After presenting last year its new MkII versions of the DP140 and DP160 models, reworked on the basis of the design and technologies of the Référence series, Montalban-based manufacturer Diptyque Audio is now renewing its two entry-level acoustic panels. Still based on the height of the panel (plus 5cm for the stand), the DP85 and DP115 take up the new codes of the brand, with a sandwich structure and a bass-midrange cell operating on the patented PPMB principle (Push Pull Bipolar Magnet), based on bipolar magnets that agitate an aluminum ribbon in a constant magnetic field. The ribbon tweeter, 30cm long on the DP85 and 45cm on the DP115, is designed as an isodynamic cell (mylar film and aluminum winding), energized in a magnetic field created by neodymium magnets.
Weighing more than the previous generation, the DP85 now weighs 24kg (53lbs) for dimensions of 90cm high and 47.5cm wide, with a very reduced thickness of 22mm (26cm if you count the footprint). This enables it to offer a 1320cm² bass-midrange diaphragm that extends down to 50Hz, cut off at 1600Hz and then relayed by the tweeter to 22kHz.
Two-way like the DP85, the DP115 has the same width and thickness, but stands out for its weight of 32kg (70.5lbs) and its height of 115+5cm, i.e. 120cm, creating a mid-bass cell of 1980cm² capable of going down to 40Hz. Like all the other models in the range, these new isodynamic panels are available as standard in white or black, with felt edging from luxury French manufacturer Laoureux rather than leather. As an option, 155 RAL colors are still available, allowing you to integrate these panels into the ambience of your listening room, to suit your visual as well as your musical tastes!
Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) introduces the VK-85 Preamplifier and REX 300 Power Amplifier, fully balanced solid-state designs that also offer some of the finest sonic attributes typically found only in tube based circuitry. This is achieved through numerous in-house developed technologies, which continue to evolve, with the goal of bringing the end-user closer to the power of a live music experience.
The REX 300 is essentially a lower powered version of the highly regarded 500W/ch. REX 500; think about trickle-down technology at its finest. Not everyone needs so much power, thus part of the reasoning behind the REX 300 which outputs 200W/ch., all the while, using virtually all of the exceptional advanced circuitry found in its big brother. Starting with a massive power supply, the REX 300 employs the same TWIN-Path (split power supply topology) found in the REX 500. These individual power paths allow the supply to deliver much greater current than traditional designs. This power supply design is further enhanced by BAT’s new “SuperPak Quattro” capacitor bank which provides four levels of power-supply filtration. This is achieved through the use of third-level premium silver foil/oil capacitors which are joined by an X-cap. The result is music’s textural beauty, tonal density and harmonic accuracy become far more evident. Also, since the best sounding fuse is no fuse at all, the REX 300 follows its big brother with a protection circuit that eliminates internal fuses, permitting it to handle higher currents without impeding the circuit’s operation. REX 300 stands at the zenith of simplicity for modern high-power amplifier design thanks to an amplifier circuit that consists of just two gain blocks. As well, the output stage is based entirely on “N channel” MOSFET devices (as opposed to the traditional use complementary “N” and “P” channel devices where “P” are inherently slower and therefore inferior), allowing both sides of the waveform to be handled by identical devices in an identical circuit configuration, assuring symmetry of the resulting signal. Finally, there is the “Intelligent Power Upgrade” where a REX 300 can be ordered as either a stereo amplifier or as a monoblock. BAT provides a transparent upgrade path that allows an owner of a stereo REX 300 to easily convert it to a monoblock configuration at any point. There’s no need to trade-in the amplifier to obtain more power. A simple conversion of a customer’s existing stereo REX 300 to a monoblock and the ordering of a second REX 300 monoblock to match. Technically, the stereo to monoblock conversion is accomplished by paralleling the inputs and outputs.
The VK-85 Preamplifier is the result of a new design strategy that benefits from several improved in-house circuit technologies, including the aforementioned “SuperPak Quattro” and the “Second Generation Transformer Coupled Outputs”, as well as proven BAT circuits such as Unistage Design, High-Current N-Channel MOSFET Circuit and Shunt Volume Control. The new “SuperPak Quattro” dramatically lowers the VK-85 preamplifier’s overall noise floor while the new “Second Generation Transformer Coupled Outputs” results is a highly open and dynamic sound, free of both the sonic and longevity drawbacks common to capacitor coupled designs. While all BAT preamplifiers use transformer coupled outputs, what is used in the VK-85 is on a whole new level of premium output transformer design. Unistage Design in a preamplifier serves the purpose of maintaining the integrity of the input signal. In the VK-85, this is achieved using only one gain stage – one free from the negative artifacts attributable to both extremes of modern preamplifier design: passive preamplifiers and multi-stage buffered active circuits. BAT’s trademarked Unistage circuit provides the ultimate simplicity of amplifying the incoming signal just once while using no global feedback to double-back on the integrity of that signal. This continues to be a hallmark of BAT’s purist approach to circuit topology. The VK-85 circuit is based on High-Current N-Channel MOSFET devices where both sides of the waveform are handled by identical devices – in identical circuit configuration – assuring symmetry of the resulting signal, just as described for the REX 300. The highly accurate volume control employs a proprietary electronic shunt volume attenuator with 140 steps of 0.5dB resolution. This is accomplished using a single Vishay bulk foil resistor – the most precise and thermally stable resistor available – per phase; This is all that’s in the signal path. Discrete metal film resistors are used to bleed the unused signal to ground. The 140 steps give precise repeatable volume settings that sound continuous to the human ear.
The BAT VK-85 Preamplifier will be available in Q2, 2024 with an MSRP of $12,500.00 USD
The BAT REX-300 Power Amplifier will be available in Q2, 2024 with an MSRP of $15,000.00 USD
Introduced in 2023, the WANDLA quickly became the bestseller of Polish brand Ferrum, founded by Marcin Hamerla, a former associate of Mytek. Based on algorithms revised over months on the test bench, this digital DAC-preamplifier protects one of the best conversion chips on the market, the ESS9038PRO, protected power supplies and highly developed digital and analog circuitry. In addition to its AES/EBU, optical, coaxial and USB-C digital inputs, it also offers two HDMI ARC and I2S ports, plus a pair of analog RCA inputs and RCA and XLR outputs. To enhance its performance, it was already possible to combine the WANDLA with the HYPSOS separate power supply, a product we have in duplicate at VUmètre to stabilize the power supply of our Internet boxes in two of our auditoriums.
But since March, thanks to GoldenSound media, the WANDLA has been upgraded in a new eponymous edition, which gains numerous settings, described in this video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCg1hiDSNsQ) or taken up on https://goldensound.audio and recalled below: Elevated digital headroom Many modern musical tracks are produced in a waythat leaves very little headroom in the recording, often referred to as the Loudness Wars. This can cause clipping and additional distortion during playback on most DACs due to the oversampling filter being unable to accurately reconstruct strong transients. The WANDLA has its own digital processing headroom, but GoldenSound Edition has elevated headroom to accommodate it to its additional DSP functions, which are described in below paragraphs. Therefore, WANDLA GoldenSound Edition is highly immune to intersample overs even in bypass mode at full output level, allowing you to play back any music free from additional distortion, and enjoy a higher quality sound. Moreover, due to its DSP functions, now this sound can be even more tailored to your personal taste.
Spatial Enhancement The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition features a unique spatial enhancement that utilizes the power of the Ferrum SERCE module to provide an expanded soundstage and improved clarity of separation between musical elements, whilst avoiding the drawbacks commonly found in other approaches. A Headphone Mode and a Speaker Mode are offered to provide an enhancement tailored to each use-case, and this is achieved without any coloration to the frequency response, no additional distortion, and no tricks like added reverb.
Tube Mode The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition features a tube mode, which intentionally increases the even-order harmonic distortion produced by the DAC, similar to the distortion added by a tube amplifier. This allows the user to enjoy a warmer, richer sound without directly changing frequency response, and without the other drawbacks commonly found in tube-based devices such as increased noise.
Impact + The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition features an Impact + function for those that enjoy a little more low-end in their music listening experience. Though rather than a basic bass-shelf, this feature uses a customized two-band EQ which not only elevates bass but provides additional punch and dynamic impact.
Hardware Voltage Adjustment The WANDLA GoldenSound Edition benefits from a hardware level output voltage adjustment, allowing the user to swap between just below 10 Vrms output to a just below 4 Vrms output. This is facilitated via a dedicated hardware voltage divider in the output stage of the DAC, allowing the user to select lower output voltage and ensure compatibility with all amplifiers, without a need to use any digital volume control, or to have analog volume control components in the signal path. This hardware voltage divider will be available on the standard edition of WANDLA and WANDLA GoldenSound Edition units starting with board revision v4.0. Revisions older than v4.0 will support this functionality but do so in a slightly different way. These revisions will use the existing analog voltage control instead. While we originally intended to achieve this by digital attenuation, new insights brought us another, better solution. By using the analog voltage regulation, we can even get older revisions of the WANDLA board closer to v4.0, where this functionality is achieved by hardware as well, but only by a different part. This solution means all WANDLA users will be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
To perfect all the above functions and make the most of the SERCE module’s processing power, this Goldensound edition no longer features MQA. But as you’ll have noticed from our numerous reviews, we at VUmètre have never believed in this codec, which seems to us already outdated in its advantages, and a far cry from what the aforementioned functions can provide.
In Europe, the €2 795 WANDLA is available in a Goldensound version at €3 295, or your WANDLA can be upgraded for €600; in the USA, it goes from $2 795 to $3 295, with an upgrade to $600 for WANDLA owners wishing to switch to this new version. We willl be talking about it soon in a VUmètre test bench!
Octave Audio proudly introduces the MRE 220 SE mono power amplifiers, the fourth generation of Andreas Hofmann’s MRE reference class amplifier series, first introduced in 1994. The MRE 220 SE are the latest development from Octave, benefiting from over 30 years of continuous development and refinement. The MRE 220 SE delivers 220W peak (with KT120) and features the advanced octave pentode circuitry first used in the first MRE mono power amplifier, the MRE 120. Today, this circuit is at the heart of almost all Octave amplifier designs thanks to its wide bandwidth, providing high resolution and rock-solid stability for almost any speaker load. This is all made possible by a range of Octave power supply innovations that ensure linearity and control down to the lowest frequencies. The most notable innovation in the MRE 220 SE is the ability to adjust the damping factor In numerous listening tests with different loudspeakers, variable negative feedback with an impact on the attenuation factor emerged as an important new tool. With this absolutely unique adjustment option within the power amplifiers, the interaction of the MRE 220 SE with speakers can be optimized almost perfectly. The MRE 220 SE therefore has a switch with which you can choose between the damping factor low and high (or negative feedback low and high). This is a completely new approach to the problem of a power amplifier that has to cope as well as possible with all speakers available on the market. However, the result speaks for itself: an incredibly clear, spacious reproduction with a perfectly embedded midrange, free of any impurities and a silky beautiful tonal balance – and this with (almost) all speakers. Like every Octave product, the MRE 220 SE is handcrafted in Germany, with the most important parts of the amplifier – the power and audio transformers – manufactured in-house and tailored specifically to the requirements of this design.
The Octave Audio MRE 220 SE monoblocks are available now at an RRP of EUR 24,500 per pair and are equipped with Octave-selected KT88 S4-A carbon output tubes.
Swiss high-end audio manufacturer CH Precision has acquired the Wattson Audio brand, its line of high-performance, high-value streaming solutions and the team of designers and engineers behind it.
• Wattson Audio product line to be maintained and expanded.
• Wattson Audio electrical, design and software engineers to join the CH team.
• Merging of engineering teams follows long-established collaboration between CH Precision and the Wattson design team.
• Wattson Audio to re-brand and introduce new product at Munich High End Show
May 9th-12th
• The Wattson Audio team will be on hand and their products can be seen and heard in room Atrium 4.2, F204.
Florian Cossy of CH Precision and Alexandre Lavanchy of Wattson Audio first worked together in 2004, when Alex joined high-end audio design consultancy ABC PCB, founded the previous year by Florian. When Florian left to start CH Precision in 2009, Alex took over the consultancy role, changing the name to Engineered SA in 2015. Over the years, ABC PCB and Engineered SA have provided design consultancy and input to both major global players and high-profile, high-end specialist brands in the audio market.
In 2019, the team at Engineered SA started the Wattson Audio brand to leverage their accumulated expertise and experience in producing forward looking, high-performance yet affordable streaming solutions. The minimalist Emerson line quickly established an enviable reputation and loyal following. It was soon joined by the more versatile, more ambitious but still affordable Madison line.
Commenting on the acquisition, Florian Cossy said, “By incorporating Wattson Audio’s engineering team and products under the CH umbrella, we create an even greater concentration of audio design and engineering talent. It also opens a tremendous range of new market opportunities in which to apply our combined experience and technologies.”
Alex Lavanchy commented that, “It’s great to be working even more closely with Florian and his team once again. Modern products are incredibly hardware and software intensive combining the resources of CH Precision and Wattson Audio gives both companies unparalleled access to design bandwidth and capability.”
Munich High End will mark the start of a new chapter for Wattson Audio. Meet the company, the products (and a few surprises) at the MOC in Atrium 4.2, Room F204.
