Seta - Balanced Direct Coupled Ultra Wide Bandwidth Phono Preamplifiers

       Channel D Phono Preamplifiers - technical specifications comparison

Seta L20 mk2 Seta Model L Seta Piccola mk2 Lino C 2.0 Lino C 3.0
Phono Preamplifier, Product Description Transimpedance and Voltage Mode

Dual-Mono, Balanced

Ultra-Ultra-Wide Bandwidth

Ultra-Low Distortion

Ultra-Low Noise MC / Low Noise MM

Rechargeable Battery Powered		 Transimpedance and Voltage Mode

Balanced/Unbalanced

Ultra-Wide Bandwidth

Ultra-Low Distortion

Low Noise MC


Rechargeable Battery Powered		 Voltage Mode

Balanced/Unbalanced

Ultra-Wide Bandwidth

Ultra-Low Distortion

Low Noise MM + MC


Rechargeable Battery Powered		 Transimpedance

Balanced

Wide Bandwidth

Ultra-Low Distortion

Ultra-Low Noise


Rechargeable Battery Powered		 Transimpedance

Optional extra MM and Transimpedance or Voltage Mode MC Inputs (total up to 3)

Balanced (optional Balanced/Unbalanced MM Input)

Wide Bandwidth

Ultra-Wide Bandwidth, with optional additional Seta L MC Input

Ultra-Low Distortion

Ultra-Low Noise


Rechargeable Battery Powered
Application Moving Magnet and Low Output MC Cartridges Low Output MC Cartridges Moving Magnet and Low Output MC Cartridges Low Output MC Cartridges Low Output MC Cartridges

Optional additional Moving Magnet input
Inputs 2
switchable on front panel
Balanced Low Output MC 1 and Balanced Low Output MC 2 or Balanced / Unbalanced MM		 1
Transimpedance or Voltage mode (switchable), Balanced or Unbalanced Low Output MC		 1
Balanced or Unbalanced Low Output MC or MM		 1
Transimpedance, Balanced Low Output MC		 Up to 3
Switchable on front panel: one MC transimpedance input plus choice of optional extra inputs:
- Transimpedance, Balanced Low Output MC
- Moving Magnet
- Seta L Voltage Mode, Balanced Low Output MC
Internal Low Noise AGM Rechargeable Battery Power Supply yes yes yes yes yes
Gain 1 60, 66, 70, 73 dB 55, 58, 61, 65 dB (configured for Voltage Mode input)

With Transimpedance Mode selected: 60 to 80 dB or more; a transimpedance preamplifier's gain depends on the cartridge characteristics		 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 70 dB (MC)
35, 38, 41, 44 dB (MM)		 60 to 80 dB or more; a transimpedance preamplifier's gain depends on the cartridge characteristics 60 to 80 dB or more; a transimpedance preamplifier's gain depends on the cartridge characteristics

With extra MC voltage-mode input option:
61, 64, 67, 70 dB
With extra MM input option: 39, 43, 46, 48 dB
Gain Adjustment Front Panel Switches (one for each channel) Front Panel Switch Internal Switches Bottom Switches (+0, +6, +12 dB) Transimpedance Input: Bottom Switches (+0, +6, +12 dB)

Rear panel switches for optional extra inputs
Cartridge Loading Internal Switches and Plug-In Components (applies to voltage mode or MM) External Switch and Plug-In Components (applies to voltage mode setting) Internal Switches and Plug-In Components Transimpedance mode loading is automatic Transimpedance mode loading is automatic

Rear panel switches for resistance (voltage mode MC) and capacitance (MM) for optional extra inputs
Precision +/- 2 dB Cartridge Channel Balance TRIM Control Front Panel Rear Panel Front Panel    
Fully Balanced XLR Inputs yes yes yes yes yes
Single-Ended (Unbalanced) RCA Inputs   yes RCA to XLR Adapter Included   With extra MM input option
Fully Balanced XLR Outputs 2 yes Flat and RIAA yes Flat and RIAA yes Flat yes Flat or RIAA (configurable) yes Flat or RIAA (configurable)
Single-Ended (Unbalanced) Standard Phono RIAA EQ on RCA Outputs, on separate signal chain (can be used simultaneously with XLR outputs) yes yes yes yes yes
Signal to Noise Ratio, 20 Hz - 20 kHz (maximum gain setting, referred to 0.5 mV input, A Wtd.) 99 dB (Flat) / 98 dB (RIAA) 77 dB (Flat) / 71 dB (RIAA) 79 dB (Flat) / 78 dB (RIAA) 88 dB (Flat) / 87 dB (RIAA) 88 dB (Flat) / 87 dB (RIAA)
Frequency Response at highest gain setting, -3 dB 3 DC - 20,000,000 Hz (that's 20 megahertz - not a typo of 20,000 Hz), MC voltage mode DC - 5,000,000 Hz DC - 1,000,000 Hz, MM or MC DC - 200,000 Hz or more (dependent on cartridge characteristics) DC - 200,000 Hz or more (dependent on cartridge characteristics)

DC - 5,000,000 Hz, on the extra MC input, Seta L Voltage Mode option
DC - 1,000,000 Hz, on the extra MM input option
Total Harmonic Distortion, 20 Hz to 20 kHz 4 Less than 0.00007 % See Graph Less than 0.0001 % See Graph Less than 0.0003 % See Graph Less than 0.0005 % See Graph Less than 0.0005 % See Graph

Less than 0.00015 %, Seta L Voltage Mode Input Option

Less than 0.0003 %, MM Input Option
Intermodulation Distortion (18.5:19 kHz mixed 1:1) Less than 0.0002 % See Graph Less than 0.0004 % See Graph Less than 0.003 % See Graph Less than 0.004 % Less than 0.004 %

Less than 0.001 %, Seta L Voltage Mode Input Option

Less than 0.003 %, MM Input Option
RIAA Accuracy Guaranteed ± 0.05 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz See Graph Guaranteed ± 0.1 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz Guaranteed ± 0.1 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz Guaranteed ± 0.1 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz Guaranteed ± 0.1 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz
(± 0.01 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, with optional certification)
RIAA Accuracy Left - Right Channel Matching ± 0.02 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.02 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.02 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.02 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz ± 0.02 dB or better, 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Other Features Input 1/2, 16 Hz HPF, Mono, Transimpedance/Voltage Mode, all selectable on front panel switches >16 Hz HPF, Mono, Polarity Invert, Transimpedance/Voltage Mode, all selectable on front panel switches (these are new features for late 2021 production; can be retrofitted on 2016 or later Seta L)   Optional: v.2.2 Enhanced Dynamics with Ultra Low ESR Bypassing and Low Impedance RIAA Network, more; High / Low MC Cartridge Impedance Selector Switches Optional Extra MM and MC Inputs; Input 1/2/3, Optional 16 Hz HPF, Stereo/Mono, Polarity Invert Controls, all selectable on front panel switches; Enhanced Dynamics with Ultra Low ESR Bypassing and Low Impedance RIAA Network, more; High / Low MC Cartridge Impedance Selector Switches
Dimensions 18.9" W x 6.2" H x 12.4" D 12" W x 2" H x 7" D 5" W x 3.7" H x 5.5" D 17.1” W x 2.9” H x 9.3” D 17.1” W x 2.9” H x 9.3” D
Shipping Weight 116 pounds 9 pounds 4 pounds 18 pounds 18+ pounds depending on options
Warranty 5 years electronics, 3 years batteries, limited 5 years electronics, 3 years batteries, limited 5 years electronics, 3 years batteries, limited 5 years electronics, 3 years batteries, limited 5 years electronics, 3 years batteries, limited
Price Please see L20 product page $7598 $2748 $2699 $3799
User Manual Download   Seta Model L Seta Piccola Lino C 2.0 Lino C 3.0

Notes:
1. The preamplifer "Flat" outputs have 12 dB lower gain, taking advantage of the emphasized treble in the non-RIAA-compensated signal. Gain pertains to conventional Voltage Mode operation. Current Mode gain depends on cartridge characteristics.
2. The Flat outputs are intended for use with Pure Vinyl software RIAA compensation. The RIAA outputs function the same as a conventional stand alone phono preamplifier.
3. Flat outputs using a test signal generator having a 5 ohm or lower output impedance (Thevenin equivalent impedance) typical of a low output moving-coil cartridge.
4. If you're unaccustomed to interpreting distortion graphs, the graph has a logarithmic (exponential) vertical scale. The input signal is shown (a pure sine wave) and an ideal, perfect response would show only one peak (two, for intermodulation distortion which uses two sine waves). Harmonic distortion is indicated by "extra" peaks. Anything below -100 dB (which is 0.001 percent) is outstanding. Lower levels of distortion are icing on the cake. Listening evaluations are essential to product development, but measurements confirm that the manufactured products meet the designer's expectations.