Cayin CS55A KT88

With the CS-55A, Cayin presents a valve amplifier delivering forty watts per channel, obtained thanks to four KT88 tubes mounted in ultra-linear class AB push-pull configuration. In terms of connectivity, the unit offers a phono input, a USB input, an auxiliary input as well as two line inputs, covering a wide range of uses. The construction combines an anodised aluminium front panel, a ventilated chassis, hand-made point-to-point wiring, a toroidal power transformer protected by a soft-start circuit, dedicated output transformers, audio-grade capacitors, carbon film resistors and ceramic tube sockets. The speaker output impedance is switchable between 4 and 8 ohms, and the unit is supplied, like the A-88T, with a remote control.

The CS-55A supports both analogue and digital sources: an MM phono section accommodates turntables, while a built-in high-resolution digital-to-analogue converter allows connection to a computer. Via the USB 2.0 input, this converter handles digital audio signals up to 32-bit / 384 kHz. The output stage can be switched between Triode mode and Ultra Linear mode, and operates with KT88 or EL34 tubes. A headphone jack is fitted on the front panel.

Technical specifications:

• Frequency response: 5 Hz – 44 kHz
• Power at 4 and 8 ohms: 22 W in Triode, 40 W in Ultralinear
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 92 dB
• Input sensitivity: 270 mV
• Input impedance: 100 kohms
• Phono input sensitivity: 3 mV
• Phono input impedance: 47 kohms
• Gain: 40 dB
• Phono signal-to-noise ratio: 68 dB

Available connectivity:

• 1 USB-B input
• 2 stereo RCA line inputs
• 1 stereo MM phono input
• 1 6.35 mm headphone output