An Overview of the
Citation System 5000
The Citation System 5000 represents a systems approach to designing an affordable high-end group of
products (controller, amplifier, speakers) designed to complement each other. Unlike a system
incorporating a mix and match approach, with results that are often unpredictable, the System 5000
provides repeatable, documentable performance.
The heart of the System 5000 is the new Citation 5.0 Analog/Digital AV Controller (described in a
complementary paper). Two other key system elements are the 5.1 Multi-channel Amplifier and the 5
Series Loudspeakers.
The 5.1 Amplifier
Identical to the well reviewed Citation 7.1 in circuit design and similar in physical appearance, the 5.1
differs only in available voltage (wattage) provided to the loudspeaker load. The 5.1 is rated at 100 watts
@ 8 ohms x 4. The 5.1 features include:
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Circuit topology with high open loop gain and low negative feedback — only 20dB of negative
feedback is applied in the 5.1.
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A linearizing circuit which reduces high frequency distortion at high output levels without
requiring high negative loop feedback.
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An output stage with ample SOA (safe operating area). The 5.1 can comfortably and reliably drive
difficult loudspeaker loads of two ohms unbridged or four ohms bridged. Most other bridgeable
amplifiers are only capable of driving speaker loads of eight ohms or higher.
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A shielded, toroidal transformer with four secondary outputs each with its own bridge rectifier.
This power supply design approach provides performance akin to using four separate
transformers. Individual channels are not affected by instantaneous current/voltage demands being
made on the others channels simultaneously. No rubber band power supply in the 5.1! Total
system capacitance is in excess of 80,000 MFD. To assure superior high frequency performance,
multiple smaller value capacitors are utilized in parallel.
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The input and driver stages are fed by regulated high voltage power supplies, operating
independently of the power supply driving the output stage. This virtually eliminates
intermodulation distortion, crosstalk and compromised headroom.
Each stage of the 5.1 signal path employs solid state devices carefully selected for their uniform
operating characteristics.
The 5.1 is an amplifier that not only measures well but listens well! It is non-fatiguing to listen to for
hours at a time, particularly important whether watching a two or three hour action film or listening to
an opera.
Sonic performance aside, the 5.1 features other mechanical and hardware enhancements:
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