THE Show 2012 (at CES) – Acapella, Einstein
This is the first time we have been able to photograph the Acapella / Einstein room in about 7 years, having gotten into a spat with the previous distributor over what constitutes good business ethics [with respect to the distributor / dealer relationship – a relationship which our industry is handling badly and which you will see a good deal more about it on the blog in the future], causing us to avoid, by mutual consent, going into their exhibit rooms.
We were the largest dealer of Acapella in the U.S. for several years, and it is good to hear them again [although, it also seems like just yesterday we were listening to them all the time – middle age does have its time-scoping benefits].
The Violin VI speakers here are a good deal more efficient than the Violin II speakers were many years ago. In a room this size we would have recommended a top-of-the-line 400 watt solid state amplifier [which was about $30K, back in the good old days of 7 years ago when top solid state amps didn’t all cost upwards of $100K] .
Here in this room they used a 60 watt OTL tube amp.
Almost worked, too. But there was some struggling in the bass at the volumes they tried to play it here, however.
It *is* a really, really large room, although horn speakers like these are easily capable of filling it with sound without any muss or fuss.
The Acapella ‘Violin Mk VI’ loudspeakers and Einstein electronics
The Acapella ‘Violin Mk VI’ loudspeaker
The Acapella ‘Violin Mk VI’ loudspeaker
The Acapella ‘Violin Mk VI’ loudspeaker rear
The Acapella ‘Violin Mk VI’ loudspeaker ion tweeter rear
Einstein ‘The Final Cut’ OTL amplifiers
Einstein ‘The Final Cut’ OTL amplifiers
Einstein ‘The Final Cut’ OTL amplifiers
Einstein ‘The Final Cut’ OTL amplifiers
Einstein ‘The Final Cut’ OTL amplifier back panel
Einstein ‘The Source’ CD player
Einstein ‘Octopus’ power distributor
Einstein ‘The Tube’ linestage preamplifier
Einstein ‘The Tube’ linestage preamplifier
Einstein ‘The Tube’ Mk IV linestage preamplifier
Nice pictures!
Any idea whom the new Acapellas distributor is/will be? Audio Federation? 😉
It appears these Violon mk VI are $36,000, a full $15,000 less than the previous version from last year. That’s good news for us consumers.
Anything else to add about the sound? Do you like Einstein?
Thanks,
Q
Hi Q,
Thanks.
The Acapella factory has decided to deal directly with their dealers in the U.S., at the current time there are currently about 5 or so. Knowing the personalities and situation, I expect this to go on this way for some time, perhaps years, but not forever.
Yes, that is indeed good news for consumers, and the dealers as well.
Haven’t really formed an opinion, yay or nay, about the Einstein. I think having them on the crates like that obscured a lot of what any tube amp might do well – for example micro-dynamics and liveliness – exacerbating and exacerbated by the issues caused by driving the amps a little too hard in such a gigantico room.
The changes to the Violin seem to have all been for the good. The greater efficiency is great. I think there is better integration between the various drivers – in the past, when driven hard, in certain rooms, they could get a little ‘beamy’ and strident unless a lot of attention was paid to setup and positioning [like a lot of speakers, actually; the solution often involving pointing the speakers more straight ahead, at something besides the listening positions].
Can I whine here about the Einstein equipment being very dusty? 🙂 I had to throw away a lot of photos you guys…
Take care,
-Mike