Warwick Acoustics APERIO Electrostatic Reference System

The APERIO reference headphone system strives to deliver the highest level of audio performance achievable, by means of our proprietary planar electrostatic technology. 

The APERIO utilises a highly-refined, evolutionary advancement of technology originally developed by Warwick Acoustics for it’s ground-breaking and multi-award-winning Sonoma Model One Headphone System. 

Headphones

For the APERIO headphone, Warwick Acoustics had two primary design objectives: 1) the headphone must provide the optimum mechanical and acoustical conditions for the BD-HPEL transducer that enable the best audio performance and sound quality possible to be achieved and, 2) the headphone must be comfortable for the user, even under critical monitoring conditions, for extended periods of time. 

BD-HPEL Transducer

The single most crucial component of any headphone system is the transducer. The ultimate performance of the complete sound reproduction system will be determined and limited by the acoustical performance and fidelity of the transducer. 

The APERIO utilises a new Balanced-Drive HPEL Transducer (BD-HPEL) – a symmetrically-driven variant of Warwick Acoustics’ High Precision Electrostatic Laminate (HPEL) transducer, originally developed for the Sonoma Model One headphone system.

Injected Magnesium Ear cups

Major structural components of the headphone, for example, the ear cups, are fabricated of injected Magnesium – a rigid material lighter and significantly better-damped than aluminium and most polymers. Because the Magnesium is injected, complex and precise components that typically would require CNC-machining are possible. 

Ear Cushions

In order to achieve outstanding low frequency performance, the APERIO requires a small sealed air volume between the transducer and listener’s head. The APERIO maintains this air volume and requisite air seal through key design features that eliminate air leakage, even with variations in head and ear shape. 

Headphone Comfort

The APERIO addresses comfort by minimising weight and optimising geometry. The advanced materials utilised in the design, such as Magnesium and Engineering polymers, result in a very low mass of 405 grams. 

Electronics

The APERIO is a complete sound reproduction system, thus the electronics are optimised specifically for the APERIO headphone. Every element of the sound reproduction chain between raw audio data input (from an analogue or digital source) and output to the headphone is included and fully optimised within the APERIO electronics. 

Every functional sub-section of the electronics has been designed to state-of-the-art standards, without compromise. 

Cutting-edge components

The APERIO is a complete sound reproduction system, thus the electronics are optimised specifically for the APERIO headphone. Every element of the sound reproduction chain between raw audio data input (from an analogue or digital source) and output to the headphone is included and fully optimised within the APERIO electronics.

Every functional sub-section of the electronics has been designed to state-of-the-art standards, without compromise.

Analogue Line Output

The Analogue Line Output section features a novel Class A circuit that can output very high voltages with prodigious current, allowing it to effortlessly drive outboard electronics in any professional or consumer application, even with extremely long cables. 

We’ve tested the Line Output section with 150-meter-long balanced cables driven to 15 dBu (12.3 Vp-p) without distortion. 

Dual 32-bit, 8-channel DAC's

The DAC section of the APERIO electronics is truly state-of-the-art. Dual 32-bit, 8-channel DACs are utilised – one per channel in dual mono configuration, to achieve a SNR of 131 dB.

Input Cables

Warwick Acoustics supplies high performance input cables with the APERIO. These cables are custom designs, developed by Warwick Acoustics to match the performance and quality level of the rest of the APERIO system. 

Specifications

Headphones

Electronics