Roy Gregory Names Clarisys Atrium/VAC System Best in Show

[morricab]

30 years ago, I owned a Pass labs Aleph 3, a 30 watt stereo amplifier. I thought it sounded great. I then had the Aleph 2 mono blocks they were better and I should not have sold those. Then I enjoyed the Pass XA 160.5. It was good, but speakers were demanding. The best solid-state amplifier I had in my system was the Lamm M1.1 with Lamm preamp and phono. That combination sounded much better than the Pass labs on my Magico speakers.

Those old Aleph 2 and 3 and the Lamm M1.1 were very musical solid state amplifiers.

The Lamm is a hybrid…

 

[PeterA]

The Lamm is a hybrid…

OK, thanks. The point I was trying to make is that this old gear sounds great and I’m not moved emotionally by the new stuff. I’m thinking mainly of CH precision, Dagostino, Solution. It sounds a bit flat and sterile, though very low in distortion and very clean.

 

[morricab]

OK, thanks. The point I was trying to make is that this old gear sounds great and I’m not moved emotionally by the new stuff. I’m thinking mainly of CH precision, Dagostino, Solution. It sounds a bit flat and sterile, though very low in distortion and very clean.

One of the best amps I had from the past was a hybrid. It was from a Dutch company called Sphinx (owners were of Siltech and Crystal Cable fame). I had a model called Project 14 that was tube input and driver and MOSFET output. Was heavily biased towards Class A. Musical, very powerful and tonally very good. I would happily own one today if I had speakers that weren’t SET friendly.

 

[LL21]

One of the best amps I had from the past was a hybrid. It was from a Dutch company called Sphinx (owners were of Siltech and Crystal Cable fame). I had a model called Project 14 that was tube input and driver and MOSFET output. Was heavily biased towards Class A. Musical, very powerful and tonally very good. I would happily own one today if I had speakers that weren’t SET friendly.

Interesting...different from Siltech SAGA or do you think they shared some design architecture?

 

[morricab]

Interesting...different from Siltech SAGA or do you think they shared some design architecture?

Yes, much older...but SAGA was derived from the earlier Sphinx Project amps...there was also Project 16 (Pure Class A hybrid...probably the best sounding of the bunch), the Project 18 (all SS) and even a Project 23 or 26. The 14 was smaller and Class AB but biased very high, where it disipated the energy of a 24 watt Class A amp. The 14 was great for Apogees that were "moderate" with their impedance like my Caliper Signatures, which were around 3 ohms. The Project 16 was probably the best sounding amp ever to drive 1 ohm Scintillas.

 

[LL21]

Yes, much older...but SAGA was derived from the earlier Sphinx Project amps...there was also Project 16 (Pure Class A hybrid...probably the best sounding of the bunch), the Project 18 (all SS) and even a Project 23 or 26. The 14 was smaller and Class AB but biased very high, where it disipated the energy of a 24 watt Class A amp. The 14 was great for Apogees that were "moderate" with their impedance like my Caliper Signatures, which were around 3 ohms. The Project 16 was probably the best sounding amp ever to drive 1 ohm Scintillas.

Fascinating...thanks! Have you heard the SAGA which I think is still commercially available?

 

[morricab]

Fascinating...thanks! Have you heard the SAGA which I think is still commercially available?

No, sadly I haven't heard that system...an interesting one to be sure given I am very familiar with its antecedents.

 

[bonzo75]

Fascinating...thanks! Have you heard the SAGA which I think is still commercially available?

Yes, audio lounge in London has it you can hear the whole Siltech SAGA system. Had compared it to Nagra back then on the YG Hailey 2

 

[LL21]

Yes, audio lounge in London has it you can hear the whole Siltech SAGA system. Had compared it to Nagra back then on the YG Hailey 2

Thanks...had heard that. Any high level thoughts? Had read somewhere it is uniquely articulate with quick reflexes, perhaps not the last word in scale/power.

 

[gian60]

You selectively edited what Robert Harley said about the systems cost no object. Here is what he actually said.

RH’s Best of Show​

Best Sound (cost no object): There were so many great-sounding systems at this year’s show that it would be a disservice to readers and manufacturers to pick one or two. So, here are my sonic highlights, in no particular order.

AlsyVox Michaelangelo. This massive full-range ribbon speaker making its debut had an uncanny lifelike immediacy that box speakers simply can’t duplicate. The Michaelangelo has more power, weight, and tonal density than AlsyVox’s stunning Caravaggio XX I reviewed last year, along with 97dB sensitivity. A spectacular debut.

MBL 101-xTreme. This system never fails to stun with its ability to simply disappear as a sound source, massive bass power and impact, and ultra-smooth tonal balance. Plus, MBL’s Jeremy Bryan plays real music, not the usual insipid audiophile pap.

Wilson WAMM. Driven by a massive array of Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems Relentless power amplifiers and Relentless preamp in a large room, the WAMM sounded big, majestic, and hugely dynamic. It’s rare to hear the WAMM at a show, and this exhibit showcased David Wilson’s magnum opus in its full glory.

Clarisys Atrium. Another great showing for ribbons was the Atrium, a three-piece (per side) full-range ribbon from Clarisys. Although impractical for all but palatial rooms, the big Clarisys presented one of the most stunning spatial presentations I’ve heard from an audio system. Everything else about the speaker—tone color, liquidity, dynamics—was first rate. Driven by all VAC tube electronics in the largest room in the MOC convention hall, the big Clarisys delivered a memorable experience.

AlsyVox Botticelli. This full-range ribbon driven by Soulution 717 and Soulution’s new turntable, all on Critical Mass Systems racks, was gorgeous sounding. At a much lower price than the Caravaggio XX I reviewed, the Botticelli brings the glories of ribbon technology to a wider audience.

Lorenzo LM1: This unlikely looking speaker (a large rectangular box with horn-loaded tweeter) combined tonal truth, spectacular soundstaging, and startling dynamics. This Spanish speaker is imported by Rhapsody and sells for $250k per pair. The Lorenzo LM1 was a real discovery for me.

I listened very well all these system

Alsyvox Michelangelo was very very good,i listened also 3 track i usually listen at my home and was impressive

MBL no bad but always something not very good

Alsyvox single panel,i dont remember the name,good but not impressive

WAMM/D Agostino system,very bad and terrible sound,bass always full and long with no definition and poor quality of driver and D Agostino amp

Lorenzo M1 i like a lot even if not perfect but i think if i have in my room the sound will be fantastic

These are only my comment with a listenig of 15/20 minutes each

 

[gian60]

sir your response makes no sense . You say SS amps are so good today on one hand and they don’t sound like music on the other .when the Infinity Reference came out which what my comment came out we sold every pair with tube amps or Mark Levinson class A amps which were ok but extremely dark sounding. I know this since I was there and we at Lyric were the exclusive dealer for years.
Solid state amps , tube amps, hybrid amps are ALL far better today it’s not close there are many excellent sounding products. Your opinion is yours but I don’t agree
The amps I own are much better in every way than circa 1980 power amps.
They are in every aspe

One of the best amps I had from the past was a hybrid. It was from a Dutch company called Sphinx (owners were of Siltech and Crystal Cable fame). I had a model called Project 14 that was tube input and driver and MOSFET output. Was heavily biased towards Class A. Musical, very powerful and tonally very good. I would happily own one today if I had speakers that weren’t SET friendly.

I have in second system amp Thrax Heros MK II,one of the best amp listened in my life.
Mono amp,100 watt class A,input tube,output Mos fet

 

[gian60]

Yes, much older...but SAGA was derived from the earlier Sphinx Project amps...there was also Project 16 (Pure Class A hybrid...probably the best sounding of the bunch), the Project 18 (all SS) and even a Project 23 or 26. The 14 was smaller and Class AB but biased very high, where it disipated the energy of a 24 watt Class A amp. The 14 was great for Apogees that were "moderate" with their impedance like my Caliper Signatures, which were around 3 ohms. The Project 16 was probably the best sounding amp ever to drive 1 ohm Scintillas.

You have right,Siltech room,was one of the 3/4 best,impressive,amp and new speaker

 

[ClarisysAudio]

Great to learn about the details - I noticed that Florian refers to the time alignment capability of the digital crossover, although he does not tell us if he is using this feature.

I am on the Atrium, i tried several different crossoves and my favorite one is the DF75. I use different slopes and frequencies depending on the audiences taste and the kind of presentation i want. Electronic time alignement is a must in my opinion. Americans and Europeans have different tastes on playback and they value different sonic characteristics. Since i basically showed my private system in Munich, i also use different settings from home. A system like the Atrium is customized to taste; why spent all the money and effort just to be stuck with one signature? Cheers

 

[morricab]

I have in second system amp Thrax Heros MK II,one of the best amp listened in my life.
Mono amp,100 watt class A,input tube,output Mos fet

I thought the Thrax room sounded excellent this year and they were using the Heros monos.

 

[Elliot G.]

Hello ,

I said the build quality is superior , not necessarily the sound of modern SS amps, nothing about tubes and or Hybrids, if modern SS amps are better on the avg i don't hear it when given the opportunity to listen and I knew Mike Kay very well as to all you just mentioned as i was there too ..

So yes those 80’s ML were dark but they were not “the” one or the only game in town and they were never my game.

So with some exceptions, I find most modern SS amps on the Avg , to be musically lacking and very meh…!

you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I as I said do not agree. I'm happy you visited Lyric I hope you were a client .
IMHO there is no contest in which the amplifiers ( all of them) are not better than they were in the 1980's.
The sentence that they were more musical is truly nothing more than your opinion. it is not mine nor many others.
I heard no amps from that era that sound better than the best of what is available today. There are more great products available today in every variety than in the 1980's and they are built better as well.
I think this forum has a million times over shown that there are no clear cut winners that everyone agrees upon.
If you prefer tubes, or vintage or whatever that is wonderful for you.

Just for kicks and giggles exactly what amps are you saying were so terrific?

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[Elliot G.]

View attachment 152268

 

[Elliot G.]

Just for some fact this is the list of products that Lyric represented at the time shortly before the release of the IRS which was my original point.
That add was from the Winter issue of 1979 , of course with HP this could have been mailed later LOL and the IRS came not long after.

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[Elliot G.]

That one is September 1980 I had started working there in 1979 before the IRS and this add is after we had the original IRS. Just the facts