by Michael

Boulder Fire: We are safe…

… and the gear is safe, and the house is safe. Well, so far. The house is about as far away from the fire as one can be and still be directly in its path – and still not be in the city of Boulder itself [we are about a mile from Boulder].

Thanks for everyone’s kind emails and phone calls. 🙂


John De Bord Photography

We are near the top of the major ridge in the foreground – hard to tell from the photo [for us at the time!] but the fire ‘just over the ridge’ is actually about 2 ridges behind us as far as we have been able to tell.

If something like this happens to you, the only way you are going to find out information in a timely manner is on Twitter – in this case: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=#boulderfire

In the worst case we are more or less well insured (especially the businesses) and we got out what we thought at the time was the most important personal stuff [hard to know what we would regret not saving over the long term].

When we left black charcoal and ash was falling out of the sky onto the deck and it was hard to see and breathe with all the smoke. The wind was gusting, moving the fire towards us at about 35mph [sometimes is would move the smoke up and over us, sometimes right down on top of us]. Boulder was often hidden with all the smoke collecting in the valley it sits in. Hard to think all that well at times like that – even with the fair amount of planning we have done over the years.

But, Neli is back to talking with people about their systems on the phone and I am … I am taking some time to get some exercise – our hotel is about 50 yards from our gym [instead of a 20 minute drive :-)]

in High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo / News 0 comments
 by Michael

Most expensive stereos…

Actually most of the entries are just expensive speakers [and the Supremes are $350K, not 180] and they left out the Kharmas [I emailed them, but people only have so much time to put into each article, don’t I know it :-)]

most expensive home stereos

Interesting, though, some of these make sense, some of these shock me, some of them I roll my eyes at, and some I hadn’t heard of and would love to hear sometime 🙂

in High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo / News 0 comments
 by Michael

Kharma news from Munich 2010

[Neli is still torturing me. But eventually she will relent 🙂 From the snippets I have heard – Kharma now has 2 speakers above the old (~$260K) Grande Exquisites and one immediately below.

Kharma has indeed added some new loudspeakers to the Grand Exquisite line. Above the Grand Exquisite are the Grand Exquisite Extreme ($390K), and the Grand Exquisite Extreme, Limited Edition 25 ($520K), the ultimate realization of the Grand Exquisite.

Kharma has also introduced the Midi Grand Exquisite ($145K), smaller cabinet suitable for a (somewhat) smaller room. These were the ones shown in Munich.

Kharma now makes their own ceramic drivers, the Black Label series (and so no longer use the old Accuton/ Thiele & Partner ceramic drivers – which have been exceedingly hard to come by lately). These new drivers have membranes that are black in color.

This fall, Kharma will introduce the new Elegance line. One of the smaller Elegance loudspeakers, configuration similar to the 3.2.2 CRM, is shown below. These use a new Kharma-designed and developed carbon fiber driver and a new (also Kharma-designed and developed) beryllium tweeter. Pricing for the new Elegance speakers is still being set.

Corrections to this summary, and pricing, and labeling of the photos will be forthcoming… right Neli? :-)]
A quick note on pricing. Kharma’s pricing in Euro has remained remarkably stable over the last years. Prices here are based on a conversion rate of 1.30 USD / 1 Euro, which is either … an insane opportunity, or the new normal.

Looking into the Munich show room from the outside …

wish we were able to attend, we are so happy to have these pictures sent to us from Kharma …

First glimpse inside.

These are the Midi Grand Exquisites, with the Exquisite Sub (active, 18″ long throw driver) and the new Exquisite MP-1000 mono power amplifiers.

Side view of the room, RixRax Grand Hoodoo and a pair of Exquisite Mini with the new black label drivers (more below).

Kharma owner and chief designer, Charles van Oosterum, with the new Elegance 3.2.2, with the grille on. Grilles are now mounted magnetically.

Rear of the Elegance 3.2.2, in Aubergine. The port is reminiscent of the Exquisite Mini. Note the removable back panel.
These loudspeakers can be made active by changing the binding posts to signal cable connectors (XLR/RCA) and mounting one of the little Matrix amplifiers inside.

New Kharma beryllium tweeter and carbon fiber mid/bass driver.

‘Elegance’ series badge on the side. Cabinets and cabinet finish look quite similar to the CRM 3.2/3.2.2.

Streamlined Elegance series stand with floor protectors.

This is a nice reminder that we should always level our loudspeakers …

Another nice view of the big Munich system with the Midi Grand Exquisites, the new MP-1000 mono amps ($52000), and the Exquisite sub ($32,500).

Closeup of one Midi Grand Exquisite. Makassar veneer with piano black finish. Nice view of the dual diamond tweeters, and of the new black-label ceramic midrange drivers.

Even nicer view of the Makassar …

Beautiful view of the Exquisite Mini (what a lovely, lovely loudspeaker, sonically even more than visually), with standard Walnut trim and the new black label drivers. Since the speakers are not playing, the diamond tweeters have got their little magnetic protective grilles on.

The MP-1000 with carbon front panel.

Best view of the front end. Top shelf, Metronome CD transport. Second shelf, prototype/beta version of the new Kharma PA-1000 preamplifier (expected $39000), third shelf is a DAC from Audio Note Japan (thanks Metralla) KSL-DAC. And, on the bottom shelf, what I think is the power supply for the Metronome.

Happy listeners ….

in High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo / Kharma / News 11 comments