IKARUS

Destined to become an "audio classic", the MAS IKARUS integrated amplifier was inspired by the classic triode single-ended valve amplifiers of yesteryear with incredible sonic abilities due to its simple signal path.

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What the critics say...

"It has taken little time for Australian firm MAS to receive worldwide attention .In France,the range of MAS Electronics has seduced us... Metaxas products belong to this rare category of electronics which achieve the essential and vital qualities of a good Hi Fi system which drive you to irresistibly listen and enjoy records one after the other".
Jean Hiraga/Patrick Vercher LA NOUVELLE REVUE DU SON, France.

"The IKARUS manages to combine two characteristics which are generally incompatible; on the one hand it succeeds in X-raying the music, whilst at the same time, it preserves its spirit and its musicality.The Ikarus is in fact an excellent product, rich in personality, refined, easy to use, very pretty, but most of all, it is a high class product. Silvio Delfino FEDELTA DEL SUONO, Italy

" Provided that the back-up components are of good quality, listeners can expect lush, well produced sounds closely akin to vacuum tubes. The unit's presentation of a soundstage is astounding. All dimensions are faithfully reproduced with the appropriate focal impact. There is enough air around instruments and voices to beguile even seasoned listeners".
Ernie Fisher, THE INNER EAR REPORT, Canada.

"In my listening sessions, the IKARUS amazed me with what 40Watts can sound like. Mids were neutral and transparent and the highs were shimmering and detailed with neither harshness nor a hard gloss. The sound is astonishingly finely etched, even at very low volume levels. For sheer beauty (sonic and visual), uncharacteristically good connection flexibility and the ability to drive difficult audiophile speakers, the MAS IKARUS is the best 40Watter around".
Greg Borrowman, AUSTRALIAN HI FI, Australia.

"However I come to peace with myself by the sound of the IKARUS. The Australian neither oversearches for superfine details, nor omits any information. The IKARUS plainly serves the music. Searching carefully for its characteristic features, one notices that it produces an exceptionally broad soundstage in the listening room."
Ulrick Michalik, HI FI EXCLUSIV, Germany.

"I'm surprised that this slim and simple appearance IKARUS integrated amplifier can perform almost perfect sound quality and high drive power. Output stage is normal class AB with 40WRMS into 8 Ohms, but with such a natural and clear performance, it sounds like class A. Even with its slim body, it drives speakers to loud levels with a vividness with fine energy levels from all frequencies".
Mitsugu Kobayashi STEREO SOUND Japan

"On modern music (jazz , fusion and even rock), the IKARUS is very impressive. Its sound is correctly aggressive but at the same time warm and liquid; it captivates with the intense fascination of the sound it portrays. But it is with the late-night listening session at home with the volume control set just right so as not to disturb anyone, family or neighbours, that the IKARUS reaches the pinnacle of enjoyment. Joe Henderson breathes into the mouthpiece of his tenor sax 'Miles Ahead', the window is open to let a breath of fresh air in to take the place of the torrid daytime heat. Ah...tender is the night..."
PierLuigi Sandonnini & Fabrizio Montanucci SUONO Italy.

"In contrast, the Metaxas presented more information especially 'in space'. Thanks to additional details and finer presentation, the IKARUS succeeded to demonstrate more clearly the characteristics of different recording techniques on a demo CD."
RATING: Absolute Spitzenclasse IV REFERENCE (This is the highest rating for integrated amplifiers in German STEREOPLAY)
Wilfried Kress, STEREOPLAY Germany.

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THE TECHNICAL MANUAL


The IKARUS is based on our successful IRAKLIS power amplifier schematic with an additional 10dB increase in overall gain. It acts as both line stage and power amplifier stage with only 6dB of negative feedback, eliminating an unnecessary amplifier circuit from the signal path.
Sporting the same overall construction quality of hand-engraved panels, machined stainless steel knobs, tiffany connectors, milspec double-sided oxygen-free copper PC Board and highly polished stainless steel case, each IKARUS is individually numbered as are all MAS products.
Using a complete dual mono approach in power supplies with separate individual high-speed rectifier diodes and almost 40,000uF of filtering supplies, only the large 150WATT toroid transformer is shared by both channels.
A high quality rotary switch and potentiometer (ALPS in this case) are the only components the signal encounters on its way to the high quality amplifier circuits, allowing an incredible wealth of fine musical nuisance to pass directly through to the loudspeaker.
An optional PHONO stage or DAC stage can be purchased and added directly onto a 9 pin PC mounted 'D' type connector at the customer's request.

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OPTIONAL MM / MC PHONO STAGE

The Ikarus Phono Processor was designed to allow the direct connection of high quality moving magnet or high output moving coil (greater than 2 millivolt @ 1KHz) phono cartridges to the Ikarus integrated amplifier.

The MAS Ikarus Phono Stage uses the same proprietory regulator as used in our Charisma preamplifier with a phono stage built from high performance integrated circuits (which can be upgraded at a later stage) using a DC servo to eliminate any capacitors from the signal path. Premium components are used throughout to ensure a smooth, transparent sound quality.

Switchable Gain and Input Impedance

An 8 pin micro switch array enables the owner to better suit the phono cartridge.

SWITCH POSITION OFF ON

RIGHT CHANNEL
1. Right Channel Gain low high
2. Input Impedance 47 K 2 K (Ohms)
3. Input impedance 47 K 620 Ohms
4. Input Capacitance 270 pF 540 pF

LEFT CHANNEL
5. Input Capacitance 270 pF 540 pF
6. Input Impedance 47 K 620 K
7. Input impedance 47 K 2 K
8. Left Channel Gain low high

Installation to be done by an accredited MAS Dealer/Technician Only!

1. Solder the 9 leads to the "connector" on the underside of the P.C.B. (you will need to remove the base of the Ikarus). Also peel off adhesive tape backing to firmly place the phono processor onto the Ikarus P.C.Board.

2. Conduct voltage test between ground and the positive/negative supplies. Before the regulator, the voltage should be between 26 - 31 Volts. After regulation, this should drop to approximately 19 Volts (this can be measured on pins 4 and 7 of the NE 5534 I.C.).

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Specifications

FREQUENCY RESPONSE : DC - 1.0MHz (-3dB) dictated by input filter
(without filter 10 Mega Hertz).

POWER OUTPUT : 45WRMS per channel into 8 Ohms with no
more than 0.05% T.H.D.

DAMPING FACTOR : Greater than 500 wide band

SLEW RATE : Greater than 1000V/us small and large signal

T.H.D. : Less than 0.05% 20Hz-20KHz

I.M.D.(S.M.P.T.E.) : Less than 0.05%

SIGNAL/NOISE : -117DBV unweighed input shorted

SENSITIVITY : 0.5VRMS in for 45WRMS out (35dB)

INPUT IMPEDANCE : 10kOhms in parallel with 82pF