The End Of A 35 Year Journey ---Zellaton -The Reference Ultra Final Frontier

[Steve williams]

To be fully transparent I'm one of the guys who proposed to Steve SS amp option. If you believe that I'm "silly SS aficionado" having entire system for years and years made out of tube components only (mainly DHT) so be it.
But I am in the camp of thought that each speaker type requires a "specific" amp type in order to shine at its best. Placing monster SS amp on 100dB horns won't really cut the chase or SET amp with 300b tubes on panel speakers also won't deliver the goodies both are capable of.
To me same goes for multiple driver dynamic speakers coupled with SET DHT amp. Does it sound fantastic - I have no doubt, could it sound potentially better with big SS amp with proper damping factor etc. - maybe yes maybe no to the ears of the owner.
Again, for the sake of truth - i proposed to Steve to TRY (not BUY) and hear on his own beside his Lamms only power amp while not changing the pre as tube pre in my book is essential, to see what two conceptually different type of power amps are bringing to the table - nothing more nothing less.
For example - Gideon having Soulution in his portfolio I'm sure he would be willing to loan one for a demo for a big customer as Steve is.

Anyways if Steve is happy with as is electronics, I'm happy and that is it.

P.S. Not sure I've seen Zellaton going around the shows (like Munich) demoing their stuff with SET amps...but I've seen them doing it with big monster SS amps - guess there must be a reason for that...

Zell used to show with CH Precision back in the day. I can imagine a CHP M1 on those speakers. People used to say that it was a like a triode with mega power. LoL

Goran. I completely agree with everything you said. I have zero rebuttal except to say that it’s another rabbit hole that I will leave for another life.

 

[Alrainbow]

Goebel are speakers I love and there box ones too.
Riviara is great when paired with them .

 

[pdubya]

Hey Steve
Glad to see the appetizer is whetting your appetite for the main course ...
Gideon set up my PE's in a large room, but I've since moved them to a room about the size of yours, albeit mine is unprofessionally-treated. I've ended up with them, vis tweeter, about 79" from the front wall, 28" from the sidewall, 120" from the listening position, and 110" apart. Toe-in is somewhere between 10 and 15 degrees (the outer front foot is about 2" closer to the backwall than the inner front foot, and a goodly portion of each speaker's inward side is visible -- tweeters pointed at least 1.5' outside my shoulders ...). Is this anything like how Gideon ended up placing yours?
Thanks
Parker

 

[Steve williams]

your set up iis almost identical to what he did in my room, although my listening position is closer and speaker is somewhat closer to front wall

Id be happy to take measurements and PM them to you tomorrow if you'd like but it looks close to what he did in my room

 

[Steve williams]

Parker didnt you have photos of your previous set up here on WBF

 

[pdubya]

Thanks for the offer but no need

Parker didnt you have photos of your previous set up here on WBF

In the big room, yes. (Alsyvox in there now.). Current room, I don't think so. My chair is further back in order to place it in best position for room's smoothest bass response. I've tried moving chair into more of a near-field experience but ended up pushing it back. In order to pull speakers closer to chair/further from front wall I would need to rearrange the rug and furniture. Maybe one of these days.
No need to go to trouble of measurements, thanks. Just curious how setup might compare given similar room dimensions (mine's 19x14). If Gideon is ever so unfortunate as to find himself in NC again one of these days maybe he'll come tweak things for me ...

 

[Steve williams]

Thanks for the offer but no need

In the big room, yes. (Alsyvox in there now.). Current room, I don't think so. My chair is further back in order to place it in best position for room's smoothest bass response. I've tried moving chair into more of a near-field experience but ended up pushing it back. In order to pull speakers closer to chair/further from front wall I would need to rearrange the rug and furniture. Maybe one of these days.
No need to go to trouble of measurements, thanks. Just curious how setup might compare given similar room dimensions (mine's 19x14). If Gideon is ever so unfortunate as to find himself in NC again one of these days maybe he'll come tweak things for me ...

yes in the big room.ii seem to remember you had the big Clarisys prior to PE

 

[pdubya]

yes in the big room.ii seem to remember you had the big Clarisys prior to PE

Yep ...
And oddly enough, a few years after Soulution featured Clarisys Auditorium at Munich, this year they have the Caravaggio-- I was a little amused when I saw those pictures online this week.

 

[B.A.G.]

The white pair is going to Toronto??

My home town. Most of my family is still there. I must look up your shop to come for a listen

Hi Steve,

Yes, the first pair of Statement Ultra, which are the white ones Rob was able to listen to at Zellaton, are coming to Toronto.

You are certainly more than welcome to come visit for a listening session anytime, if you’re back in the Toronto area or care to make a trip.

p.s. one thing I will say is that I certainly don’t like to refer to Boutique Audio Gallery as a “store” or a “dealer/dealership”. It really was purpose built to be an homage to what I as a hobbyist love most in the audio world. Until
I decided to build BAG (less than 2 years ago), I was never in the audio business/industry. I was just a crazy audiophile nut like most everyone else here on WBF

 

[Nick B]

Hi Steve,

Yes, the first pair of Statement Ultra, which are the white ones Rob was able to listen to at Zellaton, are coming to Toronto.

You are certainly more than welcome to come visit for a listening session anytime, if you’re back in the Toronto area or care to make a trip.

p.s. one thing I will say is that I certainly don’t like to refer to Boutique Audio Gallery as a “store” or a “dealer/dealership”. It really was purpose built to be an homage to what I as a hobbyist love most in the audio world. Until
I decided to build BAG (less than 2 years ago), I was never in the audio business/industry. I was just a crazy audiophile but like most everyone else here on WBF

What a beautiful gallery and offering of wonderful products

 

[B.A.G.]

What a beautiful gallery and offering of wonderful products

Thanks very much for the kind words, Nick. Much appreciated!

 

[JiminGa]

As to auditioning the Statements, I don't know where you're located, however I would welcome you, and all What's Best members, to my listening room. Part of the fun and enjoyment of our hobby is sharing new and exciting discoveries. I'd be happy to personally share my Zellaton experience. If anyone has an interest, reach out to me. I am located on the East Coast in a suburb of Philadelphia.

I grew up in Berwyn. Are you anywhere near there?

 

[vinyl_mike]

I grew up in Berwyn. Are you anywhere near there?

About 40 minutes. Rt 202 to Rt30. -in western Chester county

 

[JiminGa]

About 40 minutes. Rt 202 to Rt30. -in western Chester county

I know the area well.

 

[JiminGa]

how many Zellaton users do you know that are using subs, I did a search yesterday amongst friends, dealers, online users as well as all videos and truthfully I haven't found one. As stated I respect your opinion but a sub is not in my future with these speakers and I trust Emile's opinions on the subject as well . I too have Helmholtz resonators throughout my room. I did have subs for many years in my room. It wasn't until 3 speaker manufacturers visited my room and all of them independent of one another said my room would sound better without subs. It took me another 2 years of living with them before I finally sold them and my room has never sounded better. So can we please drop the subject. I appreciate your comments but as stated subs are not in my great scheme of things.. Time to move on

Steve I am just reading this thread. I share your frustration of so many dogmatic sub "must haves". Reading Toole and Geddes and the Harmon papers on acoustics, modes and frequency response in no way qualifies anyone to say with authority that all rooms/speakers benefit from the use of subs. Having spent decades using/not using them and having the best setup guys tweak them over years to minimize the unintended consequences of using them I can tell you that usually do not favor them. I fully understand what they add both sonically and from a measurement perspective. It's way more complicated than these experts suggest. Everyone is entitled to seek what they love but they are not entitled to tell you what you should love. I get why some people love them as I do in certain circumstances. I think it's interesting that both Zellaton and Rockport do not generally show with them. It's a philosophy which suites a certain design objective. I am not knocking anyone who wants them or thinks that in their own opinion they are better off using them. When you nail the dial you will not miss them. If you add them you will say "oh that's cool!" A year later when you unplug them you will say"wow I missed that incredible beauty!" its all in what makes you happy. Love your choices - Jim

 

[Audioarts]

Here’s an install of mine from yesterday in the Evo line, along with with Burmester. The room is quite large 35 x 25ft overlooking Central Park - but has now come to life with incredible speed, weight and purity from these ZELLATON’s. No need for subs or anything extraneous

 

[Steve williams]

Looking forward to photos of my install

 

[Kbh57]

Great photos

 

[Audioarts]

Looking forward to photos of my install

4 weeks to touchdown in Cali…, which may be the longest and most excruciating 4 weeks of your life

 

[Steve williams]

4 weeks to touchdown in Cali…, which may be the longest and most excruciating 4 weeks of your life

I had good news and bad news yesterday but in the end not so terrible. Zellaton informed Giedeon that my speakers would be done and ready to ship in 2 weeks. I said wow, that is good news but asked "what could be the bad news?" Well it wasn
't terrible and I could live with it. Zellaton informed him that they can finish the speakers with black rings around the drivers rather than the chrome rings I had ordered.. The chrome rings if I still preferred that way to go would in fact be available, but with the possibility of yet another 12 week wait. Apparently Zellaton has such strict standards that they could make home rings available on an earlier basis however it would not be to their standards. Bottom line for me is it is all about the sound and even though I ordered Porsche Aventurine green with chrome rings I was happy to change the order to the stock black rings with which most Zellaton speakers ship. For me not a big deal. So as Gideon says, this will be a month of eager expectation but with the guaranty the speakers will ship mid month with a 2 week window to arrive stateside and reach my house. Im hoping Imight have the Schnerzinger Reflectors I ordered at the same time and if so that would eb the icing on the cake. In the interim I have to admit that I am loving the sound I am getting now with the loaner set of Plural Evo speakers. They are really an eye opener.