Cello Audio Palette EQ Preamp With Power Supply - RARE

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The Cello Audio Palette is arguably the highest quality equalizer ever made, and is somewhat rare.

This model is even rarer, as it can also be used as a preamp since it has an input selector. Notice the input selector knob on the top row, second from the right. Perfect if you don't use a turntable, or already have a high-quality phono stage.

Best of all this unit is fitted with standard RCA connectors, not the less common Fischer type connectors usually found.

The Palette comes with a dedicated power supply which helps keep the noise floor as low as possible. There's also a beefy large gauge umbilical cord that connects the two units.

If you're going to use this as an EQ, it was intended that you keep the unit near your couch in a purpose built acrylic stand which we can offer as an optional add-on.

This piece was serviced by replacing the capacitors in the power supply, and is working just like the day it was made.

Cosmetic condition is what you would expect from a piece this valuable. No significant scratches or signs of use.

From a Stereophile review written by Lewis Lipnick:

Founded in 1984 by Mark Levinson, the man responsible for the original Mark Levinson products, Cello has slowly become more visible within the high-end audio consumer market, as well as establishing a presence in the recording industry with very high quality microphone preamps, tape electronics, power amplifiers, and equalizers.

Taking a holistic approach, Levinson offers Cello systems complete from preamplification and equalization stages through amplification to loudspeakers. He can also set up a complete recording studio for you, including the microphones, microphone preamplifiers, and tape decks.

Cello manufactures their own interconnect and speaker cables, cutely called "Cello Strings."

Besides marketing his products through high-end dealers, Levinson has established two showrooms, in New York and Los Angeles, dedicated to sales of Cello systems and components (as well as a few selected source components from other manufacturers).

Similar to the B&W Matrix 800 loudspeaker, the Palette goes far beyond anything else I know of in closing the gap between live and electronically reproduced music.

Setting a new standard for soundstage dimensionality, it gleans multiple layers of previously undetected spatial information from the recorded material.

Much more than a preamp with equalizer, it is a refined musical reference tool.

As Al Merz, one of my National Symphony colleagues, eloquently stated, "with this preamp you hear the musicians...the others give you someone's idea of how they think the music should sound."

More from Cello:

The Audio Palette

Richard S. Burwen developed the concept for the Audio Palette. Burwen found that certain tone control adjustments were necessary to obtain the most natural, lifelike sound from recordings.

Cello has identified the major cause of sonic problems in recordings as the tonal balance that has been adjusted by the recording and mastering engineers in the studio. Each engineer uses a monitoring system that is unique. Because the tonal balance of each system is different, each recording is different. Engineers primarily use equalization to optimize tonal balance for the best sound on their system.

The Audio Palette advances musical realism more than any other single component. Tonal balance can be corrected from the most delicate and subtle adjustments for the best recordings, to the most extreme and dramatic adjustments for vintage material, in order to restore the vitality and life to recordings of music without sonic deterioration.

The Audio Palette is used by record companies, mastering laboratories, and also by discriminating home listeners.

Product Specifications:

The Standard Version of the Audio Palette has one (1) Fischer 3-pin balanced input. The Multiple Input Version (M.I.V.) Audio Palette total of four (4) inputs, one (1) Fischer 3-pin balanced and three (3) single ended.

One (1) set of single ended and one (1) set of Fischer 3-pin balanced main outputs are provided.

Two (2) sets of single ended record outputs are provided.

Frequency Adjustment Controls:
25 kHz control: +/- 24 dB in 1.00 dB increments
5 kHz control: +/- 12 dB in 0.50 dB increments
2 kHz control: +/- 6 dB in 0.25 dB increments
500 Hz control: +/- 6 dB in 0.25 dB increments
120 Hz control: +/- 14.5 dB in 0.50 dB increments
15 Hz control: +/- 29 dB in 1.00 dB increments

Dimensions:
19"w / 7.4"h / 14.1"d (Audio Palette)
19"w / 3.9"h / 8.5"d (Master Supply)

Shipping Weight:
41 lbs. (Audio Palette)
35 lbs. (Master Supply)

The SkyFi Testing Process for Preamplifiers:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure there are no signs of stress or aging. Capacitors are checked for telltale sings of bulging or leaking, resistors are checked for signs of overheating or cracking, and transistors are checked for signs of stress or damage. Special attention is paid to the power supply which is the most common source of failure for preamps. We then power up the unit and run a simple 1k sine wave while monitoring the low voltage output on an oscilloscope for signs of distortion or noise to get a baseline.

At this point we will lubricate and clean all switches and potentiometers (that are not sealed) with a high quality contact cleaner, and then re-test all functions for any signs of noise or scratching.

Final testing involves putting actual music through the preamplifier. We have learned over time that some issues are only noticeable to a trained ear while listening to a familiar source material. Our test bench has reference vintage KEF speakers that we are super familiar with which will quickly reveal any discrepancies. Some preamps will then move into the listening room where they will be tested with our in-house reference system.

Please click here for detailed specifics regarding our specialized packing process that separates us from the rest.