French Vintage HiFi 
  • Hardware
  • Music
  • Interviews & Reviews
  • Links
  • Contact us

Australian Hifi Show 2012 - Sydney - Valve porn

02/12/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Although the first amplifier I built was valve based (EL84 if I remember correctly...), I can't say I am a fan today.
But, I do get the occisional arousal out of looking at soime of the beautiful contraptions that people around the world come up with, using valves (or tubes, depending on which side of the Atlantic you are from...)
This beautiful example here is from Thrax Audio from Bulgaria.
Their claim to fame is the use of DHT, Direct Heated Triodes, and they suitably impressed one of my fellow journalists and tube lover who happened to be visiting the stand at the same time.
 I was just in awe with the sheer beauty of the beasts and the sound  they provided via a pair of unusual speakers, the Kawero from Kaiser Acoustics (more on these in a later post...)
The French were remarkable by their absence: no Jadis, no Tosca, no Ocellia either...
Below, you will find a gallery of the valve electronics that I was impressed by...

Add Comment
 

Paris HiFi Show 2011 - W to A - Tosca and Thorens

12/11/2011

0 Comments

 

Tosca

Picture

Tosca is most famous for its range of valve phono stage, preamps and amps. I had a private listening session at Point Musiques, driving Ocellia speakers, and that experience convinced me that these are indeed very rare beasts, extremely quiet and dynamic, but mostly inaudible - a must for any amplifiers, I think...
They need very high efficiency speakers though, as their output power is only 10W or 20W depending on the model.
Continuing their expansion, Tosca has introduced speakers and cables.
I only listened to their Aria 5, teamed up with the Sub 10 subwoofer.
These were driven by the AT5-20W and we used the CD8 from Metronome or the "Classique" turntable as sources, quite a nice set-up, I have to say...
Classified as a mid-range system, it would still set you back a year of most people income!
Tosca use primarily Fostex drivers and in the Aria 5, 4 FX120 and 1 FT96H are used in a d"appolitto configuration and housed in a tear drop shaped metal column. The load is a transmission line design.
These speakers have all the trademark qualities of Fostex speakers, high efficiency, full range, but in 
this implementation, I thought the result was pretty disappointing and probably not in line with the 
quality of Tosca's electronics. In particular, there was quite a bit of sibilance due to - I think - a 
filtering artefact. Also the integration with the subwoofer was far from seamless, although using an 
active filter and integrated class D amplifier (in a separate chassis to allow future upgrade).
I wish I had a chance to listen to some of their other speakers, in particular the Recital 12, which is an open baffle 3-way design with an integrated amp to drive the bass driver: intriguing!

Thorens

Picture

Thorens was kind of hidding on their French distributor's stand (DEA International) with a static display - not an ideal set up for such an iconic brand!

Two models were on display, the high end TD 350 and TD 550

Quoting Thorens, "The TD 350 revives the legendary Thorens tradition and concept of the suspended chassis. The construction of the TD 350 ingeniously combines the advantages of a mass platform with those of the suspended chassis. This tried and tested concept as well as traditional manufacturing quality make the TD 350 a record player that will satisfy even the most discerning demands.

The front panel of the TD 550, similarly constructed as the TD 550 which also holds the operational buttons, is available either chrome-plated or with black anodized aluminum finish. The high-grade plinth itself has been refined with finest black piano lacquer.
he TD 550 comes equipped with a suspended chassis and the belt drive around the outer rim of the 
platter. The player‘s generous dimensions allow the mounting of 12-inch tonearms also. The tonearm 
platform is made from extremely stiff carbon fibre compound which ensures a very rigid coupling of 
platter and tonearm". 

The TD 350 was fitted with a REGA arm and Ortofon cartridge, the TD550 was fitted with a SME arm.
Being a static display makes it difficult to judge their sonic qualities, but I am sure you will be fine if you choose to buy either of them, or any of the less expensive models, or if you are after looks, then nothing beats the TD 2035 or my favourite, the TD 303...



Add Comment
 

    Author

    Born in France, well travelled, relocated to Sydney in 1997.
    Loves to cook for family and friends from seasonal and local ingredients and listen to live and recorded music, the subject on hand here!
    I am an electronic engineer by trade, speaker designer of some fame in the mid 80s, now involved in techncal and architectural products for the Building Industry.
       www.archinterface.com.au
    I also blog on food, wine and travel, focused on all things French:
    www.ourfrenchimpressions.com

    Picture
    Flag Counter

    Archives

    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    Categories

    All
    2012 International Ces
    215 Rtf
    24/192
    24/96
    320kbps
    384/32
    4040
    4240
    4260
    6moons
    96khz/24bit
    A31
    Acapella
    Acoustical Beauty
    Advance Audio
    Aeolus
    Aerosystem One
    Agilent
    Aiff
    Alain Calmettes
    Alain Wacquet
    Alexa
    Ambronay Editions
    Amplifiers
    Analog Collector
    Andre Charlin
    Android
    Anne Sophie Mutter
    Anniversary
    Antelope Audio
    Apple
    Aria 5
    Astin Trew
    At5
    Atohm
    Audax
    Audioaccess
    Audioanalyse
    Audioconnection
    Audioconnexion
    Audioconseil
    Audio Dynamics
    Audiolineaire
    Audio Note Japan
    Audio Trends
    Australian Hifi Magazine
    Australian HiFi Show 2012 Sydney
    Australian HiFi Show 2012 Sydney
    Aw Audio
    Aw Audio Ea 16
    Axente
    Bc Acoustique
    Bee Jaz
    Bergman
    Bergmann Magne
    Blog
    Bmr
    Braun
    Brett Whiteley
    Bryston
    Bs50
    Cabasse
    Cabasse Artis
    Cabasse In Australia
    Cabasse Ocean
    Cabinet
    Cabinet Design
    Calliope Cd Player
    Canor
    Carol Anne Cassidy
    Cd
    Cd1
    Cedia
    Cedric Leon
    Ces 2012
    Chambord
    Chinese New Year
    Christophe Cabasse
    Classique
    Clement
    Compact Disc
    Consonance
    Cote Paris
    DA 650
    DA 750
    DAI 1CHI
    Dan D'Agostino
    D'Appolito
    Dave Wilson
    Da Vinci
    Davis
    Davis Acoustics
    Denis Beau
    Design Principles
    Devialet
    Dgg
    Diatone
    Digital Downloads
    Dire Straits
    D Premier
    Dual Turntable
    Duocell
    EA 11
    EA 12
    EA 16
    Ead
    Ecm
    Edison
    Electrocompaniet
    Electrodynamic Panels
    Elipson
    Elipson 4050
    Elipson 4260
    Elipson Bs50 Tribute
    Elipson In Australia
    Elipson Planet L
    Elipson Religieuses
    Elipson Studio Pro
    Encel Stereo
    Epure
    Era Turntable
    Europe Audio Diffusion
    Evaanna Manley
    Filter
    Flac
    Flamingos
    Foam Suspension
    Foca
    Focal
    Focal. JM Lab
    Form And Function
    Fostex
    French Product At The Ces 2012
    French Products At The Ces 2012
    Ft96h
    Full Range
    Full Range Speakers
    Fx120
    Galaxy
    Garrard 401
    George Cabasse
    Georges Cabasse
    Ghislain Prugnard
    Gilles Milot
    Grado
    Gramophone
    Grande Utopia Em
    Grand Utopia Be
    Group Delay
    Grundig
    Guarneri Memento
    Guy Hf
    Harman Kardon
    Hd212 Pro
    Hdtv
    Helma Paulson
    Helmholtz
    Heritage
    Hewlett Packard
    Hifi Antique
    Hifi News
    Hifi Stereo Magazine
    Hifi Video
    Hifi Vintage
    High Efficiency
    High Efficiency Loudspeakers
    High End Show Munich
    Holst
    Hp
    Icon Audio
    Ina
    International Dynamics
    Interview
    In Wall Speakers
    Ion Tweeter
    Ipad
    Iphone
    Ipod
    Ipod Dock
    Ise Amsterdam
    Isokinetic
    Itrax
    Ja500
    Ja80
    Jacki Pugh
    Jacques Mahul
    Jadis
    Japanese Vintage Hifi
    Jarre
    Jarre Technologies
    Jc2 Bp
    Jc3
    Jc Verdier
    Jean Hiraga
    Jean Jacques Capello
    Jean Marie Hubert
    Jean Marie Raynaud
    Jean Michel Jarre
    Jean Paul Guy
    Jean Paul Guy
    Jmb Acoustique
    Jmlab
    Josef Svalander
    Joseph Leon
    Jullien Thaler
    KC X1
    Kef
    Ken Kessler
    Kenwood
    Kingsound
    KM X1
    Kondo
    Kreon
    Ktr Lab
    Kuzma
    Laborie. Oppo
    La Maison Du Haut Parleur Paris
    Langsche
    La Sphere
    Las Vegas
    Leedh
    Len Wallis Audio
    Le Studio Hifi
    Linkwitz Riley
    Linn
    Loudspeakers
    Lyra
    Magnepan
    Mamiya
    Manley Labs
    Marcel Rochet
    Marc Fontaine
    Martial Hernandez
    Martin Logan
    Martin Logan Ethos
    Martin Viktorin
    Mcintosh
    Melbourne
    Melbourne Hifi Show October 2011
    Membranes
    Memphis Slim
    Meridian
    Metronome
    Metrum
    Michell
    Michell Orbe
    Michel Visan
    Micromega
    Microphase
    Microphase Csw
    Microphase Triton
    Micro Third Four
    Midi
    Minute
    Mirare
    Momentum
    Morel
    Mosfet
    Mp3
    Mulidine
    Music
    Nad
    Niagara
    Nikon
    Norway
    Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel
    Nuvo Technologies
    Ocean
    Ocellia
    Olympus
    Ondine
    Onken
    Open Baffle
    Oppo
    OPPO BD 95
    Oracle Audio Technologies
    Origin Live
    Ortophon
    Otl
    Parasound
    Paris
    Paris Hifi Show
    Paris Hifi Show 2011
    Pascal Louvet
    Passion Elipson
    Passion Elipson
    Patrick Vercher
    Philippe Lesage
    Philips CD PRO II
    Phl Audio
    Pierre Breart
    Pierre Clement
    Pierre Lurne
    Pierre Riffaud
    Planet L
    Plus Loin Music
    Point Musiques
    Pro Ject
    Qobuz
    Radiance
    Recital 12
    Rega
    Rega Arm
    Renaud De Vergnette
    Rj Baffle
    Rohde & Schwarz
    Rubber Suspension
    Salon De La Hifi Et Du Cinema
    Salon De La Hifi Et Du Cinema Paris 2011
    Salon De La Hifi Et Du Home Cinema
    Salon De La Hifi Et Du Home Cinema 2011
    Salon Hifi Paris 2012
    Salvator Dali
    Samsung
    Sanken
    Sasha
    Sats
    Seas
    Season Greetings
    Secam
    Senheise
    Shanling
    Siare
    Signature
    Small Speaker
    Sme Arm
    Soledge
    Solen. Impedance Compensation
    Solid State
    Sonab OA 14
    Sonus Faber
    Sooloos
    Soolos
    Sophie Marceau
    Soulution 540
    Spat
    Speakers
    Spearkers Corner Records
    Sphaeron Excalibur
    Sphere
    Steinway Lingdorff
    Stellavox
    Stenheim
    Stormaudio
    Sub 10
    Subwoofer
    Supravox
    Suspensions
    Sweden
    Tangential Arm
    Tangential Arm Turntable
    Td 350
    Td 550
    The Bellagio
    The Bellagio Las Vegas
    The Decca Sound
    T.H.E. Show 2012
    T.H.E. Show Las Vegas 2012
    T.H.E. Show Vegas
    The Venetian
    Thiel
    Thorens
    Thrax Audio
    Time Alignment
    Tosca
    Traffic
    Triangle
    Triangle 1180
    Tributaries Cables
    Triphonic
    Tubes
    Turntables
    Tw8 Tweeter
    Unison Research
    Utopia
    Valves
    Verve
    Vicoustic
    Vienna Acoustics
    Vintage Hifi
    Vinyl
    Violet
    Vismes
    Voigtlander
    Wagner Electronic Services
    Waterfall Audi
    Waterfall Audio
    Watt/Puppy
    Wilson Audio
    Winter & Winter
    Wisdom Audio
    Yba
    Yba Hifi
    Ypsilon CDT 100 CD Player/transport
    Ypsilon Electronics
    Yves Bernard Andre
    Zig Zag Territoires

    RSS Feed