“I really appreciate your help regarding me buying the Cornwall IV and Salamander SL20. I’m a 100% satisfied customer and will recommend Audio Advisors!!!”

R.E.S.

The post Testimonial appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

Hi 

Jonathan and Comcast just left. Hoping all works now. So grateful that you sent Jonathan over so quickly. He truly was a life saver. Now we keep our fingers crossed that all will work perfectly. Wayne, you are truly my hero. In the past week 3 of your techs, Ryan, Scott and now Jonathan, have been here each nicer and such gentlemen. A pleasure to meet them and know them. I compliment you on your team. Thank you so much again for helping me. With great appreciation:

W.

And of course I will keep you posted. And also, please tell Chuck I miss him too

The post Testimonial appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

Good morning Jason, not sure if you heard yet, but the family television went kaput over the weekend and we had S. and friends here visiting. Josh, Jamie and Jeffrey were here on the spot to replace the television and get it all set up. Cannot thank ATA enough for their prompt response in getting this job done on the weekend. Very grateful to the team.

K.M.

The post Testimonial appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

I am really feeling some deep appreciation for a job well done. What a great team you have.

Brian did a great job managing the logistics of the project from the beginning to the end.

Jon took his work to heart with his willingness to get things right. He has persistence and patience at the same time.

Scot has great enthusiasm and motivation. He is a team player.
Audio Advisors continues to amaze me.

Thank you very much,

F.

The post Testimonial appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

Wilson Audio® Sasha V

At Wilson Audio, we have forged an unwavering path towards “Excellence in All Things” in support of our guiding light, “Authentic Excellence.” Continuously pushing the boundaries of what is possible, our passion for delivering an unparalleled listening experience is second to none and every milestone in Wilson Audio’s history has paved the way for the exceptional.

In the late seventies David A. Wilson, Wilson Audio’s visionary co-founder, was refining his experiments with adjustable modular arrays and how this time-centric approach to reproduced sound revealed more information in the recordings. Using the latest high-tech development tools available, this legacy still informs and inspires modern loudspeaker innovation.

With its own distinctive identity, Sasha V combines the essence of its predecessors while combining the most effective elements developed for its larger siblings. 

Wilson Audio’s Engineers pulled from the monumental capabilities of our current flagship, the Chronosonic XVX, and the technology engineered specifically for Alexx V and Alexia V. By doing so Sasha V unravels your recordings in a surprisingly unexpected way for its relatively compact size. Sasha V’s exquisite craftsmanship and thoughtful contours create a sculpted masterpiece, beautifully integrating into your curated listening space, and stands as an embodiment of industrial art. But her allure reaches far beyond just aesthetic appeal. No detail had been overlooked as the highest-performing version of the Sasha line was created. 

When Wilson Audio introduced its cutting-edge rear-wave chamber in the Convergent Synergy Carbon (CSC) Tweeter, initially in Alexx V, the CSC allowed for an extended high-frequency range, remarkably smooth linearity, and superior high-frequency harmonic expression. Cohesively integrating this CSC tweeter with the midrange and woofers has resulted in an impressive improvement to Sasha V’s overall sound quality. This unique and complex carbon fiber rear-wave chamber is constructed entirely in-house on one of our many dedicated 3D printers. 1 

Perfect blending between the tweeter and midrange is a fundamental element to accurate and realistic sound reproduction. The R&D team successfully did just that. Wilson Audio’s beloved 7-inch AlNiCo (Aluminum – Nickel – Cobalt) QuadraMag midrange driver sings harmoniously with the CSC tweeter in Sasha V. This world-class midrange driver is celebrated for its superb settling and effortlessly revealing greater soundstage dimensionality in the frequency band that the human ear is most sensitive to. Once only available in the Chronosonic XVX, Alexx V, and the Alexia V, the QuadraMag is now a critical part of Sasha V. The upper array baffle includes Wilson Audio’s proprietary S-Material. This baffle is composed of a unique blend of materials that form a highly stable and low-resonance coupling surface for the midrange driver, thus allowing the natural sonic beauty found in the QuadraMag to bloom. 

Sasha V has strategically nested V-Material in the critical interface between the upper module and the top of the woofer cabinet. Novel in its properties, this material provides uncommon vibration control and upper module isolation, similar to the design philosophy found in the prestigious Alexx V and Alexia V. This proprietary V-Material is also recessed into the Wilson Audio Acoustic Diodes. These purpose-built spikes employ peerless vibration management which clearly expresses the system’s dynamics and micro-detail. Nature continues to inspire design cues in Wilson Audio creations. The organic flow of lines found throughout Sasha V create a harmonious integration between the lower and upper enclosures, all the while the structural integrity of both the upper and lower modules have been reinforced by the use of milled X-Material internal bracing. The woofer enclosure side walls, made from solid X-Material, are 25% thicker compared to the Sasha DAW. The increase in dimension of the X-Material fortifies the enclosure, raises density, and is less prone to resonances that can compromise sonic nuances. Even with these enclosure changes, the Sasha V retains its sleek proportions. 

The Sasha V also features a vast range of hardware upgrades, including the bespoke Wilson Audio multi-connector binding posts with modified knurling for a cleaner signal path. Installation choices are wider with the choice of either spade or banana plug speaker cables.

Made from the purest conducive metallurgies, Wilson Audio multi-connector binding posts ensure robust connection stability and are audibly more refined than plastic binding posts commonly found on loudspeakers.

The Sasha V resistor mounting hardware has been improved. This sleek carbon fiber back plate and aluminum framed glass cover, similar to Alexia V, now has tool-free, quick-release knurled thumbscrews for the tweeter and midrange resistors which facilitate simple servicing.

Looking at the back of the woofer top plate you see a flush mounted bubble level which gives a quick and reliable leveling system for better installation.

Here is a list of a few more upgraded elements found in the Sasha V:

• All external umbilical cables are terminated with the Wilson Audio spade as found on the Chronosonic XVX, Alexx V, and Alexia V.

• The streamlined stylized staircase alignment block makes the installation process and time alignment adjustments much easier.

• The upper module two-position front spike track offers additional adjustment positions the Sasha DAW doesn’t have, resulting in more precise time alignment accuracy and more adaptability to a wider variety of listening positions.

• Wilson Audio formulated V-Cable is used for all internal connections creating continuity for the entire audio signal path which purely passes the signal from the main-in connector plate to the woofer crossover, upper crossover, and to all the drivers.

• Designed in-house, the custom Wilson Audio cable grip hardware distinctly works with V-Cable, ensuring the woofer cabinet is sealed and cable slack can be managed no matter what the upper module alignment location is set to. 

Each custom capacitor, used in both of Sasha V’s crossovers, have been wound and completed at Wilson Audio’s in-house capacitor manufacturing department (Reliable Capacitors). These application-specific capacitors are tightly spun and then hand-finished to industry-leading tolerances. Wilson Audio has heavily invested in highly sophisticated winding machines that have been solely crafted in Switzerland and the United States for Reliable Capacitors.

One of the many advantages of having RelCap in the building with Wilson Audio is the rapid prototyping of capacitors. An all-new copper version of the AudioCapX-WA capacitor has been recently developed, raising the bar for high-frequency micro detail, and makes its debut in the Sasha V. The AudioCapX-WA capacitors, along with fine-tuning the Sasha V’s crossover topology, have contributed to a new standard of low-level resolution in a playback system.

Sasha V’s crossovers are composed of world-class components and are passionately hand-made at Wilson Audio. Printed circuit boards, when used in loudspeakers, inherently dynamically compress the sound. Wilson Audio avoids this sonic issue by taking the time to painstakingly handcraft and join each component with point-to-point connections. 

Painstaking attention to detail has been poured into every aspect of Sasha V’s design. From the sleek, refined cabinet to the meticulously selected premium materials and finishes, Sasha V is a stunning centerpiece in any listening environment. Within Sasha V, the past converges with the present and is the epitome of Wilson Audio’s unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and captivating the ears and hearts of discerning audiophiles who appreciate both the art of industrial design and the emotional connection with their music. 

The post Wilson Audio Sasha V appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

The post Palm Beach Home Gets Audiophile Quality Music. appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

The post Milton’s boat hits the high notes and is now ready for the high seas. appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

The post Wayne’s Harley Davidson Street Glide received some much-needed upgrades! appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

HOMAGE COLLECTION

The award-winning Homage collection enters the next generation. Iconic Sonus faber design pays tribute to the titans of music history. Trailblazing technology brings the sensation of live music to every listening space. Homage melds modern artistry with cutting-edge innovation to elevate the listening experience to new heights.

Sonus faber Homage continues Italy’s centuries-long history of music innovation. Taking note from master artisans throughout the centuries – Andrea Amati, Santo Serafino, and Giuseppe Guarneri – Homage honors music heritage through an unmatched combination of sound quality and design.

Cutting-edge technology defines the latest generation of Homage. Each upgrade elevates the sonic power of Homage, while maintaining pristine musical detail. The result is transformative, three-dimensional sound, replicating the sensation of a live performance inside any space.

Stunning design is a cornerstone of the Homage series. The newest generation marries old-world artisanship with contemporary elegance. Homage’s iconic wood lute-shaped cabinets are now available in three stunning finishes: Graphite, Wengè and Red.

“The most complex, but also exciting moment for a designer is when he is called upon to improve a timeless icon,” said Chief of Design Livio Cucuzza. “How do you innovate a product whose image is immune to the passage of time and the changing fashion trends? The only way is to take a step back, reflect and deeply understand why that product was initially created. I faced this challenge straight on with my team at Sonus faber. The third generation of Homage was the first product I worked on, and the latest launch we are unveiling is the fifth – the most evolved, the most mature, but equally authentic and special. A story that repeats itself, crossing the evolutionary path in different stages of my own life, never ceasing to fascinate me and make me proud to be part of it.“ Livio Cucuzza – Chief Design Officer

The Amati Generation 5° floorstanding speaker channels the visionary brilliance of Nicolo Amati, the Italian renaissance violin maker who understood the link between artistic form and musical function. New technology delivers balanced soundwith stunning detail matching the elegance of the Amati’s exterior design.

In eighteenth century Venice, Santo Serafino masterfully built violins with matching beauty and sound. In keeping with his legacy, the second generation of the Sonus faber Serafino speakers marries artistry and sonic excellence. Enhanced technology creates the sensation of a live performance, delivering pristine and powerful sound.

The Guarneri Generation 5° Speakers continue Sonus faber’s legacy of pristine design while harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology. The fifth generation Guarneri speaker is equipped with a new midwoofer that reduces resonance and delivers nuanced acoustic detail. New crossover technology lowers the noise floor and eliminates background noise, delivering three-dimensional sound with the timing and layers of a live performance.

The post Sonus faber Homage Amati / Serafino / Guarneri appeared first on Ask the Advisors.

MC451 Recognized for Advancements in Amplifier Technology

McIntosh is proud to announce that it has been named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree for its MC451 Dual Mono Power Amplifier. This year’s CES Innovation Awards program received a record high number of over 2100 submissions. The announcement was made ahead of CES 2023, the world’s most influential technology event, happening Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV.

The MC451 is a unique combination of a vacuum tube and solid-state amplifier that uses McIntosh’s Hybrid Drive technology and follows the success of McIntosh’s MC901 model. A more compact product, the MC451 is strategically built so that it is easier to place within an audio system, offering 150 Watts of power from the vacuum tube section and 300 Watts from the solid-state section. The MC451 features a variety of McIntosh patented technologies including Power Guard and Power Guard SGS, Sentry Monitor, Autoformer, Unity Coupled Circuit, Solid Cinch speaker binding posts, Monogrammed Heatsinks, and a DualView Power Output Meter.

The brand’s team of engineering experts took their extensive experience to seamlessly combine both vacuum tube and solid state to develop the company’s Hybrid Drive design that works to redefine sound performance. With Hybrid Drive from McIntosh, the highest level of sound reproduction is now available to offer flexibility in listening capabilities.

Hybrid Drive technology that uses the best of vacuum tubes and solid state to produce the best sound performance.

The MC451 Dual Mono Amplifier joins the MC901 in offering the ultimate solution to bi-amping a loudspeaker. Like the MC901, the MC451 uses our Hybrid Drive technology that combines a separate vacuum tube and solid state amplifier onto one single chassis to produce the best possible sound performance from a bi-ampable speaker. Unlike the larger MC901, the MC451 has a more conventional McIntosh form factor and size, allowing it to fit into home audio systems, racks, and furniture more easily. Adding a pair of MC451s to your stereo system will allow your prized speakers to perform like never before.

The MC451 is comprised of a 150 Watt vacuum tube amplifier and a 300 Watt solid state amplifier, which is more than enough power to drive virtually all speakers.

The vacuum tube section drives the speaker’s midranges and tweeters, while the solid state section drives the woofers. The 150 Watt vacuum tube amplifier is powered by four KT88 output tubes which are located under a removable wire cage, plus two 12AT7 and one 12AX7A signal tubes; it uses our patented Unity Coupled Circuit output transformer to deliver its full 150 Watts into almost any speaker regardless if it has 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance.

Similarly, the 300 Watt solid state amplifier delivers its full 300 Watts into a 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance speaker via our Autoformer technology.

The two amplifiers in the MC451 are designed to work together in a synergistic relationship and are specifically engineered to assure that each only amplifies its intended frequencies. The large but quiet toroidal transformer generates enough power so that neither amplifier robs power or performance from the other. All of this results in easy bi-amping with unparalleled performance and sound reproduction from your speakers.

Bi-amping your speakers with the MC451 is easy. No longer do you need fiddle with two separate amplifiers, an external crossover, and a lot of trial and error to properly configure the two separate amplifiers with often times only so-so results. The MC451 solves these hassles thanks to its internal, adjustable crossover. The MC451’s crossover tailors the output frequency range of each amplifier section to the attached loudspeaker. Simply set the CROSSOVER POINT knob on the back of the MC451 to the loudspeaker’s crossover point, then frequencies below the crossover point will be sent to the solid state amplifier and frequencies above it will be sent to the vacuum tube amplifier.

This adjustable crossover allows you to optimize the performance of both amplifier sections to your speaker’s specifications and to your listening preferences. Gain levels for the vacuum tube amplifier can be adjusted from -6dB to +3dB. A direct feed can also be connected to each amplifier section, thus bypassing the internal crossover.

The MC451 features our DualVie Power Output Meter. The DualView meter features two of our traditional, fast responding mechanical meters stacked above and below each other in a single meter window; one meter is dedicated to the 150 Watt vacuum tube amp and the other to the 300 Watt solid state amp. Each meter operates independently of the other and displays the real time power reading of each amplifier section.

In addition to everything already mentioned, the MC451 comes with a multitude of other McIntosh amplifier the technologies:

• Power Guard that monitors and adjusts the input signal in the 300 Watt solid state amplifier section in real time, then makes inconspicuous volume adjustments to prevent harsh sounding distortion and potential speaker damaging clipping.
• Power Guard Screen Grid Sensor (SGS). The 150 Watt vacuum tube amplifier section features our Power Guard SGS technology. Power Guard SGS helps prevent premature vacuum tube failure by monitoring the screen grid current in the KT88 output vacuum tubes. If the current becomes too high, a circuit in Power Guard SGS is activated which then dynamically attenuates the input signal in real time to keep the vacuum tubes operating at safe levels.
• Sentry Monitor observes the output current and shuts the amplifier off if it ever exceeds safe limits.
• Power Control that can send power on/off signals to other connected McIntosh components for easy system power up and shutdown.
• Our patented, gold-plated Solid Cinch speaker binding posts that easily and securely attach the speaker cables.
• A McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsink that is connected to advanced high current output transistors to efficiently cool the solid state amplifier section.
• Our Power Management System that will turn the entire unit off after a set amount of time when no input signal has been detected.

The uncompromising fit and finish of the MC451 is highlighted by familiar McIntosh design cues. The front features a signature black glass faceplate with three clear windows that allow viewing of the vacuum tubes, the DualView meter, two rotary control knobs, an illuminated logo and lettering, and built-in aluminum handles. The top is highlighted by a series of block diagrams printed on glass inserts outlining the circuitry and specifications of the unit. All of this sits atop of stainless steel chassis that’s been polished to a pristine mirror finish.

The MC451 amplifier can be combined with a variety of preamplifiers, turntables, CD players, media streamers, speakers, and other specialty products to form a complete home audio system designed for bi-amping loudspeakers.

The post McIntosh MC451 Dual Mono Power Amplifier appeared first on Ask the Advisors.