However, to fully discover its superiority and materially realise what we have achieved, we highly recommend that you compare a pair of sachem v.3 with any hi-end amps on the market, without budget constraints and using very dynamic and well-recorded CDs. Unlike other amps, the v.3 loves very complex loads, so make these comparisons employing so-called "difficult" speakers. You'll find that it thrives where others falter!

an overview of the sachem v.3 monoblock and ... a few extra considerations

The text below has been partially copied from the Owner's manual included within every sachem v.3. Additionally, it contains notes that are useful for understanding the "philosophy" behind the amplifier, as well as making you aware of technical and hi-fi related issues that you will never read about in hi-fi magazines or hear in a hi-end "temple".
sachem v.3 - back panel
We dedicated over a year to electronic and sonic research, to transition from v.2 to v.3, completely redesigning and compacting the circuit paths on the PCB while widening and shortening the tracks to minimise their electrical resistance. Throughout this process, we meticulously evaluated a range of high-quality new components and experimented with subtle modifications to the original circuits. Finally, we arrived at this v.3 version, which "doesn’t sound", or better ... "sounds" as discreetly as possible. Audiophiles very often forget that hi-fi equipment should not function as an additional musical instrument with its own distinct sound; rather, it should remain a neutral machine! The greatest advantage of monoblock amplifiers is that they can be positioned close to the speakers, minimising the length of the speaker cables. Indeed, this setup significantly improves the sound quality, dynamics, speed, and control. So, we highly recommend placing each monoblock very close to its speaker, in free air on a small stand, or even on the floor (if not carpet or any soft material). We believe all high-priced amplifiers should be made in monoblock configuration because the use of long speaker cables, regardless of price, make, or any "divine intervention", always degrades the sound. A speaker presents a very complex electrical load (far from a pure resistor), and the cable adds its electrical parameters (resistance, inductance, and capacitance) to those of the speaker, further altering the load perceived by the amplifier. Considering that the electrical parameters of a cable are given "per metre", it's intuitive that, by increasing its length, you also increase the values of these parameters and, consequently, the importance of their effects. Conversely, a good-quality shielded interconnect (with low capacitance, inductance, and resistance) between a preamp with low output impedance and the power amps does not influence the sound. Even if it did, the supposed loss will be much less than that of a long speaker cable. The sachem v.3 can effortlessly drive any loudspeaker, regardless of load complexity, impedance, or efficiency. Indeed, it thrives on capacitive and inductive loads even more than purely resistive ones! This peculiarity is essential for unlocking the full potential of your speakers. However, it isn’t necessarily present in the "DNA" of every so-called "exclusive" amplifier. That’s why amplifiers can sound distinct when driving different speakers. Now, speaking of power, some audiophiles believe that a 90W amplifier cannot adequately drive a low-efficiency speaker. However, if the amp in question is a sachem v.3, they’re mistaken. We have tested our monoblocks driving a pair of 82dB (1W/1m) speakers at "unusual" volume levels, with fantastic results: incredibly fast transients (within the constraints of these "conceptually flawed" speakers) and no trace of clipping. No miracles: this is possible because a sachem v.3, when asked, delivers, without strain, fulminant current peaks of 20A, resulting in instant musical peaks (on a load of 8Ω) of 3200 W! Reproducing music, the true importance lies in an amplifier's dynamic power and "speed", not its RMS power, because the hardest part is faithfully delivering the instant peaks. It's also interesting to note that in a modern and serious hi-end system, with active subwoofers handling the low end and the main speakers rightly rolled off to blend seamlessly with them, brute‑force amplification is no longer needed. What truly matters in amplifiers for such systems is accuracy, control, high dynamics, and fulminant speed, all hallmarks of a v.3! On the other hand, we believe it's extremely difficult to build a high‑powered amplifier (200 W RMS into 8 Ω or more) that still delivers such refined sound. That’s why we chose a mid‑powered solution, but capable of lightning‑fast transients and virtually limitless dynamic range, thanks to its enormous current delivery and exceptionally low internal impedance of 0.1 Ω. Though rarely mentioned in amplifier specifications, this last parameter plays a crucial role in shaping an amplifier’s "liveliness" and "speed", qualities that have nothing to do with RMS power output. Indeed, there are high‑end "beasts" boasting 200 W or more that are so sluggish they manage to sound as lively as a funeral march (I won't name brands)! Another "open secret" behind the extraordinary speed and dynamics of v.3 is that the power stage features NO protection against short circuits in the speaker cables. In fact, protection measures inevitably introduce sonic compromises and performance limitations. For these reasons, we have chosen not to implement any protective system, trusting that our customers, who are unlikely to be hi-fi beginners, will connect their speakers with requisite care.
sachem v.3 inside. Please note the stunning wireless layout.
technically speaking
The sachem v.3 features a fully complementary design, with a dual differential-input stage followed by a dual complementary differential single-ended voltage-gain stage, operating in A-class at high current. Each monoblock features an oversized 300VA toroidal transformer that feeds twenty audio-grade capacitors (very low impedance and ESR) through a 35A full-wave bridge rectifier. These capacitors provide a total capacitance of 66,000μF and are paralleled with two exceptional WIMA polypropylene caps (MKP10 series). It’s interesting to see that nowadays some designers of new-generation hi-end amplifiers have finally adopted in the power supply stage the use of many smaller electrolytic capacitors in parallel, instead of two big ones, to achieve the same overall capacitance! Not to brag, but we started doing that 25 years ago in the original sachem series! All the resistors feature “metal film” technology, with ±0.1% tolerance and a temperature coefficient of ±15ppm/°C. For the common man, this means perfectly matched channels and veeeery low thermal noise. The power stage is handled by 6 selected and matched Darlington devices, each with a collector peak current of 20A, to achieve low open-loop output impedance and linear high-current capability. This ensures very smooth output transitions, without any audible crossover or switching distortion, even under high-current output conditions. The entire power supply and the Darlingtons in the power stage are so oversized that the result is a terrific peak transient current of 20A on the speaker, equivalent to peaks of 1.6 kW @ 4Ω and 3.2 kW @ 8Ω !! The other four current-filtering capacitors in the circuit feature a polypropylene dielectric, while the only one in the signal path (in the feedback circuit) is a bi-polar Nichicon Muse series, top audio-grade, and, in turn, paralleled with polypropylene capacitors WIMA, MKP10 series. It's a fact that capacitors in the signal path degrade sound quality, but many designers don’t seem to give this the consideration it deserves. We did things differently and, to our knowledge, the sachem v.3 is one of the very few amplifiers, if not the only one, with just one capacitor in the signal path, on the feedback circuit (compulsory in any amp)! Furthermore, and probably this is a feature unique to our amplifier, if you set it up for a rolled-off output (for example, when you join a sub to the system, or just to "humanise" the booming in floorstander speakers), the single electrolytic capacitor in the signal path (the Muse) is by-passed, and the signal "sees" ONLY polypropylene (high-speed WIMA MKP10 series)! With only one capacitor in the signal path, we've minimised component-induced colouration, resulting in a notable enhancement in sound fidelity. The v.3's euphonic sound, the full richness of original unchanged harmonics and overtones, the incredible transparency, the silky softness of the mid-high range, the endless and fulminant dynamic range, plus the “sculptural” quality and speed of its bass range, all depend to no small degree on this. Regarding the grounding system, the state-of-the-art PCB was carefully designed to eliminate internal ground-loop currents and ensure a high level of immunity to noise and external interference. The sachem v.3 is temperature-compensated, and the amplifier's perfect performance is assured after a short warm-up period of less than ten minutes or when the display on the front panel exceeds 33°C. Therefore, there is NO need to leave these units permanently powered on, considering the environmental impact, energy waste, and, importantly, their own safety in the event of natural calamities. In addition, the audiophiles who leave the system permanently powered on must know that the electrolytic capacitors in the power supply stage of any system component have a finite lifespan, measured in operating hours. So, the less time the equipment remains powered on, the longer it'll last. For all these reasons, at the end of each listening session, we strongly recommend switching off not only the monoblocks but the entire hi-fi system. I’d now like to open a brief parenthesis regarding the power supply of hi-fi systems. My recommendation is to connect a "normal" power board (with a power line filter and power surge protection) directly to the power meter via a dedicated line with conductors of appropriate diameter. This line must also incorporate a main switch, within easy reach (just in case), and rated at about 50A or above. All system components should be connected to the power board, and, up to you, they may remain permanently switched on, as power control will be managed exclusively via the main switch. An electrician can carry out this task easily, where the only challenge is how to conceal the cable (to avoid divorce). This setup enables a rapid and synchronised shutdown of all components in the event of severe weather conditions (highly recommended). It protects against potential power surges during normal operation and helps shield the system from line-induced noise or interference generated by household appliances. Bedtime reflection: if you're even considering buying today's absurd and utterly useless esoteric mains cables and "miraculous" power boards ... save your money! Coming back to the thermometer, it also serves another function: it turns off the amp when the heatsink reaches a temperature of 75°C and turns it back on after cooling to 50°C. For normal use, even at a very high volume, it's more than unlikely to reach this temperature! The sachem v.3 is a completely reliable amplifier. Every unit is deeply tested for 3 hours at full power into a 4Ω load (1V input, 1kHz) and for 12 hours at half power, into a 4Ω load, with "pink noise".As for reliability, the first sachem hit the market in early 2003, and to this day, we haven’t had any serious failures reported. We only replaced four mains switches in the first series, and repaired one monoblock whose power stage was "killed" by a short circuit in the speaker cable, courtesy of the owner (for the record, my best friend, ha, ha!). Moreover, on stage, the sachem guitar combo seems to effortlessly blast out over two hours of killer sound without breaking a sweat. As you likely know, this kind of performance is neither advisable nor realistically attainable with so-called high-end amplifiers.
sachem v.3 (silver version)
connections and Installation
On the back panel of each monoblock, there are the connection sockets: the red input RCA socket receives the signal from your preamp. The white one is a line output that can be used to feed the signal to other units in multi-amplification, or to drive an active subwoofer if you don't want to connect it to the preamp. At this point, I have to introduce you to an uncommon but very useful facility of our amplifier: the ability to select a flat response or, via its passive high-pass filter, a 6dB/oct rolled-off response, with three selectable -3dB points at different frequencies. You must choose one of these roll-off options if you connect a subwoofer. By doing so, you will create the correct crossover point between the sub and your main stereo pair, ensuring that the bass will be clean and booming-free. Furthermore, the dynamic range of the main speakers will increase, and their distortion will decrease because they will no longer struggle to reproduce (in vain) the lowest frequencies your sub is better qualified to manage. Image and clarity in the mid and high frequencies will also improve, thanks to reduced loudspeaker distortion. If you require clarification or assistance in optimising the sub's setup, feel free to contact us. Connecting a sub into the system without rolling off the low frequencies in the amplifier (and consequently in the main speakers), as anyone unfortunately does, is completely wrong, and a real "setup crime". This is why many audiophiles believe that a subwoofer degrades the quality of the low-frequency range of a hi-end system. And in truth, they’re not wrong, but this only happens due to a lack of technical know-how, both on their part and among hi-end insiders! If you plan to bi-amp your speakers with a second pair of sachem v.3, connect your preamp to the red RCA input of the amps driving the low spectrum, then connect their white socket to the red socket of the monoblocks handling the mid-high. In this configuration, you must roll off the bass response in the monoblocks used for the high frequencies, setting up the highest possible roll-off point (260Hz -3dB).
internal view (from front to back) and the power supply
Now, speaking about speaker cables, in every box you will find a one-metre-long NORDOST 2 FLAT cable, with an end terminated with a NEUTRIK Speakon plug (widely regarded as the best, with an impressive 40A RMS electrical contact rating). We have no relationship with the NORDOST distributor, and this allows us to remain completely impartial. Therefore, the only reason we chose this cable is that, in all our trials of speaker cables, it turned out to be superior to all others we tried (including the shamelessly overpriced ones) in terms of clarity, bass control, and speed. Indeed, there are technical reasons for its excellent performance, which, in my opinion, are due to outstanding electrical parameters: capacitance 23pF/m, inductance 0.55μH/m and propagation at 90% speed of light! We believe this cable is the best choice (or at least one of the best choices) to fully transfer v.3's huge potential to your speakers, despite its reasonable price. To discover the polarity of the accompanying Nordost cable, carefully examine its external white plastic cladding. You will note that the plastic cladding of one wire is completely smooth, while the other one has a line in relief along the middle. The marked wire is the positive, and the smooth one is the negative. However, you are free to try other brands and types of cable, but whatever cables you choose, keep them as short as possible. As said, please note that sachem v.3 features NO PROTECTION against short circuits in the speaker cables, which can instantly destroy your amplifier’s power stage. This unconventional design choice was made deliberately, for the sonic reasons explained earlier. So, before disconnecting or connecting a speaker cable, always ensure that the amplifier has been switched off for at least 30 seconds. We also recommend unplugging the Neutrik Speakon connector before disconnecting the speaker ends. Please note that the warranty does NOT cover any costs arising from issues caused by a short circuit in the speaker cable.
Darlington devices in the power stage and, at the centre, the pure Class A driver stage
Safeguarding sachem v.3 from overheating is very simple. Do not place the amplifiers inside unventilated enclosures such as closed cabinets or furniture. The monoblocks must be placed in free air and on hard surfaces: never on carpet or any soft surface that could obstruct the ventilation openings underneath. It is also essential to keep the units, especially the black version, out of direct sunlight. Failure to follow these instructions may prevent the amplifier from operating at its optimal temperature, potentially leading to a condition known as "thermal runaway", a dangerous scenario that can destroy the power stage. A high-humidity environment is another thing to avoid. No doubt you’re now ready to embrace and enjoy your stunning new monoblocks and care for them in the right way! We are confident that you will notice and appreciate the improved performance of your system! However, it’s important to realise that a pair of sachem v.3 won’t work miracles. Rather, they will ruthlessly expose any weaknesses in your hi-fi chain. Likewise, their full potential may be overshadowed by any component in the system that lacks selectivity, speed, or clarity. Unfortunately, a bitter truth of the hi-fi world is that the final sound of a system is mostly shaped by its weakest component rather than by its finest. Therefore, until all the components in your system match the calibre of your new v.3 monoblocks, the pursuit of sonic perfection will remain partly unfulfilled.
close-up view of the pure Class A driver stage (centre)
To finish, a note about the name: “sachem” (pronounced seɪtʃəm) refers to an elected paramount Chief of American Indian tribes in northeastern North America. The word originates from the Algonquian language of a tribe that lived near Lake Michigan. The Native Americans also used the epithet “sachem” as an honour for a senior warrior who had distinguished himself with particular merits.
Please feel free to contact us if you need any assistance or advice regarding the installation and use of our products, or if you have any general questions! Many heartfelt thanks to my dear friends and highly skilled technicians, Rino Cieri and Allen Gill, who have helped me solve major problems. I’m also grateful to Kevin Munt, who machined the cabinets with flawless precision.

specifications

NOTE: the parameters in RED are paramount, but usually omitted in the specs of many amps! Rated continuous power (RMS) 8Ω (20Hz ~ 20kHz) > 90W
Rated continuous power (RMS) 4Ω (20Hz ~ 20kHz) > 165W
Rated non-continuous power 2Ω > 300W
Peak max. transient current on load - see note below (**) > 20A
Input sensitivity ~ 1.3V
Input impedance 13kΩ
Internal impedance < 0.1Ω
Power bandwidth @ -3dB (top-band limited by input passive low-pass filter) 2Hz ~ 240kHz
Audio-band linearity 20 ~ 200kHz (@ rated power) ± 0.1dB
Phase deviation 20Hz ~ 20kHz < 3º
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) @ rated power 8Ω 1kHz < 0.03%
Crossover distortion NO trace
Signal-to-noise ratio (input shorted) NO audible noise Hi-pass filter-slope (see instructions) 6dB/oct @ xxx Hz
Overall dimensions (W-D-H) 300 – 410 – 165 mm Shipping dimensions (W-D-H) 510 - 420 - 290 mm
Shipping weight 13.2 kg
(**) Please note that a current of 20A is equivalent to peaks of 1600W @ 4Ω and 3200W @ 8Ω
sachem v.3 (or v.2) are on display at the following dealers:
Leonard Lucas - Auckland Signals - Auckland
Hi-Fi Auditions - Hamilton
Tone Electrical - Paraparaumu
(you'll find their contact details on the partners page) PLEASE NOTE: If you're outside the coverage area of our local dealers, feel free to contact us directly. We'll try to find an alternative way to let you experience the sachem "difference".
home page | about Franco | sachem pure v.2 | sachem v.3 | sachem guitar | live recording | school of hi-fi | the hi-end doctor | live music vs. hi-fi | testimonials | partners | contact us

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