Leema’s new Quantum-range Neutron and Graviton amplifiers are here!

12 December 2023, Wales, UK: 25 years in the making, Leema Acoustics’ recently unveiled Quantum range has seen its first two offerings become officially available, with full details, specifications and UK pricing for the new Neutron preamp and Graviton power amp announced for the first time.

The new Quantum collection forms the first all-new Leema Acoustics range in over a decade and has been entirely designed, engineered and built in the Welshpool factory in Powys, Wales, overseen by Leema Acoustics’ co-founder and ex-BBC sound engineer, Lee Taylor.

Quantum borrows heavily from the company’s flagship Constellation series and has been repackaged in order to greatly improve affordability. The casework is simpler, single transformers replace multi-transformers, and the board assembly has been expertly simplified with no loss of component quality.

Leema Acoustics famously manufactures its own circuit boards at its UK factory, giving unrivalled quality at its price point. The majority of the PCB components are shared with the Constellation series allowing economies of scale to directly benefit the new Quantum range.

The Quantum amplifiers comprise the Neutron DAC/preamp (£1,500) and Graviton power amp (£1,500); bought together, the British-made pairing costs even less at just £2,800.

The Neutron is a thoroughly modern preamp that perfectly distils Leema Acoustics’ 25-year UK hi-fi manufacturing experience into an affordable audio ‘hub’. Designed to be as transparent as possible, while offering great flexibility with a colossal 13 inputs, the Neutron introduces Leema Acoustics’ latest circuit designs, featuring reference-standard low crosstalk for enhanced transparency.

For vinyl enthusiasts, the Neutron offers an exceptionally high-quality switchable MM/MC phono stage, based on Leema Acoustics’ proprietary design. The preamp also benefits from an advanced asynchronous ESS 24-bit/192 kHz USB DAC, a dedicated headphone amplifier, plus a high-end Burr-Brown analogue volume control.

Highly versatile, with wide-ranging connectivity, the Neutron includes a generous 13 (nameable) inputs: 4x RCA and 1x XLR; 1x MM/MC phono stage; 3x optical; 3x coaxial and 1x USB. Outputs include: fixed-level record; 2x dedicated subwoofer; a high-quality dedicated headphone amplifier, plus a 12 V trigger.

The Graviton stereo power amp benefits from what could be the biggest toroidal power supply ever seen at its price point! The generously specified device gives the Graviton effortless control over an enormous breadth of loudspeakers.

A Class A/B design, offering 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 260 watts into 4 ohms, the Graviton’s high-current topology deploys six output transistors per channel for huge dynamic ability coupled with unforced sonic detail.

Speaking about the new Quantum range Neutron and Graviton pre/power amp, co-founder Lee Taylor said: ‘Quantum takes much of the Leema Acoustics’ Constellation product design, yet simplified to meet a more affordable price point. However, no compromises have been made where it really counts: the onboard phono stage is cloned directly from the award-winning Essentials Phono, USB is handled via an XMOS interface rather than the Leema M1 module, signal switching is via gold-palladium relays, not solid state, plus volume is regulated via an analogue resistor ladder; Leema Acoustics has used this method for nearly 25 years.’

The Neutron preamp’s balanced (XLR) connection is included to maximise interconnection quality and with a startling 13 input sources, including USB, phono, optical and coaxial, balanced and unbalanced analogue are offered to facilitate easy system integration.’

The Graviton has an over-specified single transformer supply and six matched Toshiba output transistors per channel, allowing high instantaneous current delivery for superior transient capability and long-term reliability. Dual speaker binding posts are included to allow easy bi-wiring, plus line level loop through-outputs for bi-amping.’

All Quantum-range devices benefit from UK-made casework available in brushed black or silver finishes, with solid aluminium precision-machined front panels and control dials.