Thanks, Russ! I am pleased to report Cyrus purchased the Quest with V2 updates and is enjoying it in his system. As always, thanks for sharing your experience and the supportive comments.
WestminsterLab Re-imagining Amplification
- Thread starter gleeds
- Start date
Please enjoy this interview with audiophile Cyrus in Spokane, Washington, who replaced his CH Precision L10 and M10 with six WestminsterLab Rei amplifiers and Quest pre-amp and WestminsterLab cables. The tri-amplification is accomplished with a CS Port ACN400 active cross-over.
I also interview Angus Leung, founder and designer at WestminsterLab, who tells us his thoughts on the set-up and the installation process.
Please "Like" this video, and subscribe to the WBF YouTube Channel!
I also interview Angus Leung, founder and designer at WestminsterLab, who tells us his thoughts on the set-up and the installation process.
Please "Like" this video, and subscribe to the WBF YouTube Channel!
Hello Russ, and for your kind words!
Thank you Ron for pulling the strings in this project and putting the video together.
Russ, are you referring to the WestminsterLab Monologue phonoamp when you mention the “new external power supply?”
Mkx. I'm jumping in. Yes, Russ is upgrading to the Monologue stand-alone power supply. He's adding his current MC/MM module from his Quest to complete the upgrade. As good as the Quest internal card is, the dedicated power supply brings things to another level.
In all the excitement, I neglected to post our suite at Axpona. We featured dual-mono Quest pre-amplifiers
(a first) and four Rei monoblocks in vertical bi-amp mode. The WestminsterLab electronics powered the wonderful Von Schweikert VR-55 Special Edition loudspeakers. Our friends from Lampizator NA provided among the first available US production units of the Posidean DAC, which was outstanding, especially after a few additional days of break-in. Andrew from Small Green Computer provided his i-5 Roon server and the latest Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe. Supporting it all, my partner and industrial designer, John Heins, brought the first ever Folgenhaus bespoke equipment rack built for a Chicago area WestminsterLab and Lampizator client (see inset photo of the installation).
I want to extend special thanks to Angus for coming in from Hong Kong and to all our WBF friends and supporters who stopped by the suite to listen to music and say hello.
(a first) and four Rei monoblocks in vertical bi-amp mode. The WestminsterLab electronics powered the wonderful Von Schweikert VR-55 Special Edition loudspeakers. Our friends from Lampizator NA provided among the first available US production units of the Posidean DAC, which was outstanding, especially after a few additional days of break-in. Andrew from Small Green Computer provided his i-5 Roon server and the latest Sonore Signature Rendu SE Deluxe. Supporting it all, my partner and industrial designer, John Heins, brought the first ever Folgenhaus bespoke equipment rack built for a Chicago area WestminsterLab and Lampizator client (see inset photo of the installation).
I want to extend special thanks to Angus for coming in from Hong Kong and to all our WBF friends and supporters who stopped by the suite to listen to music and say hello.
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What a great show! The turnout was exciting and working with this team and this system is great to be a part of. Fred, Rob, Lukasz, Angus, John, Andrew and of course Gary help make all the handwork and late-night setups fun and enjoyable. It's almost not like work 
And I'm very pleased with the synergy of these components, especially all the new electronics we were fortunate to feature in this room. I think the sound we achieved; especially by mid-day Saturday, was really quite special. And even more so when you take in the fact that is was show conditions.
This system definitely deserves a permanent instillation in my opinion, more people need to hear it firsthand.
And I'm very pleased with the synergy of these components, especially all the new electronics we were fortunate to feature in this room. I think the sound we achieved; especially by mid-day Saturday, was really quite special. And even more so when you take in the fact that is was show conditions.
This system definitely deserves a permanent instillation in my opinion, more people need to hear it firsthand.
Agreed, Damon. There’s something special going on with VSA speakers and this fine combination of equipment.What a great show! The turnout was exciting and working with this team and this system is great to be a part of. Fred, Rob, Lukasz, Angus, John, Andrew and of course Gary help make all the handwork and late-night setups fun and enjoyable. It's almost not like work
And I'm very pleased with the synergy of these components, especially all the new electronics we were fortunate to feature in this room. I think the sound we achieved; especially by mid-day Saturday, was really quite special. And even more so when you take in the fact that is was show conditions.
This system definitely deserves a permanent instillation in my opinion, more people need to hear it firsthand.
ANGUS and WESTMINSTER TAKE GERMANY!
Below is our good friend and colleague Krey Baumgarti, Chief Curator of Westminster's German distributor. Bridged Rei's are featured along with a Soulnote/Wilson Benesch system. In bridged mode, the Rei's produce 400/800 Class A watts per/channel at 8 ohms and 4 ohms, respectively. Few know that the Rei circuit was originally designed and optimized for bridged operation. Our first public showing of bridged Rei's will be at THE SHOW in Irvine from June 7 to 9.
I'm off to Munich on Monday and hope to post a few things from there. I'll mostly hang out in the VAC/VonSchweikert suite, helping my good friend Damon VonSchweikert. Please stop by and say hello.
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There's Angus, the road dog. Don't wear out your passport!
Munich was amazing, everyone. I am in Italy now with my family and suffering from the food. Some highlights of HE 2024
- Zellaton Reference speakers with YS Audio of Japan's extremely expensive electronics
- Seeing and hearing the new MSB, Wadax, and Rockna digital products (first time hearing Rockna gear and very impressed with the flow and timing of their sound in an all-tube horn system)
-Spending time helping Damon Von Schweikert and Kevin Hayes in their suite. Damon featured the 27k ESE Reference speakers with VAC's new 220 monoblocks. On Sunday, the ESEs sounded out of this world with their friend Marcial, spinning CDs of the most divine non-audiophile music I have ever experienced. No doubt, the ESE is the best value in high-end audio loudspeakers.
- Spending time in the Trafomatic/Tune Audio/Rockna room with Sasa and then dinner with their Dutch distributor at—get this—Al Pachino's Italian in Munich was terrific!
-Seeing Ralf and Alexandra from Ars Machinae, who had a day to spin vinyl on their incomparable M1 turntable in the Zeiler Audio sound booth.
-Angus and I visited Florian at HiFi Deluxe and discussed the future of active amplification and active crossovers. The Minuet's with CAT mono is a small squarish room was kicking butt on some of Florian Techno. For those with small space, these speakers are tough to beat!
-Spending time with my friend Sam Wisnewski of Destination Audio, Lukaz Fikuz, and their friend Seb! The Destination Audio/Lampizator system, consisting of DA Nika horns, DA GM-70, and the incomparable Posidean DAC at HiFi Deluxe, was my choice for the best sound in Munich for something like $140k!
- Spending time with the AEquo boys, Ivo and Paul, and getting up on completion of their new speaker enclosure technology and the dedicated factory they will build them in! Now, three years in the making, I believe these cutting-edge loudspeakers will be worth the wait.
Angus and I will be at HE 2024 next year to show our latest with their next-generation speakers, the Ensium, which, unfortunately, were not quite ready for Munich. Following the show, Angus visited his Polish distributor. He had fun comparing WestminsterLab to a Gryphon Diablo 333 on Magico, the S3 MkII, for a customer buying a set and deciding on electronics. I'm not sure what's with those diffusers, though, but to each his own!
I am visiting Giuseppe Maietta, a speaker maker, in Lecce, Italy, tomorrow. He has created a modern take on the classic JBL 8330 studio monitors, which looks fantastic and is so cool. I am trying to visit him in Lecce, which is only an hour from our digs in Ostuni. More to follow.
There is nothing quite like Munich, so I urge all my friends on WBF to make it a point to visit when the opportunity presents itself.
. Some highlights of HE 2024- Zellaton Reference speakers with YS Audio of Japan's extremely expensive electronics
- Seeing and hearing the new MSB, Wadax, and Rockna digital products (first time hearing Rockna gear and very impressed with the flow and timing of their sound in an all-tube horn system)
-Spending time helping Damon Von Schweikert and Kevin Hayes in their suite. Damon featured the 27k ESE Reference speakers with VAC's new 220 monoblocks. On Sunday, the ESEs sounded out of this world with their friend Marcial, spinning CDs of the most divine non-audiophile music I have ever experienced. No doubt, the ESE is the best value in high-end audio loudspeakers.
- Spending time in the Trafomatic/Tune Audio/Rockna room with Sasa and then dinner with their Dutch distributor at—get this—Al Pachino's Italian in Munich was terrific!
-Seeing Ralf and Alexandra from Ars Machinae, who had a day to spin vinyl on their incomparable M1 turntable in the Zeiler Audio sound booth.
-Angus and I visited Florian at HiFi Deluxe and discussed the future of active amplification and active crossovers. The Minuet's with CAT mono is a small squarish room was kicking butt on some of Florian Techno. For those with small space, these speakers are tough to beat!
-Spending time with my friend Sam Wisnewski of Destination Audio, Lukaz Fikuz, and their friend Seb! The Destination Audio/Lampizator system, consisting of DA Nika horns, DA GM-70, and the incomparable Posidean DAC at HiFi Deluxe, was my choice for the best sound in Munich for something like $140k!
- Spending time with the AEquo boys, Ivo and Paul, and getting up on completion of their new speaker enclosure technology and the dedicated factory they will build them in! Now, three years in the making, I believe these cutting-edge loudspeakers will be worth the wait.
Angus and I will be at HE 2024 next year to show our latest with their next-generation speakers, the Ensium, which, unfortunately, were not quite ready for Munich. Following the show, Angus visited his Polish distributor. He had fun comparing WestminsterLab to a Gryphon Diablo 333 on Magico, the S3 MkII, for a customer buying a set and deciding on electronics. I'm not sure what's with those diffusers, though, but to each his own!
I am visiting Giuseppe Maietta, a speaker maker, in Lecce, Italy, tomorrow. He has created a modern take on the classic JBL 8330 studio monitors, which looks fantastic and is so cool. I am trying to visit him in Lecce, which is only an hour from our digs in Ostuni. More to follow.
There is nothing quite like Munich, so I urge all my friends on WBF to make it a point to visit when the opportunity presents itself.
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Gary,Munich was amazing, everyone. I am in Italy now with my family and suffering from the food
- Zellaton Reference speakers with YS Audio of Japan's extremely expensive electronics
- Seeing and hearing the new MSB, Wadax, and Rockna digital products (first time hearing Rockna gear and very impressed with the flow and timing of their sound in an all-tube horn system)
-Spending time helping Damon Von Schweikert and Kevin Hayes in their suite. Damon featured the 27k ESE Reference speakers with VAC's new 220 monoblocks. On Sunday, the ESEs sounded out of this world with their friend Marcial, spinning CDs of the most divine non-audiophile music I have ever experienced. No doubt, the ESE is the best value in high-end audio loudspeakers.
- Spending time in the Trafomatic/Tune Audio/Rockna room with Sasa and then dinner with their Dutch distributor at—get this—Al Pachino's Italian in Munich was terrific!
-Seeing Ralf and Alexandra from Ars Machinae, who had a day to spin vinyl on their incomparable M1 turntable in the Zeiler Audio sound booth.
-Angus and I visited Florian at HiFi Deluxe and discussed the future of active amplification and active crossovers. The Minuet's with CAT mono is a small squarish room was kicking butt on some of Florian Techno. For those with small space, these speakers are tough to beat!
-Spending time with my friend Sam Wisnewski of Destination Audio, Lukaz Fikuz, and their friend Seb! The Destination Audio/Lampizator system, consisting of DA Nika horns, DA GM-70, and the incomparable Posidean DAC at HiFi Deluxe, was my choice for the best sound in Munich for something like $140k!
- Spending time with the AEquo boys, Ivo and Paul, and getting up on completion of their new speaker enclosure technology and the dedicated factory they will build them in! Now, three years in the making, I believe these cutting-edge loudspeakers will be worth the wait.
Angus and I will be at HE 2024 next year to show our latest with their next-generation speakers, the Ensium, which, unfortunately, were not quite ready for Munich. Following the show, Angus visited his Polish distributor. He had fun comparing WestminsterLab to a Gryphon Diablo 333 on Magico, the S3 MkII, for a customer buying a set and deciding on electronics. I'm not sure what's with those diffusers, though, but to each his own!
I am visiting Giuseppe Maietta, a speaker maker, in Lecce, Italy, tomorrow. He has created a modern take on the classic JBL 8330 studio monitors, which looks fantastic and is so cool. I am trying to visit him in Lecce, which is only an hour from our digs in Ostuni. More to follow.
There is nothing quite like Munich, so I urge all my friends on WBF to make it a point to visit when the opportunity presents itself.
Looks like you are having a great time! Enjoy every minute my friend.
Hello, everyone. I'm preparing for my return from a holiday in Italy following HE2024 and looking ahead to the remainder of the year, including new product announcements and another appearance at Capfest this fall with Lampizator and Von Scheikert Audio.
As final notes from Munich, Angus and I had great meetings with Hear This fellow Westminster distributors from Germany and France. The German WL distributor focuses on Wilson Benesh and the French partners Vivid and Marten, who contribute to the list of leading loudspeaker brands with which our electronics are performing exceptionally well. So what's next.....
The Home Entertainment Show 2024 June 7th-9th in Irvine, CA
Bristol Room 1 with The Audio Association
It is nice to have a show close to home this time! At The Show, we will, for the first time, display our bridged Rei amplifiers. Bridging two Reis amplifiers per side delivers a 4x increase in amplifier power rated at 400@ 8 ohms and 800@ 4 ohms. While the increased power numbers are impressive enough, the real magic is derived from Angus, who originally designed the Reis for optimal performance in bridged-mode operation. The easiest way to describe the increase in performance is, as Angus says, "Once heard, you cannot unhear it."
We will be privileged to show with loudspeakers from Evolution Acoustics for the first time. While I have yet to hear the SYSTEM THREE version of their new modular series, we expect the combination with bridged Rei amplification to be special!
Phono playback will consist of the Wave Kinetic NVS direct drive turntable fitted with the DS Audio Master 3 cartridge and Durand Tosca tonearm. Rumor has it that Ed will also fit a second tonearm to the NVS, adding a mono cartridge to show off what great mono recordings can sound like.
For those wishing to chat with me directly, I will split my time between Bristol 1 and suites 336 and 338. Colin King of Gestalt Audio and I will demonstrate various single-ended and push-pull tube amplifiers from our newest brand, Trafomatic Audio. Speakers will be from Wolf Von Langa, so it is well worth a visit for a look and listen.
I hope to see you there. Ciao from sunny Sicily!
As final notes from Munich, Angus and I had great meetings with Hear This fellow Westminster distributors from Germany and France. The German WL distributor focuses on Wilson Benesh and the French partners Vivid and Marten, who contribute to the list of leading loudspeaker brands with which our electronics are performing exceptionally well. So what's next.....
The Home Entertainment Show 2024 June 7th-9th in Irvine, CA
Bristol Room 1 with The Audio Association
It is nice to have a show close to home this time! At The Show, we will, for the first time, display our bridged Rei amplifiers. Bridging two Reis amplifiers per side delivers a 4x increase in amplifier power rated at 400@ 8 ohms and 800@ 4 ohms. While the increased power numbers are impressive enough, the real magic is derived from Angus, who originally designed the Reis for optimal performance in bridged-mode operation. The easiest way to describe the increase in performance is, as Angus says, "Once heard, you cannot unhear it."
We will be privileged to show with loudspeakers from Evolution Acoustics for the first time. While I have yet to hear the SYSTEM THREE version of their new modular series, we expect the combination with bridged Rei amplification to be special!
Phono playback will consist of the Wave Kinetic NVS direct drive turntable fitted with the DS Audio Master 3 cartridge and Durand Tosca tonearm. Rumor has it that Ed will also fit a second tonearm to the NVS, adding a mono cartridge to show off what great mono recordings can sound like.
For those wishing to chat with me directly, I will split my time between Bristol 1 and suites 336 and 338. Colin King of Gestalt Audio and I will demonstrate various single-ended and push-pull tube amplifiers from our newest brand, Trafomatic Audio. Speakers will be from Wolf Von Langa, so it is well worth a visit for a look and listen.
I hope to see you there. Ciao from sunny Sicily!
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steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I heard the bridged REI in my house in my system and Angus is right …..once you hear them you can’t unhear them. I still think they are underpriced for what they do. Truly a system changer. Looking forward to seeing you there Gary
I’ll definitely be stopping by all your rooms, probably multiple times! Looking forward to it for sure.
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