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Story
Pathos Acoustics was founded in 1994 by three Italian pioneers: Gaetano Zanini, Gianni Borinato and Paolo Andriolo, in the Italian city of Vicenza. A sophisticated city in northern Italy, famous for its great monuments designed by architect Andrea Palladio. The tradition of making something outstanding has continued since the days of Palladio. Today the focus in the area is on metal production, jewellery and fashion. This city still promotes innovation and invention just as it was used to at the time of Palladio. Pathos combines past, present and future, making hi-fi jewellery small monuments. Highly technological, and with designs and sound that leave no doubt – these products offers something absolutely unique.
The idea
Pathos story started in 1994 by a "coincidence". Gianni Borinato had an idea of a new amplifier circuit and he asked his two friends Paolo Andriolo and Gaetano Zanini to help him exploring the opportunities of this technology. So they manufactured the very first prototype; as Gaetano owned a high-end shop in Vicenza, they had the best possibilities for testing and benchmarking. At first the three pioneers thought that the amplifier they used as reference was broken - but the fact of the matter was the new circuit provided outstanding sonic performances, straight from the very first prototype. Doubts were first instilled, but this amplifier was too good not to be produced. In other words, Pathos was born in order to develop and to spread a new amplification circuit called INPOL (Inseguitore a Pompa Lineare = Linear Pump Tracker). INPOL is Pathos property and the circuit holds a Worldwide Patent.
Design and production
Paolo, who has a passion for industrial design, started to create the look. The result ended up as the T.T. – hailed by many to be the most beautiful amplifier ever produced. One of the few hi-fi classics of its time – a living legend. Gaetano started up the production, making no compromises on components and materials. Along with the technical innovation, the design and high finish of the products are very important as well. Through the years the idea “uglier they look and better they sound” has been pretty common within the audio business. Pathos proved they were all wrong. Pathos products speak to many of our senses – anyone can appreciate them every day. Just a look at a Pathos product is enough to make the customer feel, that he/she purchased something exclusive. Sometimes it is better to listen with your eyes open. All Pathos products are hand made in Vicenza (Italy) by following a long tradition of Italian craftsmanship. Only the finest selected components are used to ensure a peerless quality; all products are taken through a careful test-program to guarantee their quality. Unique products deserve unique treatment.
A new opportunity for the market
The Pathos company was born, but it was not an easy release, considering the market in which it was going to work. The audio branch is notoriously known by the presence of thousands of brands, it is a small and hard business. But for sure there was – and there is – enough space for a brand offering innovative solutions and extraordinary designs. The hi-fi industry needed somebody who dared to follow “the unorthodox approach”. Pathos was therefore founded in the knowledge, that there is enough space for those who have something authentically new to introduce, in that exciting search for the maximum fidelity in the reproduction of music.
A new philosophy
The PHILOSOPHY that accompanies Pathos brand, "the unorthodox approach", effectively created the benchmark of the business philosophy. The Pathos approach to the reproduction of music does not know dogmas or rules, but the goal is clear: to reproduce music in the most authentic way. Making products similar or equal to those already existing on the market does not fit to Pathos philosophy: every unit planned and manufactured by Pathos must enclose technological innovation, (not innovation as technical exercise!) but something able to offer real advantages for the fulfilment of the early aim: “faithful reproduction of music”.
Present
At the moment Pathos is known and appreciated worldwide – as a manufacturer of high quality amplifiers. These products have received several international awards and positive feedbacks from the press. Headquarters have been changed twice within the last ten years, in order to follow the increasing demand. There has been a steady growth and the product range has been extended. Pathos is in the middle of a heavy development, which is bringing several new products. The INPOL circuit has “evolved” and still nobody has come up with a better approach to amplifiers manufacture. INPOL-circuit is made to convey the sound in the best possible way.
Future
Pathos factory is five times bigger than before. This allows us separating our work: one department is specialised in woodworking, another one in metal processing and so on. And the laboratory will be even bigger, as Pathos will focus more and more on technological innovations in the future. Thanks to the new projects “the unorthodox approach” will keep on amazing both ears and eyes. It is all about passion.
La Fiera HIGH END conferma la propria importanza come vetrina internazionale di riferimento con moltissimi visitatori da tutto il mondo. Molti produttori, rivenditori, distributori ed esponenti della stampa internazionale si sono avvicendati allo stand Pathos che ha presentato e fatto ascoltare i nuovi prodotti della serie InPol.
In primo piano InpolRemix mkII e InpolEAR caratterizzati dalla circuitazione doppio Inpol che conferisce una grande capacità di pilotaggio, un suono raffinatissimo accompagnato da un design distintivo e contemporaneo, con una scelta di finiture di alta qualità come la finitura standard black metalizzato oppure le finiture speciali laccato rosso, bianco o nero e l'originale legno Zebrato in modo da poter personalizzare il proprio ambiente di ascolto.
- l'evoluzione del precedente con notevoli diversità -
La potenza è stata raddoppiata, da 10W Ohm passata a 25W su 8 Ohm e ben 38W su 4 Ohm
È stato allargato per avere nel pannello posteriore più ingressi sia analogici che digitali e una uscita pre bilanciata.
È presente un'uscita per cuffia e la musica viene presa direttamente dallo stadio d'uscita e da una potenza di 3W su 32 Ohm, validi per pilotare qualsiasi cuffia.
versatilità per accettare i nuovi formati digitali grazie all'aggiunta, opzionale, del Hi-dac EVO
- amplificatore di riferimento dedicato esclusivamente per le cuffie -
Generosa potenza di uscita di 10W su 32 Ohm per le due uscite bilanciate
e 3W su 32 Ohm sull'uscita sbilanciata.
circuitazione doppio Inpol lo rende unico e punto di riferimento per gli ascolti in cuffia.
ampia scelta di ingressi analogici compreso un ingresso bilanciato
versatilità per accettare i nuovi formati digitali grazie all'aggiunta, opzionale, del Hi-dac EVO
La fiera HIGH END 2016 è stato il luogo ideale per uno scambio di opinioni e per crescere assieme con i partner e rappresentanti Pathos nel mondo;
un grazie speciale a tutti voi che siete passati a trovarci.
HIGH END trade fair confirms its importance as a reference international showcase with many visitors from all over the world. Many manufacturers, dealers, distributors and people from international press visited Pathos’ room, where we introduced and made them listen to the brand new products of InPol series.
A leading role was taken by InPol Remix MKII and the reference headphone amplifier InPol EAR, both characterised by double InPol circuitry, which provides great driving capability, a refined sound along with a peculiar and contemporary design; they have high quality finishes such as standard metallic matt black or special finishes such as lacquered red, lacquered white, lacquered black and the unique natural Zebrano wood (only for InPol EAR). An exclusive chance to customize your own listening room.
- reference amplifier exclusively for headphones -
Its power has been doubled, from 10W to 25W on 8 Ohm and even up to 38W on 4 Ohm
The chassis has been enlarged, so that rear panel can offer more analog and digital inputs and a balanced preamplifier output.
A headphone output is available and music comes directly from the output stage, supplied with a power of 3W on 32 Ohm, to drive any kind of headphone.
Versatility to read new digital formats thanks to the additional and optional HiDac EVO.
- amplificatore di riferimento dedicato esclusivamente per le cuffie -
Generous output power of 10W on 32Ohm for the 2 balanced outputs and 3W on 32 Ohm for the unbalanced output.
Double InPol circuitry makes it unique and the only reference point for listening to music by headphones.
Wide range of analog inputs, included one balanced input.
Versatility to read new digital formats thanks to the additional and optional HiDac EVO.
MUNICH HIGH END 2016 was an ideal place to exchange views and to grow together with our partners and Pathos representative around the world.
Thank you very much to all of you who came to see us.
INPOL2 MkII is the evolution of the already well-known InPoL2, a historical exponent of the second generation of InPoL® amplifiers.
The InPoL2 MkII was born from the need to have more power on 4Ω (20% more) and, consequently, more BIAS current.
We also wanted to improve the power supply of the power amp.
Last but not least, we wanted to offer the possibility of directly connecting digital sources, thanks to the integration with our HiDac Mk2.
We opted for a return to a linear power supply (transformer - bridge - capacitors). Leaving the power of 45W on 8Ω unchanged, we wanted to give more power on 4Ω: we, therefore, increased the BIAS current, which made larger radiators necessary than in the previous version.
The different choice of power supply allowed us to redesign it in a dual-mono configuration: 2 transformers (one per channel), 2 rectifier bridges (1 per channel), and 4 capacitors (2 per channel).
Inpol devices have a special sonic personality obtainable only through this particular circuit design - fully balanced in Class A. In this way, the signal is entrusted to the valves and becomes a true copy of the original, with all the quality, purity and harmonic content of the original.
This technology allows an increase in the theoretical output in pure Class A from 25% up to 50% together with a low output impedance which is fundamental for the damping factor, and further improved by the double InPoL.
There is no better way to listen to music
InPoL2 MkII leaves the previous switching power supply for the traditional linear power supply (transformer - bridge - capacitors) so beloved by audiophiles. Leaving the 45W at 8Ω unchanged, the power at 4Ω has increased: this has increased BIAS current, which has necessitated larger radiators than in the previous version. The power supply was redesigned in a dual-mono configuration: 2 linear, shielded toroidal transformers (one per channel), 2 rectifier bridges (1 per channel), and 4 x 22mF capacitors (2 per channel). With a higher BIAS current the sound, the musicality, the transparency of the InPoL remain, the body and the precision gain, especially in the bass.
The volume, as in the previous InPoL2, uses fully balanced attenuators with relay switching, which select high quality and precision resistors.
The InPoL2 MkII features a dual InPoL circuitry (international patent).
This unique circuitry, fully balanced in Class A, uses a single solid-state component in a follower configuration, with high current gain and unity voltage gain.
The tube amplifier amplifies the input signal in voltage and InPoL provides the current to drive the speakers without further amplification; in this way, the signal is carried by the tubes and is a true copy of the original with all the original quality, purity and harmonic content. In other words, InPoL® copies the signal received from the source without modifying the harmonic content and keeping the naturalness of the signal unchanged. Therefore, the only task of InPoL® is to supply the current needed to perfectly drive the speakers.
The entire amplifier, from the input to the speaker connection, is fully balanced.
The overall sound of the INPOL® is nothing less than stunning in its detail. The musical, rich, warm sound of the tubes combined with the pace and dynamics of the MOSFETs results in an excellent performance. The absence of listening fatigue combined with transparency, presence, the huge soundstage and the ability to reproduce all instruments realistically are all factors of true high fidelity in the InPOL® amplifiers.
The InPoL2 MkII is designed to accommodate the optional HiDac Mk2 card, which adds to the selection of digital inputs already present on the rear panel by default. The HiDac Mk2 card allows digital sources to be connected via USB and SPDIF directly to the amplifier. The HiDac Mk2 board's converter is state-of-the-art and guarantees high fidelity reproduction.
For heat dissipation, the tried and tested PATHOS radiator was used, which provides exceptional results due to its shape which, by reproducing the PATHOS logo, guarantees a large dissipation surface. The front panel is made from a single block of aluminum, engraved in precise points to provide space for the control circuits.
Type | integreted stereo amplifier based on INPOL techonology, operating in pure class A |
Power output | 2 x 45 W @ 8 Ohm |
Feedback | absent |
Input impedance | 20KOhm (balanced) - 42KOhm (unbalanced) |
Analog Inputs | 4 RCA and |
2 balanced XLR | |
Digital inputs | Installation of (optional) HiDac Mk2 board is required to enable these inputs 1 USB port type “B”, 1 SPDIF coaxial, 1 SPDIF optical |
Output | 1 pre-out streo balanced XLR |