Zellaton and my ascent to Soulution

[pk_LA]

insert sound of crickets chirping

 

[Colekat]

Hi,

Long time no hear. Any update on the Soulution 717’s?

Thanks !

Hi,

Long time no hear. Any update on the Soulution 717’s?

Thanks !

Good Evening… I am told they are close … very close … Expectation is before APOXNA . Because of the initial high demand , it has taken longer then expected . I am told it will be worth the wait . After more time tinkering , the final product is beyond design expectations and these will be much improved over the previous 7 series in every way . Soulution wants to be sure all the amps that ship first wave are ready and will not disappoint with issues that arise from haste ! I am told “ Spectacular “ … !

Very Close …

 

[vinyl_mike]

Hi,

Long time no hear. Any update on the Solution 717’s?

Thanks !

Another short delay. Yes, the delays are painful. However, Gideon has assured me that the wait will be worth it. These amps should be “game changers.”

The emotional side of my brain is anxiously waiting, but the rational side understands that there are often delays for the first production run of a new statement product line.

On a better note, my 757 Deemphasis Phono preamp is in transit.

 

[Colekat]

Another short delay. Yes, the delays are painful. However, Gideon has assured me that the wait will be worth it. These amps should be “game changers.”

The emotional side of my brain is anxiously waiting, but the rational side understands that there are often delays for the first production run of a new statement product line.

On a better note, my 757 Deemphasis Phono preamp is in transit.

 

[Colekat]

Ahhh …. the combination of Soulution 727 Preamp and 717 mono blocks WILL be a game changer ! Of course not everyone’s musical taste will be satisfied …. there will be pallets that are not tempted by the all out speed and finesse of this combination ... not everyone's cup of tea!

I have the 331 integrated paired with Magico A5s … I'm blown away at how this combination brought life to my media …. and it is not subtle… it is it is truly outstanding how this latest evolution of Soulution technology elevates everything in its path to a more believable presentation .

... and knowing how the 727 has awoken my big EMM amps … I have the MTRX1s and 727 paired with Magico S3’s …. stunningly realistic at times . The EMMs are already great sounding amps , but I never got the sound I have now when paired with the 727 Preamp ! The 727 is surely a statement piece of audio gear that elevates everything in its path to full potential …. and I believe the 727 when paired with the right ancillary gear , will elevate any system to its fullest potential !

And with any manufacturer , it has been my experience the preamp/amp combo from the same manufacturer will usually offer the best audio symmetry …

That being said , I cant wait to hear the magic of the 727 and the 717 !

 

[pk_LA]

Another short delay. Yes, the delays are painful. However, Gideon has assured me that the wait will be worth it. These amps should be “game changers.”

The emotional side of my brain is anxiously waiting, but the rational side understands that there are often delays for the first production run of a new statement product line.

On a better note, my 757 Deemphasis Phono preamp is in transit.

Sigh.

I, too, have two 717s on order and have had them on order since late last summer.

Is Gideon at Soulution? If not, I find it a bit strange that there are assurances and declaratives being made about the sound of the 717s. My understanding is that design changes are being made to the amps. Specifically, they are modifying the biasing I am told. If that is, indeed, the case then I don't understand how people are talking about how they sound given that there is not yet a final product to render judgment on.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Sigh.

I, too, have two 717s on order and have had them on order since late last summer.

Is Gideon at Soulution? If not, I find it a bit strange that there are assurances and declaratives being made about the sound of the 717s. My understanding is that design changes are being made to the amps. Specifically, they are modifying the biasing I am told. If that is, indeed, the case then I don't understand how people are talking about how they sound given that there is not yet a final product to render judgment on.

This is how the game is being played... The most important part is to create a mystique, then pounce on the remaining baby boomers to part with a share of their rising stock portfolio.

 

[Colekat]

Wow … This is a conspiracy to separate well earning people , who are intelligent enough to create those excess earnings , from their money and to give it away to grifters in the audio biz … …

Come on guys … thats exactly what this is … the only thing that is worth what comes inside the boxes this stuff comes in , would be actual cash itself … and the value we put on it ! We are all paying for research and technology and genius sometimes … and profit …. And of course high end audio status ! To be the one others could hope to be … Read the threads … this about having gear we believe is the best there is at a price point , how else can one justify these purchases … Hell , you could go out and buy a Mercedes S Class fully loaded and still have enough to buy a good system for the price of two 717s …

Members sling insults at each other over nothing , because one likes this and one likes that … false pride the motivation behind all the slanderous talk !!!

But , if I want to hear reproduced music at a high level … this is the price ! It starts with a modest system and evolves into a system that needs to be justified by some account . To reconcile the decision making in this business is all about self satisfaction !

Hell , life is short … If this is what I want to do with my money , as long as I haven't sold the double wide trailer for one of these amps , I can live with that !

And , yes I believe the Soulution amps with the Soulution Preamp will fill my room with best musical replication of media to date … and then it may be something else down the line … thats been my story to this point , until its not !

Oh , and soon the ones that have 717s on order will find out for ourselves … and like them or not , is someone going to drop $200k on amps and tell us all what a mistake it was … Probably not … hopefully something has led us to this expensive decision , like history with the 711 or 701s … or some Soulution product that has left an imprint in our sensibilities and tells us … This will be music like I’ve never heard , and when the day comes , we will be able to say … “ Im sure glad I did this ! “

 

[John T]

If someone is in a position to purchase whatever it may be, in this case expensive audio gear. I don't need anyone helping me with logistics, or explaining semantics as to why or how I came to my decision. Some people dabble and some are really into it. If you been doing this long enough you become very familiar as to how to play the game. I could care less where one stands. I certainly don't support the notion that this is some grand conspiracy approach. I enjoy talking with likeminded people. Anyone with half a brain knows we over pay. You either pay or don't play. It comes down to passion and the funds to support that passion. As @Colekat mentioned, this is your life. I don't care what it is, if you love it, embrace it. Devour every bit of it. Enjoy it all and don't let the bull shit get in your way...

 

[LL21]

Well said

 

[pk_LA]

Wow … This is a conspiracy to separate well earning people , who are intelligent enough to create those excess earnings , from their money and to give it away to grifters in the audio biz … …

Come on guys … thats exactly what this is … the only thing that is worth what comes inside the boxes this stuff comes in , would be actual cash itself … and the value we put on it ! We are all paying for research and technology and genius sometimes … and profit …. And of course high end audio status ! To be the one others could hope to be … Read the threads … this about having gear we believe is the best there is at a price point , how else can one justify these purchases … Hell , you could go out and buy a Mercedes S Class fully loaded and still have enough to buy a good system for the price of two 717s …

Members sling insults at each other over nothing , because one likes this and one likes that … false pride the motivation behind all the slanderous talk !!!

But , if I want to hear reproduced music at a high level … this is the price ! It starts with a modest system and evolves into a system that needs to be justified by some account . To reconcile the decision making in this business is all about self satisfaction !

Hell , life is short … If this is what I want to do with my money , as long as I haven't sold the double wide trailer for one of these amps , I can live with that !

And , yes I believe the Soulution amps with the Soulution Preamp will fill my room with best musical replication of media to date … and then it may be something else down the line … thats been my story to this point , until its not !

Oh , and soon the ones that have 717s on order will find out for ourselves … and like them or not , is someone going to drop $200k on amps and tell us all what a mistake it was … Probably not … hopefully something has led us to this expensive decision , like history with the 711 or 701s … or some Soulution product that has left an imprint in our sensibilities and tells us … This will be music like I’ve never heard , and when the day comes , we will be able to say … “ Im sure glad I did this ! “

I think maybe I didn't convey my point well enough...

I have no doubt the 717s will sound very good. And, as I said, I have a pair on order. So, I am not someone slinging mud from the cheap seats.

What I was trying to say is simply this: it's odd to me that people are making superlative statements about a product they have never heard. Furthermore, to my knowledge, nobody has heard the final product as it is still in development.

Also, if I get mine and don't love them, I will say so. Alas it won't be the first time I have spent six figures on audio gear and not been blown away.

 

[Audioarts]

Hoping everyone can join me at the Southwest Audio Fest in Dallas next month we’re I’ll be showing ZELLATON’s Plural Evo’s partnered with Soulution’s latest 711+ (yup, the official updated version of this classic and world premier) along with Soulution phono front end, Schnerzinger of course - and Reed TT with Air Tight/EMT mc’s

Steuben Room

Steuben | Exhibitors List 2025

www.southwestaudiofest.com

 

[Colekat]

I think maybe I didn't convey my point well enough...

I have no doubt the 717s will sound very good. And, as I said, I have a pair on order. So, I am not someone slinging mud from the cheap seats.

What I was trying to say is simply this: it's odd to me that people are making superlative statements about a product they have never heard. Furthermore, to my knowledge, nobody has heard the final product as it is still in development.

Also, if I get mine and don't love them, I will say so. Alas it won't be the first time I have spent six figures on audio gear and not been blown

I think maybe I didn't convey my point well enough...

I have no doubt the 717s will sound very good. And, as I said, I have a pair on order. So, I am not someone slinging mud from the cheap seats.

What I was trying to say is simply this: it's odd to me that people are making superlative statements about a product they have never heard. Furthermore, to my knowledge, nobody has heard the final product as it is still in development.

Also, if I get mine and don't love them, I will say so. Alas it won't be the first time I have spent six figures on audio gear and not been blown away.

 

[vinyl_mike]

This is how the game is being played... The most important part is to create a mystique, then pounce on the remaining baby boomers to part with a share of their rising stock portfolio.

Gideon has heard the Soulution 717 amps. Clearly, he is not in Switzerland listening to the final tweaked versions. However, if a pre-production unit sounded that good to Gideon, then the final version with incremental improvements should logically be even better.

At this high-level, relationships and integrity are critical. I've known Gideon for over five years. I find him to be honest, knowledgeable and forthcoming. He is attuned to my preferences, and his suggestions over the years have made profound improvements in my system. When Gideon says that the 717’s will be a game changer in my system, I take that at face value.

Maybe it's my naivety, but I look at this less cynically. Through my own personal experience, I have found that most high-end manufacturers have an extraordinary passion for their work. Especially those that are pushing the state-of-the-art forward. To generate hype and then delay the introduction of a statement product, thereby irritating their most loyal and fervent customers, does not make sense to me.

 

[pk_LA]

This thread took a troubling turn. Ron R posted a point-of-view and that (along with responding posts) have been removed.

 

[pk_LA]

Gideon has heard the Soulution 717 amps. Clearly, he is not in Switzerland listening to the final tweaked versions. However, if a pre-production unit sounded that good to Gideon, then the final version with incremental improvements should logically be even better.

At this high-level, relationships and integrity are critical. I've known Gideon for over five years. I find him to be honest, knowledgeable and forthcoming. He is attuned to my preferences, and his suggestions over the years have made profound improvements in my system. When Gideon says that the 717’s will be a game changer in my system, I take that at face value.

Maybe it's my naivety, but I look at this less cynically. Through my own personal experience, I have found that most high-end manufacturers have an extraordinary passion for their work. Especially those that are pushing the state-of-the-art forward. To generate hype and then delay the introduction of a statement product, thereby irritating their most loyal and fervent customers, does not make sense t

Sigh...

I do not know Gideon although I have spoken with him. And, I know that several very well respected WBF members respect him. I do not mean this as some form of attack or undermining of Gideon. But. At the end of the day this is his business and I suspect he operates it as such.

Consider that the 'pre-production' unit referenced was at Munich in May of 2024 with retail units set to ship before the end of 2024.

As of now I understand that the development work is around biasing adjustment. I suspect that this means that there is either a thermal management issue or a sonic issue. Let's maintain a modicum of perspective here. If it were merely 'final tweak
' I doubt we would be talking about 10 months.

This is a hobby - Yes. This is all discretionary spending - Yes. Nobody is out to grift or otherwise outright deceive - Yes. But, why does the aforementioned mean that very normal business practices are off the table? Why can't the following things all be true.
1) The Soulution 717s will probably be worth the wait.
2) The missed ship dates in conjunction with various reasons is...well...let's just say 'Not Great'
3) Declarations on how they sound at this time are not appropriate.

 

[Porsche]

This thread took a troubling turn. Ron R posted a point-of-view and that (along with responding posts) have been removed.

what happened, thought it was a legit questions/answers

 

[Audioarts]

Delays are not unique to the audio sector alone and probably not worth overstating the inconvenience, especially when clients are not aggrieved, like Mike above. He received his 727 pre and 757 phono within weeks of ordering and I’ve provided a loaner new Soulution amplifier to him in the interim Even Myles Astor, another Soulution client of mine, had to wait and I provided a loaner to him as well until his order came in. I do realize, however, that waiting can be an annoyance - so I am sensitized to some of the sentiments here.

 

[Porsche]

@Audioarts if you gave them loaners than I see zero problem and if they where aware of production than alls good in my book, I misunderstood thought they where not aware of production, etc, apologies

 

[Legolas]

Yes delays are annoying, I have had experience in delays in a new car, in waiting for a builder, supply of materials, it is what it is. A Swiss company like Soulution will sort it I am 100% sure.