Usher Audio - Timestep  where East meets West

USHER P-307-TE Stereo Preamplifier
P-307-TE is the Class A control centre of today's high end sound systems. Its two main functions are source selection and volume control. Every effort has been made to keep P-307 as accurate as possible. There is no tone control defeat switch, because there are no tone controls, pure and simple, just like the sound.

To avoid unwanted interactions with adjacent source components, P-307-TE uses high-quality relays and switching designs to ensure that every source is intact. Thus all sources remain separate from one another, and from the power amplifier and cables. In the digital age, analogue preamplifiers remain the most reliable and neutral-sounding component for controlling volume. P-307-TE uses a superior Alps Blue attenuator that offers a neutral sonic performance. Since AC power supply generates noise, P-307-TE's power supply is housed in a separate chassis. Thus P-307-TE's audio circuits are exposed only to quiet, regulated DC power and the audio signal itself.

USHER P-307-TE is an über modern, reference-level preamplifier. The P-307-TE reveals incredible image focusing and soundstage.  The sense of ease and rhythmic flow coupled with the delicate subtlety of musical detail, makes listening to music a real pleasure.

▪ Click the images or here for a close up.
On demonstration in Dartmouth Devon now
Retail price £1,200 We will match any other price and give truly exceptional part exchange values.

Remote Volume Control
Without doubt, most music is volume sensitive, that is,  it has to be played at the right volume for the time, mood and place.  This is difficult without a remote volume control.  Dave Cawley has cleverly fitted an Alps Blue motorised attenuator into the existing P-307 chassis.  The only way to tell this is different from a standard unit, is by a small hole on the bottom right of the front panel above the P in P-307, this is the IR receiver.  But the really clever part is that you can control your P-307 from any other remote control; simply bring in your CD remote and within minutes it will control your P-307 (or send the remote to Timestep for a replacement chip).  Imagine the convenience of just one remote?  Out of the box, the P-307-TE operates with the supplied Marantz remote and that supplied with Usher's own CD-1 & CD-7 CD player.

The knob on the front panel actually rotates as the volume up/down buttons are pressed, this gives you absolute visual feedback on what is happening.  It might have been less costly to insert an electronic attenuator chip, but a motorised analogue Alps Blue volume control was clearly the only way forward.
P-307-R  Remote,   Retail price £1,995   (remote only, no other modifications)

TE modifications
The TE modifications take the standard P-307 much, much further.  Modified in the UK by Dave Cawley, the end result is even quieter with a larger soundstage.  Coupled with a remote Alps Blue volume control, this unit is the audiophile's natural choice.  Modifications carried out in the UK include:-

Specification
Signal to noise  121dB  20Hz - 30KHz   (108dB 20Hz - 100KHz )
Frequency response 20Hz - 50KHz  +/-  0.08dB
Distortion 1KHz  0.0028%  (limit of HP 8903B measurement)
Channel balance 0.004dB nominal (full volume to -25dB inclusive +/-  0.1dB)

Prices
P-307 standard version £1,200
P-307-R  Remote,   Retail price £1,995   (remote only, no other modifications)
P-307-R-TE Remote,   Retail price £2,295  (remote and TE modifications above)
P-307-R-TE-PH Remote,   Retail price £2,785  (remote, all TE modifications above & phono stage)

Retro fit remote,   Retail price £799.00
Retro fit remote and all TE modifications above,   Retail price £995.00
Retro fit remote, all TE modifications above & phono stage,   Retail price £1,485.00
 

Note:
Some of these modifications are quite substantial and require total disassembly of the preamplifier and replacement of major components.  Then each unit is soak tested in a real system for up to 48 hours.  During this process the odd mark and scuff is enviable, but you can be sure that your unit is hand built and tested by experts in the UK!

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Usher R.1.5  Class A Stereo Power Amplifier
The  R-1.5 amplifier is designed to drive any loudspeaker, producing warm Class A "valve like" sound quality. Many reviews have said this is the closest you will get to a valve amplifier, but one that will give 150W into 8Ω and for difficult loudspeakers an amazing 500W into 1Ω. With the ability to source 80A of current this amplifier deserves serious loudspeaker cables.   Constructed with premium parts, including metal film resistors and film capacitors underlines Usher's reputation for high-quality manufacturing.
Forty individually selected high-power bipolar transistors, designed by Motorola can handle the sophisticated power and current requirements.
This amplifier features a massive AC power transformer and a high current, high-capacitance filtering system for the purest sound. Other features include Burrow-Brown OPA2134P Sound Plus Series op amps, bridging switch for mono block operation, terminals that accept both banana plugs and spades, optional balanced inputs and large handles on the front and rear panel.  Simply nothing beats Class A, this is the real thing, all 40kg.
 

▪ Click the image or here for a close up.
On demonstration in Dartmouth Devon now
Retail price £1,450 We will match any other price and give truly exceptional part exchange values.

▪ Usher R.1.5 pdf review from The Sensible Sound (340K)
▪ Usher R.1.5 pdf review from Hi Fi World

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Usher R.1.2  Class A Stereo Power Amplifier
All but identical to the  R-1.5 amplifier above, this amplifier fulfils the need for a slightly lower power application.  We often use a pair of them in monoblock-bridge-mode or in monoblock-bi-amp-mode which results in a saving over £600 over a pair of R.1.5.  In fact the power supply although smaller, is actually correspondingly "stiffer" and hence very suitable for using in stereo pairs.
 

▪ Click the image or here for a close up.
On demonstration in Dartmouth Devon now
Retail price £1,150

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About Dave Cawley
Dave studied Engineering at Redruth, Cornwall in the 60's and went on to design tape recorder heads in the days when tape was a premium medium.  Tape heads can produce outputs 20dB less than the average moving coil cartridge, so measurement in those days was a real challenge.  Dave worked in the audio industry for some time before moving into satellite communication, receiving signals from satellites 23,000 miles away with only a 5 watt transmitter.  Low signal technology and high signal to noise, has been part of Dave's life from his earliest days.  Dave has given several papers to the United States Department of Commerce, and was often the only non-US Government person to do so, such is his specialised knowledge.  Dave now concentrates on consultancy in his fully equipped design laboratory in Devon.
 

Timestep Electronics Ltd

PO Box 2001  Dartmouth Devon  TQ6 9QN  Great Britain

Telephone 01803 833366  Fax 01803 839498  e-mail information@time-step.com