AudioNervosa
The Market => Manufacturer News => Topic started by: Response Audio on August 08, 2017, 10:55:35 AM
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Looking for opinions on what people may want in products these day. Even if your not in the market, please take a momentt to click.
Separates: This would consist of our Spirit II tube preamp and a new version of our Ibrido hybrid amplifier that utilizes a tube buffer input stage transformer coupled to the amplifier stage.
Integrated: With the popularity of integrateds, we have been working on a new design that combines our Spirit tube linestage with a new high end Class D amplifier.
The Integrated Hybrid amplifier would have transformer coupling between the preamp stage and amplifier section as well as a set of both single ended and balanced preamp outputs. (We would not use the tube fuffer stage in this design)
The amplifier provides a dynamic 170 watts into 8 ohms, 300 watts into 4 ohms and 500 watts into 2 ohms.
Affordablility: We want to keep these designs at real world pricing while still maintaining the sound quality Response Audio has been known for the past 20 years.
Any questions, please ask!
Any comments, please post them!
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I've never had an integrated. After 30 years or so in audio, that would interest me the most. I think it's Mike that has a Devialet and the all in one box concept is very intriguing. What would you do as to internal shielding and what about the power supplies? I'm presuming you wouldn't use external power supplies due to the cost.
I'm also curious about a couple of things....what have your customers have been buying over the years? Did integrateds make up maybe 20-30% of sales or was it more? Or has the increased interest just been over the last few years?
Nick
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Hi Nick,
In the past I have not offered an integrated through Response Audio as it was always separates and specializing in preamps. However I have been running a Purity Audio Design integrated hybrid for about 5-6 years now and will probably never go back to separates in my personal system.
Power supply for the preamp would be internal and will still be the same preamp we use in the Spirit/Leanna preamp. The new Class D has the power supply built into the circuitry. It is basically two separate components built nto one chassis.
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Hi Nick,
In the past I have not offered an integrated through Response Audio as it was always separates and specializing in preamps. However I have been running a Purity Audio Design integrated hybrid for about 5-6 years now and will probably never go back to separates in my personal system.
Power supply for the preamp would be internal and will still be the same preamp we use in the Spirit/Leanna preamp. The new Class D has the power supply built into the circuitry. It is basically two separate components built nto one chassis.
Hey Bill,
Regarding internal components, what are your thoughts about shielding internally? I've seen some integrateds with copper panels etc.
Nick
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Hi Nick,
Our preamp circuit has always been known to be dead quiet. No worries there. The amplifier stage is shielded from the rest of the circuit by being in an aluminum sub enclosure further shielded (by us) using Mu Metal.
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I need to minimize boxes in my system so I would vote for integrated with ht bypass.
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It does have HT bypass. Seems to be a feature we cant do without these days.
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It does have HT bypass. Seems to be a feature we cant do without these days.
Just curious. As a manufacturer, what price points are thinking as to affordability?
Nick
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Hi Nick.
With keeping with quality parts and our 1/8" aluminum chassis and going by normal markups, we would be looking at a "retail" price of around $7,500. However, I would like to see the selling price at around $3,995.
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Hi Nick.
With keeping with quality parts and our 1/8" aluminum chassis and going by normal markups, we would be looking at a "retail" price of around $7,500. However, I would like to see the selling price at around $3,995.
Thanks, Bill. I'm always interested in getting different perspectives from dealers, manufacturers and consumers
Nick
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I have to agree on the integrated path. Assuming a comparable sound quality for the price, the convenience factor coupled with substantial cost savings in associated power, interconnect and digital cables is a big win.
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I agree. For so many years we have focused on preamp design and hybrid amplifiers. With so many looking to limit the number of components in their system without sacrificing sound quality, we feel its time for us to bring out a quality integrated that still maintains the sound quality we have become known for. Properly done, an integrated hybrid can sound just as good, if not better than comparable separates without the additional cost of another chassis, interconnects, power cords, etc.
Plus you dont have to worry about component synergy as the two stages are deaigned to work together as a single component.
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I think the market and younger consumer would want an integrated, especially if you made it look retro in some way. There's a niche for nostalgic stuff with the 20 somethings.
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Beware here comes the stick in the mud... Forgive my indulgences... for the sake of market research we can't all say YAY!!
"Affordable" implies compromise. Avoid that word in marketing jargon and just say it in the price.
To me, a hybrid tube/class D amp is an oxymoron. Either you'll tolerate the obsolete tubes for the sound, or you want energy savings and low impedance and modern technology, in class D. They don't go together in my closed mind.
Wait! Hmmmm, that reminds me of something....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-XXbYb5hx0
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If you build it --and it sounds awesome and gets good reviews -- they will come! But Rich raises a valid point - the combo of tubes and class D may not be high on anyone's shopping list, so it'll need to be something special to attract attention.
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Thank you both for the honest feedback.
I might have to disagree with the tube/Class D combo. Over the past few years, a good number of our preamps went to customers running Class D based amplifiers. While obviously not eeveyones preference, the market for this combination does seem to be growing as Class D amps become much better and become more popular.
Either you'll tolerate the obsolete tubes for the sound, or you want energy savings and low impedance and modern technology, in class D
I can understand this reasoning when it come to amplifiers but many tube preamps are not current hungry heat monsters. Now.it is becoming more about the sound.
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Personally I feel that tubes have to be somewhere in the system and a tube preamp makes a lot of sense. Now that class D is relatively affordable as cheap power it only makes sense to try and "enlighten" its presentation by putting tubes in front of it. Building anything with tubes isn't necessarily cheap though, especially in the required power supply, but perhaps the costs can be contained in the actual amplification circuitry? I don't know, but whatever it is it should be relatively compact and inexpensive and powerful enough for the average system, and look trendy.
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Based on the feedback here and from our customers over the years, we will move forward with an integrated hyrbid. I know it wont be everyones cup of tea.....nothing is EVERYONE'S cup off tea but we are confident it will be a viable product.
I want to get away from the term 'affordable' as this is a very subjective term. We hope this piece becomes knows as a good 'value'. Based on the feedback from our customers who have custom built versions of this piece and the piece I have run personally in my system, I beleive we will be able to make a lot of music lovers very happy.
I want to thank everyone who took the time to jot down their thoughts.
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Bill as an owner and Dealer of Hybrid class"D" amps I concur with your findings. I would like DUAL MONO INTEGRATED amp with a tubed Preamp section and hybrid class "D" output.
A huge fan of dual mono. My personal system is ALL dual mono.
charles
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Hi charles. I am also a fan of dual mono which is why we have the Lusso preamp. U.fortunately, doing this integrated in a dual mono configuration would mean 2 chassis or one very large one, as well as additional cost well beyond the target price point.