Ypsilon Phaethon Integrated Hybrid Amplifier

Given the performance, reputation and pedigree of their separate amplifier pieces, when Ypsilon decided to build an integrated amplifier, much anticipation was expressed by the audiophile community. The resulting Phaethon integrated amplifier represented a bit of a watershed moment in modern amplifier design, re-defining a new level of sonic performance previously unheard in integrated designs.

The Phaethon is a unique product in many aspects. It uses many of the technical solutions developed for the Aelius mono block amplifiers and the PST100 Mk2 preamplifier in a compact and elegant design. It is a hybrid line level amplifier utilising only three active gain stages. The input and driver stages incorporate low noise valves operating in a single-ended class A topography. It also features a transformer attenuator built in-house, embedded in the preamplifier section using advanced post-attenuation techniques.

The tube driver stage is coupled to the output stage with a wide bandwidth inter-stage transformer that provides perfect phase splitting for the output stage. The output stage features same polarity semiconductors for both phases in a “balanced single-ended architecture”, resulting in the sonic quality of pure single-ended designs combined with the power of push-pull designs. There are separate power supplies for the tube and output stage utilising five power supply inductors for low noise filtering. All these technologies are designed to operate in unison offering unmatched sound quality, thus providing a clear advantage of a single chassis, compact and cost-effective integrated amplifier platform. All functions are remote controlled and are visible through a high quality LCD display with large characters so it can be read from across the room.

There are 3 design features that combine to give the Phaethon a sound quality that takes it to the summit of integrated amplifier performance:

In-house custom made high quality transformer attenuator (volume control) results in highly open transparent sound free from artefacts.
Only three gain stages. One of them the active preamp stage with tubes. This results in a clarity / purity of sound.
Unique “bridged single-ended” output stage biased in class A for the ‘first most important watts’, results in an immediacy, direct emotional connection.

Applying this level of design topology and componentry is rare and expensive. Prior to the arrival of the Phaethon, it was considered virtually impossible to achieve this level of sound quality from a one box amplification solution. It is one of those amplifiers that you simply fall in love with and just want to have in your life. Everything is so natural, just flows and feels so real, so involving and effortless. There’s a primal yet sophisticated quality to the Phaethon’s way with music. Yes please.

Reviews

The Absolute Sound, Neil Gader, 2018

But what about the price? Fair enough. Yes, it’s dearly expensive—prohibitively so for most. If it were a product that came up short of a state-of-the-art nomination then I’d have a large bone to pick with this amp. But the Phaethon is more than worthy. Frankly it looks and sounds like money. And if I had the dough I’d have no problem dropping it on a Phaethon. In my years of reviewing, it’s rare to have had such a profound reaction to an integrated amplifier. Ypsilon has created a component that enables a musical connection that’s both intellectually and emotionally rewarding. At the Olympian heights where the Phaethon resides, only a handful of amps challenge it but overall, and in my experience, there are none better.

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Mono and Stereo, Ahmet Kip, 2017

By far the most dangerous characteristic of the Phaethon is that it is addictive. In fact, all Ypsilon products pose this threat. If you do not have a ‘pre-power’ obsession and if you dream of owning an integrated amplifier one day which simply serves music with all of its frequencies and one that you will passionately love for many years to come, you should definitely listen to the Phaethon.

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Product Specifications

Type

Stereo Integrated Amplifier

Number of Chassis

One

Remote Control

Yes

Output Power (Before Clipping)

110 W RMS @ 8 Ω, 180 W RMS @ 4 Ω

Bandwidth

11 Hz–75 kHz (-3 dB)

Output Impedance

0.5 Ω

Input Impedance

47 kΩ

Gain

×60 (29.5 dB)

Inputs

3 × RCA (Unbalanced), 1 × XLR (Unbalanced)

Power Consumption

125 W (Idle)

Dimensions (W × H × D)

400 × 185 × 425 mm

Weight

35 kg