Australian loudspeaker manufacturer Dellichord tell us they are running a giveaway campaign over the next few weeks to be drawn at the October 2023 Melbourne HiFi and AV Show. The promotion named “Listen and Win” offers a free pair of Dellichord FR6 speakers to the lucky person drawn from the barrel at 3pm the Sunday of the Show (22nd October). To enter the draw all that is required is to go into a Dellichord dealer (dealers listed below), receive an audition of the FR6 or M6 Dellichord speakers and take a selfie with the loudspeakers auditioned in the shot. Post it to your Instagram or Facebook page and tag in @dellichord or #stereotechmfg and the dealer you visited. Dellichord will get in touch to confirm your entry into the draw.
Dellichord is an Australian loudspeaker manufacturing company based in Brisbane, employing the services of sister company Stereotech for cabinet making and construction and assembly of the crossover PCBs and the final assembly.
The FR6 model employs an extra internally mounted identical bass unit for added bass extension but at the same time a smaller enclosure. Over the years most manufacturers who have used the idea have described it as ‘compounded’ or ‘isobaric’ bass loading. Dellichord have taken the idea a step further by employing a passive radiator rather than a vent or port. The advantage they say being “a further decrease in enclosure volume and zero port noise”.
Dellichord tell us that they go to some trouble to source components and raw materials actually made in Australia in an attempt to make their products as genuinely ‘Made in Australia’ as possible. “The terminals, foam, MDF, real wood veneer, wire, grille cloth, glues, paint, packaging and of course the design and actual manufacture are all Australian.”
Full details on the competition to win a free pair of these first class loudspeakers is here
Furthering the company’s reputation for developing high-performance source components, AURALiC has launched the ALTAIR G2.1, a comprehensively featured product, developed to account for both digital and analogue sources, delivering transformative, dynamic sound for the demanding high-performance audio enthusiast.
Sporting both line level AND a MM phono analogue inputs!
As a G2.1 Series product, ALTAIR G2.1 has been developed with properties and features that ensure its performance is considered “next-level,” and allow for it to be used as a stand-alone preamplifier. Analog Volume Control onboard, similar to that on the VEGA G2.1 and based on a resistive ladder design, provides ultra-quiet signal, no matter the input. Class A Orfeo Output Modules allow for an ultra-low-noise and low-distortion signal in the analog domain. Altair G2.1 also houses two separate all-analog inputs, completely bypassing the digital structure and maintaining a pure analog signal from input to out. The first is a line-level analog input, including home theater bypass functionality, and the second is an in-house engineered moving-magnet phono stage for an elegant, direct, and quiet connection to a turntable.
The back panel of the Altair G2.1 from AURALiC – Note Phono connections!
The Altair still offers first class streaming performance and digital domain signal handling.
With so many demands placed operationally upon the ALTAIR G2.1, the choice of processor was simple. ALTAIR G2.1 utilizes the most powerful of the Tesla platforms, which has more-than-ample headroom to handle the challenging number of features and functions found in any AURALiC component. Finally, Dual Femto Second Clocks deliver precisely timed signals, greatly reducing associated jitter. ALTAIR G2.1 can be controlled by Lightning DS (on Apple iOS devices), is also compatible with other OpenHome-based control software, and is Roon-ready as well. ALTAIR G2.1 can deliver a growing number of streaming services such as Qobuz, Tidal, and Spotify Connect, with more to come soon.
Of course it is built to the typical very high AURALiC standard.
ALTAIR G2.1’s physical construction, as with all G2.1 products, includes Unity Chassis II, a stealth-silent aluminum enclosure encapsulating a highly-effective copper sub-enclosure that protects the advanced internal electronics from outside interference, a massive aluminum base, and a six-spring suspension footer system, all resulting in a quiet, sublime, musical performance.
ALTAIR G2.1 AU Retail will be $7,995 and will be available for purchase in May 2021.
Further details are available from the importer – HiFi Collective
This might just be for me. I certainly hope to be reviewing one in the future.
The HiFi Collective has secured another award winning brand to add to their portfolio of premium audio manufacturers. Gareth from HiFi Collective said “We’re proud to welcome MELCO to our family of brands in Australia”. When asked about the Melco range of components he responded “MELCO specialises in audiophile-grade network music servers and accessories, perfectly complementing our existing brands and strengthening our position as a market leader in the digital streaming/audio/music space”.
MELCO stands for Maki Engineering Laboratory Company, established in Japan in 1975 by Makoto Maki, an enthusiastic audiophile. MELCO’s early products set new standards in music reproduction. From those early beginnings the company developed into the largest computer peripherals manufacturer in Japan (Buffalo Inc). Along the way, Melco produced world leading NAS drives, Ethernet Switches and Routers, with a rigorous focus on Research & Development. Revived in 2014, the name MELCO is now synonymous with the highest of quality in audiophile digital source components. The MELCO range is made in the spirit of their much-revered early products, while incorporating their very latest software. This allows users to access, store and deliver Hi-Res Digital Music, without the compromises of computers and their peripherals. MELCO’s product lineup is highly appreciated by the worlds Hi-Fi press, capturing numerous awards in it’s relatively short history.
Pricing for these “Hand-crafted in Japan” components starts at $1,995.00, and includes models up to $18,495.00. MELCO products will be available in Australia from February 2021. Check with HiFi Collective for their dealer list of home audio specialist retailers across Australia. These dealers are handpicked for their passion, technical expertise, and great customer service.
HiFi Collective also imports and distributes a number of other interesting high quality brands in Australia. These include, Totem loudspeakers; Fyne loudspeakers; Auralic Streamers/DACs; and AVM audio components. Check their website here for a full listing of products handled and a dealer listing.
In a world where some would say political correctness has gone too far, finding those who speak their mind is getting tough.
‘Characters’ as they can be sometimes described, are becoming thinner on the ground by the day. Unfortunately, we have lost another of those who say it as they see it. Tim was a great man who I would not only describe as a ‘character’ but also a gentleman of incredible general knowledge and intellect. He was a man learned not just in his area of expertise but in many other realms. He had his quirks, which I enjoyed, particularly when the dull corporate types seem to be taking over. It wasn’t just me who enjoyed his ‘character’, either.
When Tim De Paravicini and his company EAR Yoshino displayed at the Munich High End Show the room would be bulging with visitors from the start to the finish.
The EAR display would always be one of the most popular at the show, on many a ‘must see’, ‘must hear’ list. People just came in and hung, out soaking up the warm, easy-to-listen-to, natural sound. If they were lucky, they might also receive a snippet of sage audio advice from the Baron.
It was really almost impossible to speak to the man at Munich. I managed it briefly once for a few minutes, just long enough to confirm a visit previously arranged, to his and Oliva’s factory the following week. He seemed enthusiastic at the prospect and threw on his best twangy ‘Orstraylyan’ accent for a few words as Oliva dragged him away to the waiting throng back at the room.
A typical scene in the EAR Yoshino room at Munich High End
I visited the room again later in the day hoping that it wouldn’t be quite so full. Alas, there were probably 50 people crammed in there, all sweating a little more than was perhaps polite. Tim sipped occasionally from a beer secreted in his jacket pocket whilst answering endless questions from the hoards. They seemingly looked up to him as some kind of audio messiah. I had seen this scene on visits in previous years, but this year the following appeared to be growing.
EAR Yoshino turntable designed by Tim De Paravicini
He wasn’t prone to changing his position on subjects close to his heart.
He had strong opinions on all sorts of things related to his main interests of cars, planes and of course audio. The range of models available from EAR reflected this, at least that’s the way it appeared to me. It seems that EAR only changed something in the design of an amplifier because of a lack of parts availability. I can imagine Tim saying “They were designed properly the first time. They don’t need revision”. With his incredibly long career in the design of amplifiers it is probable that he did know pretty much all the ins and outs of designing a perfect circuit. I admire him either way for sticking to his guns and avoiding change driven only by the marketing department.
Tim at the EAR factory in St Neots
My visit the following week to the factory in St Neots near Cambridge started the way a lot of UK factory visits start. First you have to find the place…
It’s such a very British thing to do, you know, hide your factory. In Australia there would be a billboard sized sign indicating the existence of the factory and a giant arrow pointing the way to the front door. In the UK there is usually a small ‘plaque’ (or A4 sheet of paper as per one factory I visited years ago) subtly indicating what’s going on inside an otherwise featureless industrial unit. EAR is no different, with the smallest of signs (when I visited), but inside there is some serious stuff going on. Tim was incredibly generous with his time that day. He spoke endlessly of all aspects of the manufacturing process but also of his life and things he had done.
Tim had a hand in most things at EAR Yoshino
I did a lot of listening that day, a day that ended long after the staff had gone home.
I couldn’t possibly absorb even a small percentage of what he had to say. Facts came thick and fast with an enthusiasm I found stunning. He was particularly happy to talk about how much of the insides of an EAR amp are made locally or in-house. It seemed to me that bar a handful of caps, resistors and tubes, everything was made within a 5 mile radius of the factory I was standing in. He mentioned his work with David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, and the method employed to gain access to the studio Dave has on a boat. Tim was clearly pleased that he could appear at the security camera of Mr Gilmour’s tunnel access to his floating studio, and be let straight in. He spoke of his time spent in Australia in the 70s. I suggested it had changed a bit since then. He detailed where he had worked, in the middle of nowhere. “In that case”, I said, “It probably hasn’t changed…”
Tim De Paravicini at EAR Yoshino discussing locally made parts.
We exited the building and said our goodbyes, then immediately started a conversation about cars.
Another 20 minutes zipped past. Again, I wondered at Tim’s incredible general all-round knowledge. He suggested he should get home though, and considering it was now close to 9pm, I agreed. I thanked him again for his time, shook his hand once more and we both drove off into the dimming light of the evening. On my 45 minute drive back to my hotel I pondered the man, his life and whether I would have the pleasure of chatting again. I’m not sure why I had this thought. I had no knowledge of his personal health issues. I now of course feel even more privileged to have enjoyed so much time in his company. No doubt everyone who has spent time with him over his many years in the business feels the same way.
Rest in Peace Tim De Paravicini – king of tube design and general knowledge.
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The name says it all really, the new “Heritage Special” celebrates all the things that drew you to the brand years ago. For me, its the oversized voice coil and accompanying large dust cap fitted to the mid bass driver. For you, it could be the stunning cabinetry or just the model name of the tweeter….. ‘Esotarrrr’ ! Dynaudio themselves suggest it could be the groove at the edge of the front baffle that tweaks your sense of nostalgia. Whatever it may be, this new limited edition loudspeaker is definitely a look back at past glories. Dynaudio, perhaps the most highly regarded Danish loudspeaker manufacturer, is only releasing 2500 of these gems, worldwide.
The Heritage Special employs a somewhat revised 18W75XL mid bass driver and the same Esotar tweeter used in the range-topping Confidence series. Improvements to the bass unit include a hybrid drive system using both ferrite and neodynium magnets. The large (even by todays standards) 75mm voice coil is wound on a fibreglass former and the spider is made from Nomex. It is clear that this is an all out effort to not just make a limited edition special, but also one that honours a long line of superbly designed loudspeakers.
The new limited edition Dynaudio Heritage Special
At $11,000 per pair in American Walnut veneer, one could assume they might not be snapped up in a hurry. I suspect with the amount of love out there for the older Dynaudio models, the opposite might be true. Checking in with your local Dynaudio stockist as soon as possible, would be my advice!
