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

Zero000

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I’ve always thought that the pricing of these speakers was based on the, “think of a number and double it” approach. The pricing of those crossover variants just confirms my suspicions.

Agreed but if the company can survive and get away with it good luck to them.

The thing is so many speakers fail in comparison at similar and greater price points. It's just a very good technology. In this case well implemented.
 
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iansr

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Agreed but if the company can survive and get away with it good luck to them.

The thing is so many speakers fail in comparison at similar and greater price points. It's just a very good technology. In this case well implemented.
Justin
As you know I too heard them at Munich and I absolutely think they are amongst the best speakers currently available. However I can’t get on board with the idea that It’s acceptable to charge an inflated price just because some people are willing to pay it. That’s probably related to the fact that I also think ( like a growing number of economists) that the pursuit of endless growth is unsustainable. But we are straying into Politics now so I better stop there . . .
PS. I did say currently available. In November I’m going to get to listen to the first speaker based on a truly new and unique transducer technology. For a variety of reasons I fully expect this to be a major disruptor in the hi fi speaker arena. So what’s happening in November? Well, I’m going to New Zealand . . . .
 

Zero000

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Well
Justin
As you know I too heard them at Munich and I absolutely think they are amongst the best speakers currently available. However I can’t get on board with the idea that It’s acceptable to charge an inflated price just because some people are willing to pay it. That’s probably related to the fact that I also think ( like a growing number of economists) that the pursuit of endless growth is unsustainable. But we are straying into Politics now so I better stop there . . .
PS. I did say currently available. In November I’m going to get to listen to the first speaker based on a truly new and unique transducer technology. For a variety of reasons I fully expect this to be a major disruptor in the hi fi speaker arena. So what’s happening in November? Well, I’m going to New Zealand . . . .

I am in Rio De Janeiro at the moment.

Popped into see Audiopax, and whilst very good, they were no Alsyvox beaters.
 
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Zero000

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Here's the pic. In an Uber that's bouncing around LOL.
 

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asiufy

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Well, these are very different concepts. I doubt Silvio intended the Audiopax speakers to sound like the Alsyvox :)
That said, they are pretty impressive speakers, and at the prices Silvio has quoted me, they're a fraction of the Alsyvox products.
 

Zero000

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Well, these are very different concepts. I doubt Silvio intended the Audiopax speakers to sound like the Alsyvox :)
That said, they are pretty impressive speakers, and at the prices Silvio has quoted me, they're a fraction of the Alsyvox products.

And even if he had intended them to sound like Alsyvox he couldn't manage it without replicating the product. Which I don't believe he could do.

Very good stuff, though. And Silvio is a nice chap.

Anyway, back to Alsyvox.
 

morricab

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The AlsyVox/Omega system at RMAF is one of the best systems I've ever experienced.

Some caveats apply as the room isn't ideal (large enough but WAY too live) and I can't play anything and everything I want and am familiar with, but what I heard was excellent to incredible. I went for 15 min and sat in a few different seats, then came back and took the best seat for about 20 minutes and was just blown away.

Will probably be back for more today! :)

So, it seems where all previous ribbon speakers failed in the past was in not having access to or using high energy magnets to get the sensitivity up to where a ribbon design can sound explosive and really cope with dynamics.

I remember when the big Apogees were a big hit (I heard the Apogee Grand for the first time at CES Chicago in 1992 (or 1993...long ago now...)...it was mind blowing then too ) and were blowing everything away from their generation. The fact that they are still a competitive and viable speaker design today is a testament to what ribbons can inherently do correctly.
 
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Zero000

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So, it seems where all previous ribbon speakers failed in the past was in not having access to or using high energy magnets to get the sensitivity up to where a ribbon design can sound explosive and really cope with dynamics.

I remember when the big Apogees were a big hit (I heard the Apogee Grand for the first time at CES Chicago in 1992 (or 1993...long ago now...)...it was mind blowing then too ) and were blowing everything away from their generation. The fact that they are still a competitive and viable speaker design today is a testament to what ribbons can inherently do correctly.

No I don't think the magnet strength affects dynamics. It just increases sensitivity. The Alsyvox don't really sound as dynamic as my modern day Duettas. I am unsure why but I have a few thoughts on it. The biggest is probably the amount of bass Duettas produce which make them sound strong and meaty. The Alsyvox is definitely more linear.

Graz did use neodymium mags for a while. He has given up on it.

Be careful I am NOT saying my Duettas are better.
 
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morricab

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No I don't think the magnet strength affects dynamics. It just increases sensitivity. The Alsyvox don't really sound as dynamic as my modern day Duettas. I am unsure why but I have a few thoughts on it. The biggest is probably the amount of bass Duettas produce which make them sound strong and meaty. The Alsyvox is definitely more linear.

Graz did use neodymium mags for a while. He has given up on it.

Be careful I am NOT saying my Duettas are better.

While I don't think that sensitivity affects a ribbon or planar line source dynamics as much as it does a voicecoil based driver, I think a big part of the aliveness I heard from Alsyvox can be laid at the feet of that higher responsiveness that a higher sensitivity indicates. The issues with thermal compression that plague low sensitivity drivers is largely not there due to the superior cooling from having the whole ribbon or "voice coil" exposed to free circulating air. That said it is clear for microdynamics (something I think Apogees and Magnepans are inferior to good electrostats, for example and needing to be played a bit louder to "wake up") that the high sensitivity ribbon has a dynamic advantage.

A meatier sound does not translate into dynamics necessarily except to say that this is often an area where speakers struggle with dynamics...I didn't have the impression from my Alsyvox experiences that they were lacking compared to Apogees in this way.

So far, I have only heard Alsyvox with their typical partner this funky looking Omega brand...I would love to hear a pair with a good SET or Class A PP triode amp (like your preferred type)...perhaps there would be more meatiness then with less prominent highs?
 

musicfirst1

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Justin
As you know I too heard them at Munich and I absolutely think they are amongst the best speakers currently available. However I can’t get on board with the idea that It’s acceptable to charge an inflated price just because some people are willing to pay it. That’s probably related to the fact that I also think ( like a growing number of economists) that the pursuit of endless growth is unsustainable. But we are straying into Politics now so I better stop there . . .
PS. I did say currently available. In November I’m going to get to listen to the first speaker based on a truly new and unique transducer technology. For a variety of reasons I fully expect this to be a major disruptor in the hi fi speaker arena. So what’s happening in November? Well, I’m going to New Zealand . . . .

Enquiring minds want to know... Which speakers are these?
 

iansr

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Enquiring minds want to know... Which speakers are these?
The company is called Wing Acoustics. They have developed a totally new type of transducer. Lots of investment made, apparently lots of interest from some serious players. They are planning on releasing their first small speaker next month, the primary purpose of which is, I think, to demonstrate the capabilities of the tech. If the tech fulfills it’s promise it’s going to cause a lot of ripples ( in more ways than one )
 
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William Kucharski

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While I thought the Botticelli X sounded very, very good this year, I also thought they didn't sound quite as good as last year.

In track by track there was a slight tilt in the upper midrange that made them sound ever so slightly bright compared to the balanced sound they achieved at the last RMAF.

This of course could have been the room or the recording, but I heard it on the copy of "Take Five" that they played; I've no idea which of the many versions was the source for the digital they played but the reed of the sax was a little harder edged than it should have been, without the slight "woody" tone it should have and I know I can hear on my 45 RPM Analogue Productions LP as well as on the Analogue Productions SACD.

It's just… at MSRP, the Botticelli were absolutely incredible, though a bit pricy for the money.

At the price of the Botticelli X, there are far too many other speaker systems to be considered at a lower price point like the Vivid Audio Giya G1 Spirit, the Wilson Alexx or a used pair of Magico M6s to give a blanket "still worth the price" recommendation.

I'd also love to be able to compare the X and non-X back to back.

What is nice is that AlsyVox will modify any existing pair of Botticelli to be able to use the external crossover if you so desire.

It's very interesting to me how they are following the Apogee Diva trajectory of speakers first and then later speakers plus DAX.

RenderedImage 3.jpg
 
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cjfrbw

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The company is called Wing Acoustics. They have developed a totally new type of transducer. Lots of investment made, apparently lots of interest from some serious players. They are planning on releasing their first small speaker next month, the primary purpose of which is, I think, to demonstrate the capabilities of the tech. If the tech fulfills it’s promise it’s going to cause a lot of ripples ( in more ways than one )
Heh, Heh, Wing Acoustics has gotten its puffery and publicity down pat, anyway. They have a page of rave reviews, with no names, just generic identifiers like 'Senior Acoustic Engineer', 'Chief Scientist', 'Chief Transducer Engineer', 'World Class Professional Violinist" etc. with no names.

https://wingacoustics.com/speaker-reviews/
 

christoph

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iansr

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Heh, Heh, Wing Acoustics has gotten its puffery and publicity down pat, anyway. They have a page of rave reviews, with no names, just generic identifiers like 'Senior Acoustic Engineer', 'Chief Scientist', 'Chief Transducer Engineer', 'World Class Professional Violinist" etc. with no names.

https://wingacoustics.com/speaker-reviews/
Well as they say, the proof of the pudding . . . I’ll be able to listen to their first speaker when I visit their HQ in November.
 
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iansr

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“What is nice is that AlsyVox will modify any existing pair of Botticelli to be able to use the external crossover if you so desire.”

I’m sure they would be delighted to do that given the outrageous price differential.
 

spiritofmusic

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Heh, Heh, Wing Acoustics has gotten its puffery and publicity down pat, anyway. They have a page of rave reviews, with no names, just generic identifiers like 'Senior Acoustic Engineer', 'Chief Scientist', 'Chief Transducer Engineer', 'World Class Professional Violinist" etc. with no names.

https://wingacoustics.com/speaker-reviews/
"Undeniably astute comment" Forum board contributor.
 

the sound of Tao

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