Monday, June 23, 2014

Ultimate world exclusive - Acapella La Musika inside















Yes Wizard Ultimate shows the very complex inside of the $100,000+ integrated amplifier, a worlds first.

Also pics of Eventus Nebula Ltd, NBS and Dalby.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Ultimate update



































Estelon Extreme setup and Constellation Altair II pics posted.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Visit to Soulution showroom in Zurich














48 highres pictures in 4 parts are posted on my Ultimate site.

Listensoulution

Blog - no more updates
















The blog will not be updated in a very long time or not at all.
I will concentrate on building my new Ultimate login paysite instead.

15 pictures of the Rockport Arrakis setup above and 3 Tidal Agoria setups + much more are posted on the Ultimate site now.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Orpheus Heritage Power Amplifier













































The Heritage power amplifier is the latest high-end amplifier from Orpheus.

Its internal topology is based on a complete dual mono architecture. The amplifier has several operating modes: stereo, mono and bi-amp.
The rated output power is of 2 x 250W in stereo and bi-amp mode. In mono mode the output power is of 1 x 1000W (on 8 Ohms).

Using two separated power supplies and amplifier boards in stereo and bi-amp mode, makes the two channels of the amplifier totally independent to minimize channel-to-channel crosstalk.

In mono mode all the cards are interconnected together in order to deliver the maximum power to the load. The different modes of the amplifier and its high power allow it to be used with a wide range of speakers.

The power amplifier uses a class AB output stage based on four hand matched pairs of mosfet power transistors per amplifier board. Mosfet transistors advantages are numerous compared to usual bipolar output stages. Lower ‘ON’ resistance and by the way that the power is identically distributed between the transistors makes them more efficient to transmit more power to the load rather than dissipating it as useless heat. Mosfet technology also has higher switching speed resulting in a faster, sharper and more accurate response compared to bipolar systems.

The output stage is biased with a voltage to set the operating point of the power transistors to get extremely low THD and exceptional audio performances (THD of 0.01% for 200W on a 8Ω load in stereo and bi-amp mode).Thermal compensation of the output stage has been also developed in order avoid overheating of the transistors when they are strongly solicited. Several internal protections are constantly monitored like the instantaneous power consumption, power supplies voltages and currents and heatsink temperatures of the amplifier.

The two low-noise power transformers are able to provide a total amount of power of 2000VA to the amplifier when used in mono mode. The total capacitance of the power supplies in mono mode is more than 180mF. The oversized power supplies guarantees the unit to provide large peak currents and stable voltages even when delivering high output power.

Heatsinks have been cleverly integrated into the device to optimize heat dissipation assuring perfect operating conditions. Its outstanding specifications, imposing size and weight (50kg) followed by refined and stylish curves makes this anodized aluminum piece of art remarkably stand apart from conventional amplifier.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Fundamental RM10 Reference Monitor Speaker





















































































































Y 500,000 + ST10 stand Y 150,000

Specs

System
2-way 2 speaker bass reflex-type coaxial

Drivers
Polypropylene 5" woofer
Tweeter 1" soft dome

Baffle 25mm thick aluminum
Cabinet Atsukaba 21mm laminated Birch wood

Finish
Baffle black anodized aluminum hairline finish
Cabinet clear lacquer painting

Crossover Network
Woofer (full range) through tweeter-6dB oct.

Crossover frequency
7.5kHz

Nominal impedance
4Ω (lowest impedance 3.7Ω)

Frequency band
25Hz-25kHz

Output sound pressure level
91dB

Rated input
50W

Maximum input
80W

The maximum Dimensions
216 (W) x364 (H) x304.5 (D) mm

Weight
10.8kg (1pcs.)

Sunday, June 8, 2014

A.Charlin Amplifier Mini S




























Release date - September 2014

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

La Rosita Ipanema

















































€30000

IPANEMA is based on our own design and load for a very Great dual concentric driver from Great Plains Audio.

Here too no compromises. Wood is plain wood Teak. One of the stronger wood you can find. Load is done on the basis of very advanced calculation for the Driver Bass load and the CrossOver.

Probably one of the most acomplished Speaker ever done. Response is 35Hz to 20Kz +/- 3 db.

This speakers can reproduce any kind of music from Classical Symponics Orchestra to heavy Metal. This is the idea whe have of a good speaker at La Rosita.

Gamut Superior RS series











Building upon the 2007 S range of S3 to S9 models, the new RS range again consists of four models now called RS3, RS5, RS7 and RS9.

The RS cabinets look like their predecessors. The enhancements are all in the construction. The curved cabinets are still based on an inner structure of laminated Finnish Birch Ply but now the outer skin consists of five layers of 2mm-thick Ash veneers.

This delivers an even more pleasing harmonic structure by taking the last remnants of resonance to a lower level of audibility. The new hookup wiring is now our own Wormhole Signatures in two twisted pairs.

UK pricing:

£11'850 + £3'550 for the monitor RS3 with stand
£23'100 for the RS5 2½-way compact tower
£29'050 for the RS7 3-way tower
£74'000 for the RS9 flagship shown

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Audiograde Calora










































With the CALORA, AUDIOGRADE presents the logical progression of its world-first loudspeakers cast from a single mold and with it the next stage of evolution in the history of handmade loudspeaker design in the 21st century. The CALORA was created with two seamless, fully-enclosed housings made from massive PolyGrade™ polymer concrete – a specially-developed and absolutely perfect acoustic material. Because in contrast to a musical instrument made from wood, an ideal loudspeaker cabinet produces no vibrations of its own even under extreme conditions.

PolyGrade™
Reference-quality sound through zero-resonance polymer concrete cabinet

The choice of cabinet materials for the CALORA strictly follows our highest ideal for uncomprising high-end reference loudspeakers. Our secret recipe is PolyGrade™ – a perfected special material taking advantage of the optimal qualities of concrete, thus offering a critical benefit over loudspeakers made from wood. PolyGrade™ is many times denser than wood and gives the housing of the CALORA an incredible resonance- and vibrationfree design – a fundamtental criterion of quality for high-end loudspeakers.

SSX™ Sweet Spot Expansion
The world's first waveguide for all-ceramic drivers delivers unparalled sound imaging

Passive 4-way high-end speaker system

Individually moulded cast housings of PolyGrade™ zero-resonance polymer concrete
2 x 25 cm bass driver in fully enclosed, seamless cast housing
1 x 17 cm all-ceramic accuton© low-mid driver in fully enclosed, seamless cast housing
1 x 50 mm all-ceramic accuton© mid driver with SSX™ Sweet Spot Expansion waveguide
1 x 25 mm all-ceramic accuton© mid driver with SSX™ Sweet Spot Expansion waveguide

Handcrafted crossover with air coils and silver capacitors by Mundorf
Plasma-coated connection panel made of aluminium with gold-plated connectors by Furutech
Optional accuton© diamond tweeter and midrange driver
Customized designs (veneering, special finishing) on request

Dimensions: 350 x 450 x 1380 cm (with socket: 520 x 620 x 1430 cm)

Weight: 250 kg

Active
4 x 400 W bridged output stages Class-D
DSP-based Loudspeaker Management System
Digital Room Control Processor
96 kHz / 24 bit, automatic sample rate converter

Brinkmann Sinus Motor






































For over two decades we relied on the well-regarded German manufacturer Papst to supply capstan motors for our belt drive turntables. Technically and musically we had good results with this motor in combination with our proprietary analogue speed controller.

Helmut Brinkmann's extensive research and development on our direct drive motor for the »Oasis« and »Bardo« turntables gave him valuable insight into the control of magnetic fields and how to apply this knowledge to reduce cogging in a motor. It became apparent that the next logical step was to apply this knowledge in the design of a new motor for the belt drive turntables.

The new »Sinus« motor is better suited to driving a high mass platter (almost 46 lb) like the ones found in our »LaGrange« and »Balance« turntables, while the use of a 4-phase (4 times 90°) drive circuitry enables a very smooth rotation without cogging. The arrangement of the driving coils and the neodymium magnets in combination with the drive circuit achieves 16 “pulses” per revolution. Additionally a large rotating mass of 500 grams, achieved by using a nickel-plated steel motor body, works likes a flywheel. This drives the platter of the turntable with a very even force and reduces vibration.

The smooth and quiet rotation of the motor allows longer instrument sustains which results in more detail, resolution and musicality. The frictionless flow of the motor movement is readily apparent in the effortless flow of the music.
The new motor generates more torque and is therefore able to reduce the start-up time to a few seconds, no problem for the new vacuum tube power supply »RöNt II«, which is also able to handle the direct drive motors as well.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Magico M Project





























Magico Celebrates Its Tenth Anniversary with the Limited Edition Release of the “M Project”

Paying homage to everything Magico has built over the last ten years, we are proud to announce the release of the M Project, a limited-edition loudspeaker that encapsulates our spirit, our accomplishments, and our latest state-of-the-art technology that will – once again – set a new industry standard. With production
limited to 50 pairs, The M Project will be uniquely positioned as a cornerstone for the most resolving and discerning music systems extant.

A three-way, five-driver floorstanding loudspeaker – borrowing familiar motifs from the Q series, the original Mini, and the new S series – the M Project sports a newly designed curved shape, which minimizes internal
resonances and enables an industry-leading minimal amount of damping. We further optimized our signature front baffle contour to incorporate edgefree top and bottom plates, integrating a new enclosure comprising
aluminum skeleton topology, our signature acoustically optimized front plate, and carbon-fiber sides.

The M Project features a new tweeter we designed from the ground up, using a groundbreaking advanced diamond-coated beryllium diaphragm with optimized geometry. Created using state-of-the-art finite element analysis modeling tools, it pushes high-frequency reproduction one step closer to perfection, skillfully leveraging beryllium’s physical properties (closer to the theoretical ideal) yet without gaining the extra weight normally associated with diamond’s specific gravity. This new technology enabled us to increase the dome diameter to 28mm (vs. the 26mm of yore), improving many aspects of performance while enabling even greater power handling. Combining these components with a new motor system in a new acoustically improved back chamber, the results are the lowest distortion possible today in a high-frequency transducer.

Both bass and midrange drivers employ innovative techniques that provide superior potential to control cone geometry in multiple dimensions in order to achieve optimal behavior in each driver’s frequency range while
reducing non-pistonic motion, thereby pushing distortion components even lower than before. The process is further advanced by precise control of all manufacturing and environmental parameters to ensure an even forming process with enhanced coupling to the rubber surround. The latest 3D laser scanning techniques were used to achieve these goals. The midrange driver, derived directly from the Q7, is a 6” unit with a 55mm voice coil coupled to a new Magico Nano-Tec cone. It utilizes an underhung neodymium base motor system using an extra-large magnet (OD=120mm, 10mm in height, N48H grade) and a top stabilizing magnet to get a super stabilized magnetic field of 1.7 Tesla in a 15mm air gap, resulting in a pure vented titanium voice coil. The M Project midrange has +/- 6mm of stabilized excursion at very high sensitivity, enabling 120dB (at 1m) of distortion-free playback in the midband.

Also created exclusively for The M Project is our new 10” driver, using a new Magico Nano-Tec cone. It leverages a new magnet system with half an inch of linear movement to produce clean and accurate low frequencies, undistorted even at a very high maximum SPL (120dB @ 50Hz at one meter), while maintaining an incredibly low inductance of < 0.15 mH.

All five drivers are masterfully integrated using Magico’s exclusive crossover topology, resulting in the M Project achieving the best room integration possible in the low frequencies, while delivering the lowest, loudest, cleanest reproduction with ease of drive regardless of amplifier.

SPECIFICATIONS
Driver Complement:
1 x 1” MBD28 Tweeter
1 x 6” MP6004 Nano-Tec Midrange
3 x 10” MP1005 Nano-Tec Woofer
Sensitivity: 91dB
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 50 kHz
Recommended Power: 50 – 1000 Watts
Dimensions: 56”H x 23”D x 15”W (145cm x 57cm x 37cm)
Weight: 400 lbs. (180 kg.)

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The US Retail Price of the Magico M Project starts at $129,000/pr.
Delivery will begin in Oct 2014.