Enjoy your music, your way.
Stream from your set top box, smart device or computer via S/PDIF or USB port.
The Retro Stereo 50 is classic hi-fi quality fused with contemporary tech in a compact, retro package.
The Retro Stereo 50 (and LS3.5 bamboo speakers!) create an old-school yet modern vibe for your living or office space.
Classic, compact and cutting-edge, it’s an integrated stereo tube (valve) amplifier with a hybrid output stage and an output of 25W per channel.
As well as analogue inputs including an excellent phono stage to connect a turntable, it incorporates a hi-res DAC with digital inputs to play music from computers and smart devices.
And there’s Bluetooth, too, for those who prefer to stream wirelessly from their smartphones and tablets.
We’ve also added our signature sonic ‘optional extras’.
XBass+ cleans up and restores a richer deeper bass line.
3D+ helps to recreates the spaceness of a live stage performance.
Adjust bass and spatial performance with ease as all signals are processed in the analogue domain.
Listen via your favourite headphones.
Or add a pair of connected speakers. Our LS3.5 bookshelf speakers are designed specifically to go with the Retro 50.
Whatever you choose, you’ll be immersed in gloriously rich, pitch-perfect, expressive sound.
A class act refined. Every nuance defined. All-new Burr Brown Soundplus® J-FET type amplifier now beats at the heart of the Class A TubeState®.
This new circuit significantly reduces the loading seen by the main amplification circuit which improves the circuit inherent linearity while allowing it to drive even punishing 600 ohm studio inputs with impunity. The power supply filtering has been increased 5X in value.
More than ever, one can hear ‘into’ the recording itself with the blackest of backgrounds and every nuance, inflection is picked up by the system.
Hi-res audio support is state-of-the-art with True Native® playback. It handles PCM data to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD up to DSD512 and single and double speed DXD.
Thanks to the Burr-Brown DAC chip’s four-channel True Native design, PCM and DSD take separate pathways – this enables DSD, as well as PCM, to remain ‘bit-perfect’ in its native form right through to analogue conversion. This is not the case with all DAC devices from other brands – even if DSD compatibility is stated, many such DACs convert DSD signals to PCM.
Bluetooth (aptX) | 1 |
USB (DSD512/768kHz/2xDXD) | 1 |
Coaxial (192kHz) | 1 |
Optical (192kHz) | 1 |
Phono(MM/MC Low/MC High/Line 3) | 1 |
Line 1 | 1 |
Line 2 | 1 |
3.5mm (share with Line 2) | 1 |
Loudspeaker Output | 1 |
3.5mm Headphone Output | 1 (Output impedance 3.5mm < 3 Ohm) |
6.3mm Headphone Output | 1 (Output impedance 6.3mm < 6 Ohm) |
Power output (Music) | > 25W(majority Class A) |
Total Harmonic Distortion(THD) | < 0.2% (@ 2.83V/1W) |
Output bandwidth | 10Hz ~ 60kHz |
Frequency Response | 10Hz ~ 80kHz |
Signal-to-Noise Ratio | > Amplifier 101dB (@ max output) |
> Phono MM: 90dB(A) | |
> Phono MC: 80dB(A) | |
DAC Dynamic Range | > 113dB(A) |
Tone Control | Bass(100Hz) +/-8dB |
Treble(10KHz) +/-8dB | |
Analogue Signal Processing (ASP) | XBass, 3D Holographic |
Phono Gain | 38, 50, 62dB |
MM | 220pF//47k |
MC | 200pF//330R |
RIAA Accuracy | <0.5dB |
Tubes | 2 x ECF82; 4 x EL84X |
PCM | 768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz |
DSD 512/256/128/64 | 24.6/22.6/12.4/11.2/6.2/5.6/3.1/2.8MHz |
DXD | 768/705.6/384/352.8kHz |
Filters | Minimum Phase (PCM 192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz) |
Bit Perfect (DXD/PCM 768/705.6/384/352.8) | |
Analogue (DSD) |
Power Supply | AC 100V-240V |
Power consumption | 75W |
~0.1W (Standard mode) | |
Dimensions (W x H x D) | 300 x 153 x 226mm |
Weight | 5.8kg |
We’re working on it — check back soon!
A solid-state amplifier uses electronics such as diodes and transistors to amplify the music signal. A tube amp uses valves/vacuum tubes to do the same job.
There is a noticeable sound difference between the two methods. Some feel that tube amps create a warmer, more musical tone. Some companies choose to build ‘hybrid’ models that combine the two methods.
A phono stage (also known as a phono pre-amp) provides the connection between the record player and an amplifier.
When vinyl was the defacto standard for audio recording, the phono stage was built-in to receivers and amps, allowing direct connection of a turntable.
It will improve the depth and quality of music.
DACs convert digital information, stored or streamed by computers, into music we can hear through speakers or headphones.
Every device that’s a source of digital sound has a built-in DAC (TVs, games consoles, CD players, phones, portable music players etc). Dedicated external DACs sound much better than standard DACs used in digital devices such as phones.
Digital signal processing (DSP) is the use of digital processing, such as by computers or more specialized digital signal processors, to perform a wide variety of signal processing operations. When it comes to audio the overuse of DSP can result in an over-compressed, unnatural sound.
MP3 – this is the most popular format, every device in the world can use it.
DSD – Direct Stream Digital is a very high-quality audio format, better than CD quality. The higher the number (sample rate), the better the recording – DSD64, 128, 256, 512 and 1024.
PCM – Pulse Code Modulation is the most common format for CDs and DVDs.
DXD – Digital eXtreme Definition is a very high-quality PCM format. It was developed to edit hi-res (high quality) recordings recorded in DSD.