savoy014

Top row (Left to Right) : INS-BS top side, bottom side Bottom row (Left to Right) : INS-CF black side, INS-CF silver side, INS-BD Black Diamond Hematite, INS-SQ Smoky Quartz Oyaide's INS-BS is a small chrome plated brass footer (35 mm diameter and 15 mm in height) with a recessed hole on one side, and a carbon fibre disc on the other side. The recessed hole accepts the INS-CF carbon fibre disc. Oyaide also advertises that the INS-BD Black Diamond Hematite disc or the INS-SQ Smoky Quartz disc may be used in substitution for the INS-CF. In the case of the INS-CF, the carbon fibre disc is black on one side, and silver on the reverse. This actually gives the INS-BS a total of 8 ways of usage, with the footer used with the inserted disc facing upwards or downwards, and with INS-CF either used with the black or silver side. However, after much liberal experimentation, I was unable to fit the INS-BD or INS-SQ reliably into the INS-BS. Either excessive force had to be used, or the insert w...

The Calyx Femti is a dimunitive power amplifier that is a visual match for the 24/192 DAC. It's aluminium unibody chassis is finished in black with an artistic rendition of a G and F clef engraved on the top cover. The rear panel is quite cramped and includes two pairs of high quality binding posts, a set of single ended inputs and a rotary selector switch to operate the Femti as a normal stereo power amplifier, a dual output mono amplifier (for a biwired speaker), and a bridged mode mono amplifier. Very much like the Femto DAC, the power switch for the Femti is discreetly located on the side (right hand side vs. left hand side for the Femto). An IEC outlet permits use of after-market power cords. The Femti delivers 125 watts per channel into 4 ohm loads (and presumably half of that into 8 ohm loads), and 500 watts in bridged mode operation. A tricolour LED indicates normal operation, short circuit, and overload conditions. Not much information is provided about the technology used...