Aesthetix Io Users Group

[DetroitVinylRob]

Hello
Im looking for a preamp for my Io phono.
Would be my possibilities to have a Callisto signatre preamp with two psu.
Would it be a good Combo? Any recommendation is really appreciate.
Peter

After listening to a Callisto 3 box and an Atma-Sphere MP1 with a IO 3 box for years, I finally settled on a Aesthetix Metis to accompany an Aesthetix Rhea Eclipse to satisfy my music playback. And this compo leaves very little on the table in juxtaposition. Plus logistically, I run three dramatically different cartridge/tonearm setups. Also part of it was the initial and ongoing expense, part of it was the rack space and heat, and part of it was the high tube count…. After talking extensively with Glenn Buckley at Aesthetix I came to the conclusion that the (newish) Metis Reference Preamp would accomplish my listening needs vs updating a Callisto to current spec, and maintaining the valve count was more than I wanted to take on. Valves are no mystery to me. My system currently has fifty-seven when running my MA1 monos and a Brinkmann RoNt II configuration. The Metis vs Callisto in my experience is a choice between relative equals sonically. Different certainly, but each have their own sonic virtues imho. Of course, anyone here is free to feel differently. I would highly recommend that you at least investigate the Metis possibility. You might be fondly surprised. Happy listening

 

[pet525TT]

Lagonda, DetroitVinylRob

Thank you for your informations about the fees and about the experiences with other preamps. This was really useful for me.
There is a distributor in Hungary from whom I will try to ask a Metis for a few days for listening. Looks I can try the Callisto too.
I am anxiously awaiting the result.

 

[Lagonda]

My Io is back from repair again,again, again and sounding great ! Problems with both channels this time, the usual blown diodes and transistors. I suspect it just does not do well with high current, it is a 230 V model, but the 235-236 V average voltage at my house is maybe just to much for the poor sensitive thing, nothing else blows, just the Io I have bought a large isolation transformer that brings the voltage down to 216-217 Volt, the components in the Io are running close to max at 230V, let's see if that helps. No apparent negative effects, it runs a little cooler, but still sounds great. Stabil for about a month now I have played around with tubes a little, Sovtek LPS in V1 and V2, pulled some Phillips Minivatt and Brimars, just to soft for my taste . A perfectly matched quad of J.J. ECC 83S to soft too, super quiet but a little to dull for my taste . J.J. E83CC "Frame Grid" seems to hit the spot in V3-V6, really great sounding, dynamic with good extension in both frequency ranges, voices really beautiful with these tubes. I have ordered som gold pin version matched quads too, just to check the difference, but right now it really sounds great.

 

[audioquest4life]

My Io is back from repair again,again, again and sounding great ! Problems with both channels this time, the usual blown diodes and transistors. I suspect it just does not do well with high current, it is a 230 V model, but the 235-236 V average voltage at my house is maybe just to much for the poor sensitive thing, nothing else blows, just the Io I have bought a large isolation transformer that brings the voltage down to 216-217 Volt, the components in the Io are running close to max at 230V, let's see if that helps. No apparent negative effects, it runs a little cooler, but still sounds great. Stabil for about a month now I have played around with tubes a little, Sovtek LPS in V1 and V2, pulled some Phillips Minivatt and Brimars, just to soft for my taste . A perfectly matched quad of J.J. ECC 83S to soft too, super quiet but a little to dull for my taste . J.J. E83CC "Frame Grid" seems to hit the spot in V3-V6, really great sounding, dynamic with good extension in both frequency ranges, voices really beautiful with these tubes. I have ordered som gold pin version matched quads too, just to check the difference, but right now it really sounds great.

Glad you got it back and are listening to music again through it. I have been an avid user of the Sovtek LPS in V1/V2 for years. They seem to work just right there and I don’t have any fear about NOS tube going up in smoke or randomly popping. That’s been my experience with JAN, Mulllards, Siemens’s, and others. Just want to listen to music.

I hope you get to enjoy your Io for many many more hours and years.

 

[pet525TT]

Meanwhile, Callisto arrived. I start listening with Io. After turning it on for the first time, I realized that the callisto's remote display was showing completely false numbers. We tried to figure out how the drive unit works but couldn't find a way. Has anyone had this problem?

 

[Lagonda]

Ezalatt a Callisto megérkezett. Elkezdek hallgatni az Io-val. Az első bekapcsolás után felismertem, hogy a callisto távoli kijelzője teljesen hamis számokat mutat. Megpróbáltuk kitalálni, hogyan működik a meghajtó egység, de nem találtuk a módját. Van akinek ilyen problémája volt?

You are on a english speaking forum, please translate your post yourself.

 

[thekong]

Meanwhile, Callisto arrived. I start listening with Io. After turning it on for the first time, I realized that the callisto's remote display was showing completely false numbers. We tried to figure out how the drive unit works but couldn't find a way. Has anyone had this problem?

Hi pet525TT, there are at least two possibilities.

1. When you connect the remote box to the Callisto and switch it on for the first time, you need to make sure both of the physical volumes (the knobs) are at the zero position. If not, the volume display will show a wrong number. This is because the volume display will always show 00 00 when it is being switched on no matter which positions the physical volumes are at!

2. The Callisto’s physical volume has some sort of marked disc built in to serve as a feed back mechanism to tell the remote display which position the physical volume is at, and this disc needs to be aligned. So, if your Callisto has gone through some repairs which required the dismantling of the volume, the disc may not be properly aligned when put back together.

Hope this helps!

 

[pet525TT]

You are on a english speaking forum, please translate your post yours

Hi pet525TT, there are at least two possibilities.

1. When you connect the remote box to the Callisto and switch it on for the first time, you need to make sure both of the physical volumes (the knobs) are at the zero position. If not, the volume display will show a wrong number. This is because the volume display will always show 00 00 when it is being switched on no matter which positions the physical volumes are at!

2. The Callisto’s physical volume has some sort of marked disc built in to serve as a feed back mechanism to tell the remote display which position the physical volume is at, and this disc needs to be aligned. So, if your Callisto has gone through some repairs which required the dismantling of the volume, the disc may not be properly aligned when put back together.

Hope this helps!

Hello thekong
Thank you!
Tried to turn on in zero position but the same.
As you wrote possible there is not in the correct position the marked disc. Did not found any info how to aligne it.

 

[thekong]

Hello thekong
Thank you!
Tried to turn on in zero position but the same.
As you wrote possible there is not in the correct position the marked disc. Did not found any info how to aligne it.

Hi pet525TT, unfortunately, if it is really the disc alignment problem, the volume would need to be dismantled to realign the disc. My non-Aesthetix technician had to do that once, quite a time consuming job! Since Aesthetix doesn’t release service manuals, the realignment would takes some trial and error

Another possibility maybe there is a problem with the remote display box. I have never had this problem, but theoretically possible I suppose.

Maybe you need to fix it through an Aesthetix approved technician !

Good luck

 

[pet525TT]

Hi pet525TT, unfortunately, if it is really the disc alignment problem, the volume would need to be dismantled to realign the disc. My non-Aesthetix technician had to do that once, quite a time consuming job! Since Aesthetix doesn’t release service manuals, the realignment would takes some trial and error

Another possibility maybe there is a problem with the remote display box. I have never had this problem, but theoretically possible I suppose.

Maybe you need to fix it through an Aesthetix approved technician !

Good luck

Thank you your detailed answer.
Firstly I trie to aligne the disc. Hope I can do it

 

[thazeldean]

My Io is back from repair again,again, again and sounding great ! Problems with both channels this time, the usual blown diodes and transistors. I suspect it just does not do well with high current, it is a 230 V model, but the 235-236 V average voltage at my house is maybe just to much for the poor sensitive thing, nothing else blows, just the Io I have bought a large isolation transformer that brings the voltage down to 216-217 Volt, the components in the Io are running close to max at 230V, let's see if that helps. No apparent negative effects, it runs a little cooler, but still sounds great. Stabil for about a month now I have played around with tubes a little, Sovtek LPS in V1 and V2, pulled some Phillips Minivatt and Brimars, just to soft for my taste . A perfectly matched quad of J.J. ECC 83S to soft too, super quiet but a little to dull for my taste . J.J. E83CC "Frame Grid" seems to hit the spot in V3-V6, really great sounding, dynamic with good extension in both frequency ranges, voices really beautiful with these tubes. I have ordered som gold pin version matched quads too, just to check the difference, but right now it really sounds great.

Hi Lagonda, I have also had some problems with my Io Eclipse. I live in Central Queensland where there is 240 volts as well. I am reluctant to post this because I love the sound of the Io and I don't want to send it back for repairs ever again and I feel this may be tempting fate. I now run the air conditioning at 23 C 24hrs a day, 7 days a week hoping that maintaining a constant temperature and humidity will assist in preventing any issues. So far so good. Fingers crossed for me please?

 

[audioquest4life]

Are any configurations of the Io switchable to allow two phono cables plugged in at the same time? For example, my version allows either XLR or RCA inputs. I noticed on the Io webpage that Io version with volume controls and added (optional) input boards, can have two phono cables with the different settings managed inside the Io. I have two tonearms and would like to have both connected, instead of swapping the cables out everyone I want to use the other tonearm. The Rhea has multiple (3) inputs that are actively (electronically) controlled allowing each input to be plugged in and allowing the user to switch the inputs using the panel or remote.

I thought I would ask here, before contacting Aesthetix. Maybe, the Io is a purest design which only allows one input.

 

[Lagonda]

The 2 input Io with volume control switches between the inputs from the front panel. You can either set combined loading from the back, or separate loadings internally.

 

[audioquest4life]

The 2 input Io with volume control switches between the inputs from the front panel. You can either set combined loading from the back, or separate loadings internally.

Thank you. I think I many need to send it in for an update then….ughhh. I also don’t want to endure packing it up to make a luxury upgrade that I have lived without for years. Perhaps, the next service interval, in 10-15 years,

 

[Kcin]

I have my Io with two inputs later configured for two phono, initially it was configured for 1 phono from the xlr and one line input from the RCA switchable on front. It was an older unit bought new.

Older units do not have the auxilary input board.

At one point I had it converted for two phono by the local Aesthetix authorized tech --- however.....

---- without the auxilary input board - it was using the rear pin connectors for loading and the wiring arranged to take on the RCA or XLR for phono. Then the loading was necessarily the same for either input if you intended for 2 phono-- not ideal

Later ,with the Partial Eclipse update I got the rear panel loading converted to the new auxilary input boards you see on the website that are internal. Later again I got the Eclipse and new transformers- nothing to do with loading though

So long story short----if you don't have the new internal boards you will not be able to get unique loading on xlr and RCA you need to switch too- so if you don't have the switch then -- its a major mod.

 

[audioquest4life]

I have my Io with two inputs later configured for two phono, initially it was configured for 1 phono from the xlr and one line input from the RCA switchable on front. It was an older unit bought new.

Older units do not have the auxilary input board.

At one point I had it converted for two phono by the local Aesthetix authorized tech --- however.....

---- without the auxilary input board - it was using the rear pin connectors for loading and the wiring arranged to take on the RCA or XLR for phono. Then the loading was necessarily the same for either input if you intended for 2 phono-- not ideal

Later ,with the Partial Eclipse update I got the rear panel loading converted to the new auxilary input boards you see on the website that are internal. Later again I got the Eclipse and new transformers- nothing to do with loading though

So long story short----if you don't have the new internal boards you will not be able to get unique loading on xlr and RCA you need to switch too- so if you don't have the switch then -- its a major mod.

Thank you. That was a very informative post regarding getting the ability to use two active inputs on the Io. For now, I will just swap out cables for the other tonearm’/s, until I can justify sending the unit back for an overhaul.

 

[oldvinyl]

My Io has front panel switches to select between phono and line level inputs. Didn’t know that a second phono input board was an option. Sticking with one tonearm and turntable.
It’s been quite a while, but I did not like the sound of the line level input with a cd player. Always seemed odd given how much I like the sound of the Io for phono.

 

[OGH]

I also have phono/line switches. I have not checked recently, but remember that I quite liked the sound from the line input. From a Musical Fidelity CD player, mainly. That was when I was using the Io as a stand-alone preamp. I actually thought that it was the phono input that was most in need of a separate preamp, not the line input. I should probably do some comparison, when I get time. Maybe I was just misled by the stronger and less noisy sound from the line input. I felt that the extra input, combined with volume controls, was a very good value. I could check the digital sound in three ways: A) Default setup: Teac DAC/Streamer, to Einstein preamp, to amps. B) Teac to Io line input, to amps. C) Teac direct to amps (using the Teac volume control). Hypothesis: A will be best, B next best, and C third. But who knows, life in audio is full of surprises.

 

[OGH]

My Io plays well, no problems (knock on wood). Yesterday my half-brother visited, and enjoyed the Pink Floyd: Endless river LP, with very good sound. I have installed filters in the speakers that tame the treble a bit. Now investigating acoustic treatment to the room. Just a touch - it is not a studio but a living room.

 

[Lagonda]

My Io plays well, no problems (knock on wood). Yesterday my half-brother visited, and enjoyed the Pink Floyd: Endless river LP, with very good sound. I have installed filters in the speakers that tame the treble a bit. Now investigating acoustic treatment to the room. Just a touch - it is not a studio but a living room.

My Io had played nice 2 month, and my repair guy was scheduled to come visit last week to hear the system. 2 days before his arrival the left channel died again, regretfully i had gone to the bathroom right after turning on the power supplies, and the smell of burned electronics was heavy as i returned. Lesson learned, like a small child, you should not leave a Io unattended for to long ! One of the EL 34 tubes was lighting up like a christmas tree and one small transformer was very hot, nothing looked burned or had exploded this time. He came over anyway and we had i nice evening listening to music. He took it with him and saved me 300 km of driving, he is a really nice guy, Io ownership has its plus sides too. Reminds me of this !