In 1916 Western Electric engineer G.W. Elmen, seeking a material that could be magnetized more easily, developed alloys of iron and nickel that came to be called permalloy.  Later, permalloy became important for music reproduction systems.  The recently introduced and now famous 'amorphous cores' are also based on nickel.

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The name “Allnic” derives from All Nickel core transformers, and all Allnic's signal transformers are made with nickel alloy cores such as PC or PB permalloy.  Allnic believes that as a coupling device for amplifying stages, transformers are much better than capacitors.  Permalloy transformers are well worth their high cost and challenges in manufacturing because they transfer over 90% of the signal while retaining dynamics and fidelity compared with capacitors and their less than 5% efficiency.

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Also, transformer output pre-amplifiers are much safer than capacitor output pre-amplifiers when coupled with solid-state amplifiers, even safer than direct coupled solid state pre-amplifiers because transformers block any surging voltages to the next stage, surges that can severely damage amplifiers and speakers.

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Allnic uses very large permalloy (Nickel/FeSi) core output transformers. This provides for higher inductance with fewer windings than other designs can provide and results in the great benefit of an extremely wide range of output frequencies. These transformers are manufactured in-house by Allnic Audio. This is completely consistent with Allnic Audio’s ethos of more than thirty years of designing its products “from the ground up” and assembling each unit by hand.

 

If you haven’t had a chance to become familiar with Allnic’s products, please don’t miss the chance to experience them. They are products that will thrill and delight you - FOREVER!
 

TECHNICAL

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Permalloy output transformers and line output transformer coupling

In tube amp circuitry, there are two coupling methods; one is capacitor coupling and the other is transformer coupling. Capacitor coupling is the traditional, low-cost method. It is somewhat stable but transfers only voltage, not wattage (i.e., not real energy).

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With transformer coupling, about 90% of real wattage is transferred (there is still a transformer loss of about 10% of wattage–voltage is not affected). Transformer coupling is superior to capacitor coupling. However, all the advantages of transformer coupling depend on the quality of the transformer and on the choice of tubes.

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Allnic Audio manufactures its own transformers and uses what it views to be the best core material, permalloy. Allnic Audio’s unprecedented, wide (16Hz ~ 75kHz,-3db), low distortion, and ultra-flexible (up to 20kHz square wave response) output transformer helps Allnic Audio to realize the ideal transformer coupled amplifier. Of course, gain tubes are also carefully selected for three critical factors for function with the permalloy output transformers: high gm, low internal resistance and high mu.

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Full engagement output transformers
 

Conventional output transformers use pre-set secondary windings to accommodate 4, 8 and 16-ohm loudspeaker loads. However, these conventional transformers utilize only one secondary winding at a time, while the other secondary windings remain “idle”.

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This approach has two adverse effects. First, the output transformers are not working at their maximum efficiency, reducing their output relative to their potential.

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Second, the “idle” windings are not actually “idle”; they are subject to parasitic oscillations, producing their own “signal”. This undesirable electrical information is additive to the transformer’s output, distorting the amplified signal going to the loudspeaker.

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Allnic’s “Full Engagement” transformers address these issues by having 4 independent, secondary windings which are always fully connected, never “idled”. This means that all secondary windings are always connected to your loudspeakers, regardless of the output switch position.

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OTL/OCL Circuitry
 

Allnic Audio has progressed and, in some cases, pioneered the design of OTL/OCL circuitry. OTL/OCL means “Output Transformer-Less” and “Output Capacitor-Less”. In an OTL/OCL preamplifier, there is no coupling device between the preamplifier and the power amplifier, that is, the preamplifier’s final output tubes are directly connected to the power amplifier. Normally, an Output Capacitor or Output Transformer is used to separate the AC music signal from the DC operating potential; if this is not done, the latter will destroy the power amplifier or loudspeakers.

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But these two types of coupling devices are effectively obstacles to signal transmission that add their own character (color), increase distortion, and consume small signals according to physical efficiency theory. In addition, they limit signal dynamics.

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Because of all these adverse effects, OTL/OCL has been considered the best solution for amplifiers to maintain signal purity. Removing these two coupling devices from the signal path gives the best results. No coloration is added to the musical signal. The listener can expect:

 

⦁    Extremely detailed expression, natural harmonics and subtle musical decays
⦁    The lowest distortion possible due to the absence of coupling parts
⦁    Attainment of the widest musical dynamics

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Some circuit experts might worry about DC potential in the music signal, but there is no need to worry. Allnic uses a “floating power supply circuit” which prevents the creation of any DC potential in the first place.

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Powerful driving circuitry
 

Allnic believes in the importance of using high-quality, low noise and powerful driving circuitry in all its amplifying devices. Consequently, the driver tubes Allnic uses are often not what one would expect based on what is found in most amplifiers on the market. As a result, the listener can easily hear and even “feel” the differences between Allnic’s designs and other, more conventional, ones. Please imagine, as you listen to any Allnic device, its sound compared to the sound of an amplifier with the usually seen drivers. Even where Allnic has used a more conventional driver stage, it has optimized the circuitry, including transformers, to achieve maximum performance from the more standard approach.

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Remote-controlled 61-step ‘constant impedance’ attenuator

Mr. Park developed the world’s first 61-step, constant impedance, “bridged” type attenuator. Allnic’s new attenuator is now the most sophisticated on the market, and we believe, without a doubt, also the absolute best sounding. With fixed impedance and no (± 0db) channel unbalance at any volume level, the new attenuator will astound users with its elevation of the fidelity and purity of any system in which it is used.

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This revolutionary and currently unique, oil clutched, motorized attenuator is standard equipment on all Allnic’s flagship products, such as the L-10000 Signature OTL/OCL preamplifier.

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Soft-start Circuitry
 

Allnic uses soft start circuitry that, after sufficient warm-up only, provides the high voltage supply to the plate of each tube. This protective design results in prolonged tube life and fewer and less frequent issues with tube performance, especially important where NOS tubes are used.

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Beautiful 20kHz square wave response

We can show you how beautifully a 20kHz square wave response is reproduced. This is what is consistently achieved: