5 - 1 TANDEM STATE IMAGING: ( Continued )
The feedback settings of the TIGRIS correspond with the following approximate values ( your actual speaker load and the output tab chosen will affect the values slightly ):
| Full Pentode | 2/3 Pentode | 2/3 Triode |
| | | |
Stage 1 | 5dB | 4dB | 3dB |
Stage II | 8dB | 7dB | 5dB |
Stage III | 12dB | 10dB | 8dB |
| | | |
Higher amounts of feedback affect driver control in speakers by increasing the amplifier’s damping factor and reducing speaker motion. Damping factor refers to the impedance relationship of source impedance (TIGRIS ) to load impedance ( speaker ). The lower the source impedance, the higher the damping factor. Increased feedback lowers the amplifiers’s output impedance. If your speakers feature main drivers larger than 8 inches, you may notice tighter, more articulate bass performance by selecting one of the higher Feedback settings.The highest amount of feedback in the TIGRIS is well below the industry standard in amplifier design, and the TIGRIS was designed to operate flawlessly without any feedback whatsoever - the Zero setting. User-adjustable Negative Feedback is thus implemented merely as a fine-tuning and system-matching device.
To correctly evaluate the appropriate amount of feedback for your system, remember to adjust the Volume control during comparative listening sessions with various feedback settings. You need to offset reduced output with increased feedback by slightly raising playback levels.
A quick counting survey of the features of Tandem-State Imaging will add to twelve (12) different possible combinations between Pentode / Triode operation and Negative Feedback. Before this figure begins to look alarmingly complex, take a slow breath: after a get-to-know period of a week or two, most owners settle for one very obvious setting as the best-sounding for their system. From our BARON’S returned warranty cards we have learned that one person’s favorite setting is another one’s least used, thus proving the value of such flexibility. We also have reports on file where, due to a move, redecoration or system upgrade, the favorite setting changed. Tandem-State Imaging thus also becomes an insurance policy against obsolescene. This feature is so easy to operate - a flick of a switch, a turn of a knob is all it takes. All adjustments were designed to be operational on-the-go, under signal and during the performance where changes would be immediately perceivable.
5 - 2 POWER TUBE BLEND:
Returning briefly to the power tubes of the TIGRIS, you will notice that here, too, the principle of cross-breeding is in operation: two different kinds of tubes are employed, in a predetermined, optimal 2:1 ratio. The EL84 tube is known for its dynamic prowess and a lively, bubbly presentation filled with air and extension. The 6V6, on the other hand, excels with its warmth and prodigious bass. Combined, the presentation features the sum total of these ingredients: full-range frequency extension, dynamics, warmth, airiness and liveliness.
5 - 3 HEADPHONE OUTPUT:
An unusual feature of the Headphone Output of the TIGRIS is its linkage to the full array of power tubes, which provide access to complete Tandem-State Imaging and true Class A output power. Unlike other designs where an op-amp or the preamp stage drive the headphones, the TIGRIS, via a load resistor, connects the headphones directly to the speaker outputs. Whenever the Headphone switch on the Rear Bay is set to speaker mute, the entire TIGRIS literally converts into a dedicated headphone amplifier of reference caliber. Our ultra-low noise output stage was especially optimized to cater to high-resolution Headphones that would reveal back- ground noise in a lesser design. If you initially experience uncertainty about the exact impact the various settings of Tandem-State Imaging exhibit over your speakers, we recommend you take an educational tour via a pair of good-quality Headphones. Because you side step room interactions, the effects will be very pronounced and easily recognizable. With a little experience, you will then know
