MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

AMPLIFIER TESTING:

Each MAS product is totally assembled and tested by one of our trained technicians who signs his name on the finished product. Once assembled and tested, each unit undergoes a 48 hour burn in at 10% higher mains voltage to stress the unit and ensure that there are no faulty components. The unit then undergoes a listening test after being installed into one of listening systems for 24 hours.

After passing the listening tests using known reference recordings, each amplifier is subjected to a full final test for noise and distortion before being sent to the various distributors from around the world. It is then the MAS distributor's responsibility to further test the product to ensure that there can be no fault from shipment before it is delivered to the customer.

PRODUCTION:

All MAS preamplifiers and power amplifiers feature one large printed circuit board onto which all the components are assembled. This eliminates the need for wiring harnesses, and the problems associated with wiring.
This also guarantees the shortest possible path between input and output between voltage regulation and amplifier circuits and minimises any excess circuit path which would have a deleterious effect on the sound quality.
The overall design is also sympathetic to servicing a modification for sound improvement which may be available at a later date.

Transistors: Every individual small signal transistor used in our amplifiers is selected and matched in lots of 10,000 to ensure sound quality consistency.
Transistors from each batch are checked for Hfe curves, breakdown voltage and noise figure to ensure that they meet our exacting level of quality. If the initial tests do not meet our specifications, the complete batch is rejected. It is only in this way that we can ensure the optimum quality of all our product ts.
Our power transistors which are sourced form Japan are the fastest output devices available and feature frequency bandwidths which are normal for small signal devices, but extraordinary for such high current devices.

Capacitors: Since we hardly use capacitors in our amplifiers, it is only the equalization and D.C. servo capacitors which we sonically evaluate and these are sourced from respected European suppliers.
The low impedance computer grade types which make up our primary filtering supply are also evaluated sonically from different suppliers to find one which simply sounds better.

Resistors: After using prominent European suppliers for many years, we were sent some samples made by very small 'audiophile' suppliers which we use exclusively.

Connectors: All our RCA connectors are specially fabricated form solid brass metal with an extra-thick 24 carat gold plating to ensure a lifetime of consistent use. Our heavy duty binding p;osts are designed for manium sound quality, and to accommodate todays heavy cables.

Cases: Stronger than normal mild steel and aluminium, stainless steel is an elegant and durable material for amplifiers which are designed to last a lifetime and travel to customers from all over the world.

Front Panels: All of our legend panels are machined from solid aluminium bar which are linnished and black anodised before having the operational function details hand-engraved. Whilst costly compared to using the silk-screen process, we feel that the extra quality and longevity of this process more than justifies the price.

Knobs: Every knob on a MAS product is machined from solid stainless-steel and undergoes 5 stages of hand polishing before it is assembled onto a unit.

Rotary and toggle switches solder direct to the P.C.B. and feature totally sealed, gold over coin silver contacts for long operational life.

VOLUME and BALANCE potentiometers are specially made by ALPS for MAS and feature the latest in conductive plastic technology.