Founded more than 20 years ago in Warsaw, Poland by Marcin Hamerla, HEM is an electronics design and manufacturing company originally set out to work on projects for the Polish government, gradually shifting to high end audio electronics. HEM’s in-house research and development and software programming expertise allowed the company to focus on manufacturing original electronic equipment (OEM) and electronic designs (ODM). HEM’s focus until recently was based on the company's work as a contract manufacturer for Mytek Digital, and providing engineering services for the NY-based company. HEM also distributed Mytek in European and Far Eastern markets together with other brands. In early 2020, HEM introduced a new brand of hifi products, completely developed in-house under the name Ferrum.
According to the company, the idea to create a new brand of quality hifi products was inspired by the rich local history of quality craftsmanship in the Warsaw region and HEMs own capabilities. The Ferrum brand also wants to combine sustainability, durability and quality in attractive new designs, focused on delivering the best possible audio experience at an affordable price level.
The first Ferrum product was the foundation for the company's vision. The Ferrum HYPSOS (995 EUR/USD) is not a simple power supply but an audio component of its own – an equally (or even more) important part of a setup as any other. It is based on a linear/switching hybrid design to get the advantages from both techniques - low ripple and noise as well as fast transient response and high efficiency. It offers a selection of unique features, and being software controlled it allows future improvements.
And one of the unique features is the ability to be configured for multiple devices, using pre-configured settings from the list of supported devices or setting custom parameters manually. Wide continuous ouput voltage range of 5-30V with up to 6A of current delivered to the load, HYPSOS is as universal as it gets.
The second Ferrum product, OOR (1.995 EUR/USD), is meant to redefine the form and functionality of headphone amplifiers. The company set out to follow through on its ambitious ideas starting with a focus on the analog audio section, and building the whole design from the ground up. "OOR is the embodiment of the headphone amplifier done right, stripped down to the essential. OOR is 100% analog and will drive any headphone to the max of its capabilities while delivering the most transparent and detailed soundstage you’ve ever experienced," the company states.
The design features a Corten steel chassis, with three control knobs on the anodized aluminum front panel. One for gain settings to match all types of headphones, another to choose between balanced or unbalanced input, and a prominent volume control. The electronics housed inside OOR feature a truly balanced design of the preamplifier stage, coupled with a proprietary discrete power amp, and carefully selected components.
And while OOR can be used independently, it can be combined with the HYPSOS Hybrid Power System using a proprietary Ferrum Power Link (FPL) connection, pushing the results in terms of dynamics and transparency even further, "outplaying many, if not all headphone amps in its price category," the company states. The combined set, including the cables sells for 2.990 EUR/USD.
Ferrum products are distributed in the US by VANA Ltd.
www.vanaltd.com
www.ferrum.audio
