Lektor Step
Conquering Mount Everest is a difficult task, but then you look down on all the peaks and routes. Designing a top product requires years of development, trials, and tests. But then, it's easy to create simpler devices.
Such a strategy is one of the keys to Ancient Audio's success. With a very good device, it is easy to assess which units can be simplified and which must be non-compromised.
The flagship CD Lektor Joy has been honored with many awards for its exceptional natural sound. Hence the Lektor Step, a more accessible player, but maintaining the character of a reference model.
As well as reference model, Lektor Step is CD player, S/P DIF and USB DAC, Digital Speaker Processor as well as analog preamplifier. It can directly drive any power amplifier by RCA sockets.
The new series of players is based on the excellent Austrian CD-Pro8 mechanism. It is controlled by dedicated software, developed by Ancient Audio. The entire transport section (mechanism, display, keyboard, digital interface) is clocked with one precise signal, 16.9344 MHz. This eliminates jitter, the bane of digital music transmission.
As in the flagship model, the ES 9038 Pro chip with 32-bit resolution is responsible for the D/A conversion. It works in stereo, has 7 filters to match user preferences.
Player can be equipped with Digital Speaker Processor chip, to compensate imperfections of speakers and headphones.
As you can see, the internal design is very similar to the flagship model, the biggest difference is the housing.
The design was inspired by ergonomics. Frankly speaking, operating a typical player is a nightmare: changing discs, display, keyboard. The Step Lektor looks futuristic, but it is actually a comfortable device.
The mechanical structure is made of aluminum and traditional hard glass. Such a sandwich is a rigid, anti-resonance frame. And if treated properly, it will retain its beauty for decades.
The player can be laid flat or tilted by a dedicated spike. This gives the form lightness and improves ergonomics.