Hermes

The Hermes stands as the most accessible entry point into the uncompromising world of Aries Cerat analogue playback. While it is designed with an emphasis on simplicity, its architecture remains sufficiently complex to deliver the visceral, end-game performance expected from the brand. By optimising the signal path through pure single-ended vacuum tube circuitry, it avoids the compromises often found in more complex, cost-constrained topologies. At the core of the Hermes is a three-stage tube gain circuit, which provides the foundation for its transparent and flowing presentation. To handle the most demanding low-level signals without degradation, the design incorporates a proprietary E-Sut booster stage utilising space-charge tubes. This ingenious solution provides an additional 14dB of gain, ensuring that even the most difficult cartridges are amplified with total integrity. Constructed in a dual-chassis configuration, the Hermes physically isolates its sensitive gain stages from the power supply’s magnetic fields and mechanical vibration. The result is a sound that is rich, harmonically dense, and remarkably silent, allowing the listener to experience the true emotional weight and texture of their vinyl collection.