Alsyvox planars...prepare to sell your Magico's, YG's, Wilson's, Cessaro's. Maggie's, and all others!!

[BillK]

Which Apogees did you use before?

I had and still own a pair of Caliper Signatures that were re-ribboned with Graz ribbons about twelve years ago that are now used in a bedroom system driven by a McIntosh D150 Digital Pre feeding a Simaudio Moon 330A cabled in interconnects and power with all Synergistic Research Foundation.

 

[BillK]

what are your room sizes for Boticelli ?
also what amps you both use ?

I forget the size of the room; it's complicated by the fact the room is completely open on one side to another room that is even larger (the kitchen flows through to the family room without walls.)

I am driving my B-X with a pair of Ayre MX-R Twenties.

 

[BillK]

This honestly describes most specialist high end audio...Alsyvox is not that unique in this regard. As to the sound, I am a former owner of LOTs of planars and while the Alsyvox are arugably the best planars I have heard (although a properly sorted Apogee Grand can compete as could the ones being made down under)

As someone who auditioned many a pair of Apogee Grands, despite their claims at the time, the switch from the panel to the conventional subs was always audible.

 

[bonzo75]

As someone who auditioned many a pair of Apogee Grands, despite their claims at the time, the switch from the panel to the conventional subs was always audible.

You should visit Henk in NL to listen to his highly modded ones. Also the subs came in at 40 or 50 hz

 

[christoph]

I had and still own a pair of Caliper Signatures that were re-ribboned with Graz ribbons about twelve years ago that are now used in a bedroom system driven by a McIntosh D150 Digital Pre feeding a Simaudio Moon 330A cabled in interconnects and power with all Synergistic Research Foundation.

Nice.
Did they start to buzz?
The Caliper were my first Apogees, very soon to be upgraded to Scintillas many many years ago.

 

[christoph]

As someone who auditioned many a pair of Apogee Grands, despite their claims at the time, the switch from the panel to the conventional subs was always audible.

Are you sure you were listening the "The Grands"? There are only VERY FEW pairs around...
Don't you confuse "the Grand" maybe with the Studio Grand or the Mini Grand?

 

[Kris]

If it was my personal room and I could swing the B's financially I would go with B's. If I could not swing the B's financially then T's or TX would be very good.

Thank you .
this is exactly what I suspected.
the bigger the better…

Are you suggesting the T and TX are little worst performers than Botticelli?

could you please elaborate more of why you would go for Botticelli if money is not an issue ?

 

[Rhapsody]

Hi Kris,

The Botticelli, with the 14" of height advantage over the Tintoretto delivers larger scale. More enveloping. I think the room size is close to the minimum size for Botticelli, but if the room can handle the Botticelli then there is definitely a sonic uptick in over all sound quality attributes (bass, soundstage, more relaxed) and greater scale/wall of sound.

The midrange and high frequencies will be similar but with more full bodied bass from the Botticelli it will make the midrange and even high end better. Similar as what good subs do for a system. They have an effect on the overall sonic presentation vs. just more/lower bass.

If you don't hear the B or BX in the room and only heard the T or TX in your mentioned size room, the TX will deliver all of the same sound qualities as the B or BX, it's when you hear the B or BX that you would realize there is a bit more of everything that the T or TX provided.

 

[BillK]

Nice.
Did they start to buzz?
The Caliper were my first Apogees, very soon to be upgraded to Scintillas many many years ago.

They did, and still do when you hit particular resonant frequencies; neither Graz nor the installer were ever able to nail down why, but it wasn't due to the ribbons or surrounds being bad per se.

The fun thing is the same track would make the Caliper and Diva buzz, but not the Duetta.

Then other tracks would make the Duetta buzz but not the Caliper or Diva.

Nothing would make the Full Range buzz.

Fun times.

 

[BillK]

Are you sure you were listening the "The Grands"? There are only VERY FEW pairs around...
Don't you confuse "the Grand" maybe with the Studio Grand or the Mini Grand?

I heard all three at various dealers and shows.

All of them had an audible quality shift when moving to the sub as conventional drivers just inherently have a different character than panels do.

 

[Levitator]

AlsyVox sound by the way very, very good with Aries Cerat Ianus Essentia - I heard them with that and was very enthusiastic.

I’m hoping to hear the Aries Cerat Ianus Aperio integrated amp with my BX speakers over the next few weeks - have you heard the Alsyvox with any other amps and what did you specifically like about the AC amps?

 

[Verdier]

Sorry, for me it's the other way round (although it might be a bit stupid) - I'm not looking for amps for AlsyVox speakers, I'm looking for speakers for my AC Ianus Essentia amps.

I've only had the opportunity to listen to the AlsyVox with the Essentia, so that's all I can say on the subject. I have not heard the AlsyVox with other amps.

Basically, all I can say is that they are wonderful speakers. I don't know yet if I will buy such speakers, but very good they are in any case. For me, it's more important that speakers are able to reproduce physically ( bodily) and good speakers with dynamic drivers are a bit ahead of electrostats and horns. Nevertheless, the AlsyVox were indeed very impressive.

I had opened 2 threads about Aries Cerat. Brief summary: the AC components I acquired at the end of my little odyssey (as preamp Impera Ref and later Impera Sig; poweramps Ianus Essentia; phono stage Talos) were able to outperform the following combinations by a wide margin:

- Trinity Reference Preamp
- CH Precision L1 Preamp
- Mark Levinson ML-2 Poweramp
- CH Precision A1.5 Poweramp,

no matter how these components were combined. AC resolved more and played much more involved and full-bodied, just much, much more fun.

 

[Levitator]

Sorry, for me it's the other way round (although it might be a bit stupid) - I'm not looking for amps for AlsyVox speakers, I'm looking for speakers for my AC Ianus Essentia amps.

I've only had the opportunity to listen to the AlsyVox with the Essentia, so that's all I can say on the subject. I have not heard the AlsyVox with other amps.

Basically, all I can say is that they are wonderful speakers. I don't know yet if I will buy such speakers, but very good they are in any case. For me, it's more important that speakers are able to reproduce physically ( bodily) and good speakers with dynamic drivers are a bit ahead of electrostats and horns. Nevertheless, the AlsyVox were indeed very impressive.

I had opened 2 threads about Aries Cerat. Brief summary: the AC components I acquired at the end of my little odyssey (as preamp Impera Ref and later Impera Sig; poweramps Ianus Essentia; phono stage Talos) were able to outperform the following combinations by a wide margin:

- Trinity Reference Preamp
- CH Precision L1 Preamp
- Mark Levinson ML-2 Poweramp
- CH Precision A1.5 Poweramp,

no matter how these components were combined. AC resolved more and played much more involved and full-bodied, just much, much more fun.

Cool - no worries…thanks for the info anyway, and good luck with the speaker search, there’s plenty to consider!

 

[Kris]

So what wpuld be the best amp for Alsyvox Botticelli X ?
I know Emile uses Audionet Heisenbergs.
Bob likes Pillium
Some love Aries Cerat
Anything with tubes or top class hybrid that works well wit A BX ?

 

[Rhapsody]

So what wpuld be the best amp for Alsyvox Botticelli X ?
I know Emile uses Audionet Heisenbergs.
Bob likes Pillium
Some love Aries Cerat
Anything with tubes or top class hybrid that works well wit A BX ?

I don't think there is a "best". I think each amp/electronics will sound different and what someone else likes might not be what is perfect for you. Best to forge your own path

 

[Levitator]

So what wpuld be the best amp for Alsyvox Botticelli X ?
I know Emile uses Audionet Heisenbergs.
Bob likes Pillium
Some love Aries Cerat
Anything with tubes or top class hybrid that works well wit A BX ?

From my research and talking with Daniele about what he has heard that works well (not that this list is definitive), here are some amp brands used by Alsyvox owners, in no particular order:

- Jadis
- Omega
- Pilium
- Aries Cerat
- VAC
- Alieno

I’m currently using German Physiks (prior to that D’Agostino) and it sounds very nice, however my search is still on to assess other options. As Bob has said, I don’t think there is any BEST, rather what works with your own set up and ears

 

[BillK]

I mentioned above they sound absolutely incredible with a pair of Ayre MX-R Twenties as well.

 

[gwalt]

I don't think there is a "best". I think each amp/electronics will sound different and what someone else likes might not be what is perfect for you. Best to forge your own path

I agree with this totally. This hobby is all about personal enjoyment and what moves YOURSELF emotionally. Just don't get in a hurry making a decision based on others.......make sure you let your own reality make the choice and remember all things in a system matter. Amplifiers are just one piece of the puzzle.......there are many other factors playing a role to tune a system to your desires.
I also have an amp. I posted that is hybrid (with tubes I can roll) and love it. All of the amps listed I am sure have qualities to love but each to his own as these speakers are not hard to drive.

 

[Rhapsody]

I have also used and liked the sound with-

-Esoteric
-Soulution
-Kondo (Kaguras)

I had a customer who started with Pass Labs as well and liked the sound, but eventually went to Pilium.

Actually I don't remember any customer saying they tried this or that amp and it didn't sound good with any of the Alsyvox speakers.

The one caveat I would mention is that if you use too low of a powered amp, especially in a larger room, and expect the Alsyvox to give the full sonic experience and the GOOD growl of the bass down in the 20's that Alsyvox is capable of, you might be disappointed. You probably would not be disappointed in the the overall sound, which will be nice with even a 30 Watt tube amp, but if you want to "light up the room" and have the full bass capability then I recommend at least 80 or 90 watts on up, either tubes or SS.

This is one of the beautiful aspects of Alsyvox. You can pretty much drive any of the Alsyvox speakers with any amps above 30 watts and get great sound and in time find the amps that work to your liking.

 

[Kris]

Thanks to all.
I am from active crossover and active speakers world. 4x 100 w and 4x 200w .
Having 8 build in amps in my speakers is something difficult to replicate in passive.

I think Bob has biggest experience of all with distributing this successfully in US.
My problem is „I want it all” so thinking cold something like Audinet Heisenberg will be the solution for absolute power, control , musicality and top pleasure without long session fatigue.
extreme price is there but probably will be final solution for many years.