Your "World's Best Audio System" . . . 2012 Edition

[LL21]

Hi Microstrip,

the Series V upgrade is big...full retail is USD30K. Bear in mind an X1 Series I trades for roughly 18K...so for 48K or approx 75% of cost of Maxx 3, you end up with (nearly) an Alexandria X2 S2 which retails for something close to 3x that amount. In spite of the fact that the upgrade is 2x the price of the X1, it still seems an intriguing way to go. Personally, i am extremely happy having gotten X1...and like the 'optionality' of a long-term future upgrade.

As for cables, I have finally gotten the permanent SE-XLR version of the SAblon Audio interconnect between my GAT and the Colosseum. For whatever reason the Transparent Audio buzzes...this one is silent, and in general the overall system 'noises' are (finally!!!!) dead silent once again after 3 months.

the only buzz remaining is only when i crank the volume...it seems a choke in the Zanden DAC is leaking some of the transformer hum thru...but at anything other than video inputs, it is effectively silent unless i am standing in front of the cone. So now, i am just happy to have a system that is working, quiet, beautiful...not buzzing, not leaking DC, not, not and not...after 18 months. whew!

 

[Roysen]

Just a quick update. As you guys know, the system will be revealed live at CES as part of our show coverage. But a few fun factoids:

1. There will be two sources.
2. The speakers will be approximately 94dB efficient.
3. The system will be biamplified.

I think this system has the potential to push the SOTA in several important ways. However, I have not heard it yet so who knows

Let me guess - Kharma Exquisite Extreme Grand or possibly Magico Ultimate 2.

 

[LL21]

Let me guess - Kharma Exquisite Extreme Grand or possibly Magico Ultimate 2.

have heard the Kharmas are pretty good stuff. i'll stick with my original guess for now...Scaena 1.4s...4 speakers (due to dual tower subs), 94 db, and as described somewhere by Jeff, taller than Arrakis. will be fun to see what it is!!!

 

[Jeff Fritz]

Getting close!

http://www.ultraaudio.com/index.php...s-of-super-systems&catid=25:opinion&Itemid=27

 

[Orb]

Great update and this is what I love about TWBAS; it is not just about the products but the experience and factors that many of us as consumers may not be aware of.
Hope there are more project-analysis-thought provoking based articles still to come, along with the products of course

Thanks
Orb

 

[LL21]

Sounds great!!! Cannot wait!

 

[Jeff Fritz]

The astute among you will now know . . .

http://www.ultraaudio.com/index.php...t-ready-for-action&catid=25:opinion&Itemid=27

Remember that TWBAS is really about entertaining you and having fun. It is a hobby after all!

 

[LL21]

The astute among you will now know . . .

http://www.ultraaudio.com/index.php...t-ready-for-action&catid=25:opinion&Itemid=27

Remember that TWBAS is really about entertaining you and having fun. It is a hobby after all!

Thanks for all the hard work Jeff! And even more hard work to come! Look forward to reading all about it! Happy New Year.

Lloyd

 

[Jeff Fritz]

There will be eight articles coming out on February 1st profiling each piece of equipment and/or company. This will give more tech insight on each product than we provided last time around. Then there will be a series of articles once the system is set up, obviously.

I would like to pick your collective brains a bit. Some of you picked up on the amplifier-configuration mention. It is something quite different in my experience. So here is the question: Has there ever been an amplifier before with a single input stage but two optimized-for-biamping output stages? What would you call that? Is it stereo or multichannel? Two inputs, four outputs.

Any historical data on that type of configuration? We will explain the theoretical advantages as we get further along, of which some seem quite significant.

 

[LL21]

Jeff - That sounds great. More anticipation for TWBAS on this forum than for most any other special event in 2012!

As for your query, I am no techie...but i will be curious to understand how the manufacturer 'optimizes' for bi-amping. Is a dual-mono amp with four outputs (instead of 2) that much different from plain biamping? You do mention multi-channel, where i believe there are different signals coming through each pair of terminals...i cannot imagine that would be the case with these new amps, since every speaker is different.

 

[Jeff Fritz]

Is a dual-mono amp with four outputs (instead of 2) that much different from plain biamping?

In this case, I think so. Has to do with the disadvantages of using two separate amps. The company will explain.

Prelim specs: 100Wpc class A for mids/highs, 500Wpc for bass section. More details to come . . .

 

[JackD201]

I've seen an ad for a pair of monoblocks that do just that a couple of years ago. I don't think the power figures were that high though. Darn. Brain fart. What was that amp?! European, great industrial design.

 

[Jeff Fritz]

I've seen an ad for a pair of monoblocks that do just that a couple of years ago. I don't think the power figures were that high though. Darn. Brain fart. What was that amp?! European, great industrial design.

I'd be really interested if you can remember. I don't want to make the claim that no one has done it if in fact it has been done.

 

[Steve williams]

I'd be really interested if you can remember. I don't want to make the claim that no one has done it if in fact it has been done.

why don't you just ask the manufacturer Jeff

 

[LL21]

In this case, I think so. Has to do with the disadvantages of using two separate amps. The company will explain.

Prelim specs: 100Wpc class A for mids/highs, 500Wpc for bass section. More details to come . . .

Intereting...though what hz range does the amp qualify as high-mids vs bass? And does that get 'tuned' based on the speaker? Presumably it would be different for a SF Guarneri vs a massive tower (probably poor examples, but one gets my meaning, i hope).

In any event, sounds like we should just wait for the report!

 

[Jeff Fritz]

why don't you just ask the manufacturer Jeff

The manufacturer also does not know of another amplifier configured like this. That's why I'm searching.

 

[JackD201]

What I do recall Jeff is that it had two channels of 300Bs and a solid state section for bass in one chassis. I'll try and hit the search engines.

 

[Jeff Fritz]

What I do recall Jeff is that it had two channels of 300Bs and a solid state section for bass in one chassis. I'll try and hit the search engines.

Yes! Aurum Acoustics. They were Canadian, no longer in business. Though that amp was available as part of their active speaker system only I think.

But yes, a similar concept, with some notable differences. For instance, I think for non-biamp speakers one output stage can be configured utilizing both powers supplies for more power.

Buy anyway, you hit it. Thanks. That's the closest one.

 

[fas42]

In this case, I think so. Has to do with the disadvantages of using two separate amps. The company will explain.

Prelim specs: 100Wpc class A for mids/highs, 500Wpc for bass section. More details to come . . .

Heeey, I'm gonna put money on a close to the chest hunch: Gryphon amplification ...

Frank

 

[JackD201]

Hi Jeff,

Also found a dinky looking integrated called the Lecson Quattra from 1990. It was also designed specifically for bi-amping.