Tidal Audio Intra

€25000

ATC SCM110ASL Pro @ SIAS 2019

ATC SCM50 SE with Parasound JC1+ @ Sound Concepts

ATC SH25-76S & 76 Tweeters

ATC SCM100 SE with SCA2 & dCS Bartok @ The Audiobarn

ATC Dual Suspension Tweeter

ATC's approach to tweeter design is unique in the marketplace. By incorporating a secondary suspension component the moving assembly is naturally constrained to travel only in the axial direction. The result is a design that suppresses rocking modes and ensures lower distortion levels. The additional stability that this approach provides over more conventional tweeter construction negates the need for ferro-fluid (usually required for cooling, damping, etc). As a consequence, the magnetic gap can be made smaller allowing ATC tweeters to not only perform optimally, for longer, but also offer improved power handling over conventional designs.

While this unique tweeter topology offers superior performance, the resultant increased moving mass and overall complexity must be offset and overcome by the perfect alignment of all components. Consequently manufacturing and assembly demands exceptional care and accuracy - a level of capability that ATC excels at.

The standard SH25-76 and its ultimate 'S' spec stablemate approach these engineering challenges in different but equally successful ways. The standard tweeter has a novel and lighter moving mass bracing component, while the 'S' spec driver has an exceptionally powerful motor assembly that, when combined with the optimally stiff and lightweight coil former, delivers vanishing low levels of odd harmonic distortion and a well controlled extended frequency response beyond the limit of human hearing.

The additional stability over other designs negates the use of ferro-fluid, so ATC tweeters perform at their best for longer, and the magnetic gap can be made smaller, further improving power handling.

Each tweeter motor assembly employs a magnetically annealed top plate and huge N48M Neodymium ring magnet, the geometry of which has been individually optimised using finite element analysis to ensure the best possible performance. Achieving an incredibly high flux density of over 2.0T in the magnetic gap, the magnet assembly of the SH25-76S is fully saturated and therefore free from the effects of flux modulation in the surrounding metalwork, lowering odd harmonic distortion to below -70dB across the operating band. The high levels of flux density in the gap combined with a short coil long gap configuration result in a linear and extended frequency response beyond 20kHz.

Millenium Triple Step-Up

The Delta Story

ATC SCM150 PSLT @ Hifi Mania

Thrax Libra

Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono III

$19000


Like the Phono II, it has three inputs, but now--with a fully balanced (differential) amplifier front end-- the phono cartridge can be connected either in the typical unbalanced mode (RCA), or fully balanced (XLR) for reduced interference and lower noise.

The Phono III includes a fully-integrated remote control. Cartridge loading is again selectable for either MC or MM cartridges, but can now be controlled by the remote as well as at the front panel. There is an internal memory that stores the load value for each input and when going back to that input the memory inserts the previous load value for that input.  (The memory is "non-volatile" and saves the values even when the power is off.)  Music lovers will be able to adjust the load parameters while in the comfort of their listening “sweet spot.”

A digital display shows the current load value and the loading steps are in 10 ohm (or 10pF) increments instead of the 25 ohm (or 25 pF) increments used on the Phono II. There are 256 available loading options for MC cartridges, and 128 for MM cartridges. This increases the ability to zero in on the ideal resistance or capacitance loading for the optimum sonic presentation. Also, one of the inputs allows the user to have a “custom” load if the adjustable loading is not sufficient.

In addition, the remote will adjust gain, select phase, choose mute or run, and allow the listener to dim or increase the brightness of the Phono III’s LED display lights.

The unit also includes four other equalization curves for older Lps, selectable from the front panel, as an alternative to the standard RIAA curve. These curves are designed for older Columbia and Decca/FFRR pressings that were done prior to adopting the RIAA standard. All five curves are managed by a plug-in module so that other curves can be readily incorporated if a customer has a specific requirement. (DSA will explore the creation of special custom modules addressing unique equalization curves for existing or potential owners of the Phono III).

The Phono III is of solid-state design and has the classic sound found in all products designed by Dr. Douglas Hurlburt of DSA- that is to say neutral, rich and exceedingly dynamic. However, challenged to improve upon the Phono II’s reference performance, Dr. Hurlburt has made some modifications to the overall amplifier architecture as well as replacing some of the critical components with new and only recently available tightly matched dual devices. There is an audible improvement in both the soundstage and the organic quality of the Phono III’s presentation, resulting in a highly seductive listening experience.

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