| |
SYSTEM
ColtraneEdge-1
Equal parts of: ENJOYABLE,
EMOTIONAL, REAL, SOPHISTICATED, and IMPRESSIVE
Primary System Goals: REAL, SOPHISTICATED, ENJOYABLE
Audio Aero players
emphasize: EMOTIONAL,
IMPRESSIVE
Accessories emphasize:
REAL, EMOTIONAL. SOPHISTICATED
INTRODUCTION
We believe that by taking a holistic
systems approach to assembling a high-end stereo system
more musical satisfaction can be achieved, in less time, with less
bother and with less money. To this end we offer our customers the
option of purchasing one of a number of turnkey systems. Most of
these systems are systems which you can hear in one of our listening
rooms.
We value musicality and
the ability for a system to communicate magic, sophistication, emotion,
to suspend disbelief, and to be impressive over all other
system attributes. Therefore our systems are designed to be truly musical,
to provide that special pleasure that almost all of us love:
Musical Enjoyment, and perhaps even a glimpse of the great Unknowable
and flashes of the Noble Human Spirit. These systems will
communicate the emotion, the artistic flair, the skill and story
that the musicians are telling. They will caress, tickle, swoon, and
exclaim, thrill and amaze. They will not distract your mind
with harsh distortions, exaggerated flash, disharmonies, or plodding
acyclical rhythms. But they just may grab your heart and soul and
send them flying into the ether.
| |
| |
 |
| |
| |
 |
MARTEN COLTRANE SPEAKER SYSTEMS These are relatively expensive
systems, retailing for approximately $60,000 - $180,000 (depending on
the particular configuration and speaker selected). These systems offer a
realistic, sophisticated presentation
and sound like... music. They are very detailed, smooth, and engrossing.
No grit, no bloat, no muddled sounds, no smoke, no cotton balls, no
sugar-coating or artificial flavors, just good, honest music that
says: you can have both accurate reproduction and an extremely
enjoyable listening experience - at the same time!
MARTEN COLTRANE SPEAKERS
The Coltrane speakers excel at reproducing
music with accuracy, controlled dynamics, high resolution,
touch-realistic imaging and even-handed treatment of all
frequencies. They are not as good at presenting an overly
impressive sound, nor a big open relaxed sound, nor an
in-your-face front row type of sound.
A Note about the Coltrane Alto Speakers
The sonic signature of this speaker is very similar to its
big brother, the Coltrane. Same ceramic
midrange but with a smaller (down-firing) ceramic woofer and a
ceramic tweeter instead of the diamond tweeter. The
difference really lies in terms of scale - a smaller sound,
smaller dynamics, less bass, and designed for smaller rooms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EDGE ELECTRONICS NL SERIES AMPLIFIERS
The EDGE amplifiers are fast,
accurate, detailed, nuanced, and are able to control the speaker
midrange and highs better than any solid-state amplifier we have heard, all against a
very clean black background. The bass is detailed and accurate,
but just a little bit reticent when it comes to dynamics on
harder-to-drive speakers.
The EDGE NL-10.1, NL-12.1 and NL Signature
One.1 amplifiers are very high-resolution, very transparent
amplifiers that are capable of rendering subtleties that most
other solid-state amplifiers just can't match. Subtleties like
microdynamics and those very quick micro-timbre changes that allow
the listener to hear what techniques the skilled musician is
actually using on their
instrument.
Edge NL Signature One.1 monoblock amplifiers: With
400 watts per channel, the extra
power really helps the notes to unfold and blossom, with huge
amounts of richness and texture - both in time (amplitude) and
timbre (frequency), effortlessly produced, with no overlap (lots
of separation), all against a clean dark background.
|
 |
 |
| |
|
Edge NL-12.1 stereo amplifiers: A stereo amplifier with 300 watts per channel:
it has not quite the solidity and control and soundstage width of
the Signature One.1 - but the overall sonic signature is almost
identical.
Edge NL-10.1 stereo amplifiers: A stereo amplifier with 225 watts per channel:
it has not quite the power or the solidity, control and soundstage
width of the Signature One.1 or NL-12.1 - but the overall sonic
signature is almost identical, and in the overall scheme of things
the NL-10.1 can seem to be a little more sweet and delicate sounding than its
bigger brothers - perhaps having that perfect balance between power
and finesse. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
AUDIO AERO CAPITOLE REFERENCE and PRESTIGE CD
PLAYERS
Audio Aero players: The players
can be described by what they do not do; they do not scratch,
irritate, annoy, screech or any of the other things CD players
usually do. They just produce delightful music without adding any
unnecessary euphonic sweeteners. Though many players have a darker
background, more detail, more air, etc. none that we have heard have
the spirit, the authenticity, the intrinsic musicality of this
player. Another property of these players is that they are very
analog - their dynamics are very similar to that of vinyl, quite unlike
any other digital playback system we have heard. They also have a
harmonic structure very similar to vinyl as well. Not sure how they
do it - but after years of listening to various generations of these
players, there is no doubt that they do. Sound like vinyl, that is,
missing only the detail and microdynamics of vinyl, that no other
digital has yet been able to reproduce either... yet.
These players also have a very high-quality built-in linestage (a
preamplifier with a volume control but without a phono stage). The quality
of this linestage is very impressive - and compares favorably with
other linestages who by themselves cost as much as the player. As
you might be thinking already, this makes the Audio Aero players
real bargains because most owners of Audio Aero players can forgo
buying a separate preamplifier, and the associated
CD-player-to-preamplifier interconnect, the preamplifier power cord,
a shelf on the equipment rack, and any preamplifier vibration
control tweaks. Yes, quite a bargain.
Connected directly to the right amplifier these players just
stand up and sing. There is a certain clarity and bounce running
these players direct, and this is
our preferred configuration for these players with all the amplifiers we have here.
The Audio Aero Capitole Reference CD Player with built-in Linestage:
This player sounds wonderfully musical on almost every single CD out
there. Yes, even your favorites that are badly recorded. And yet, at
the same time, it is able to communicate the details, nuance and
micro-dynamics of those same CDs. It is somehow able to strike the
perfect balance between the 'overly detailed, spotlight on every
note' players on the one hand and the 'mushy, obscure all the
details in a foggy mush in case they might be harsh' players on the
other. This is probably the most musical and satisfying player made.
The Audio Aero Prestige CD / SACD Player with built-in
Linestage: This player sounds a lot like the Capitole but
has more resolution, is noticeably even more analog both in terms of
dynamics and harmonics, and has more presence and solidity. It also
plays SACDs.
Note: All Audio Aero players now sold in North America are the
Special Edition 'SE' version. In Europe, a slightly inferior
'ordinary' version is also sold.
|
|
ACCESSORIES
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nordost Valhalla speaker cable and interconnect
(REAL, SOPHISTICATED):
All of these cables let through the raw music,
letting it flow directly to the speaker. In high quality systems
like this, there is no need to fear such revealing cables - they
will reveal nothing but how wonderful the music is.
Nordost Valhalla digital interconnect (REAL,
SOPHISTICATED): Almost exactly the same sound as the world-renowned
interconnect.
Nordost Valhalla power cord (REAL, IMPRESSIVE):
Very similar to the Valhalla sound, clean, fast, detailed,
but with a slight leaness to the sound.
Nordost Frey speaker cable and interconnect (real,
sophisticated): The Frey is slightly less sophisticated and detailed
compared to the Valhalla - but not by much.
Jorma Design No. 1 (REAL): The Jorma Design is very close to the Valhalla,
but with a little more body and less of a 'silvery sheen' that you
would never know Valhalla had until you heard it right before the
Jorma.
Shunyata Anaconda Helix Vx power cord (EMOTIONAL,
ENJOYABLE): Filters out the garbage while letting through the
massive amounts of current when and how the components need it. The system would be a pale shadow of itself
without these power cords. The new Helix version seems to, amazingly
enough for a power cord, be able to let through more of the
character and meaning of the music than any other power cord we have
tried, including the previous generations of Shunyata power cords.
Shunyata Python Helix Vx power cord (emotional,
enjoyable): We expect these cables to be similar in character to the
Anaconda - but a little less open and big sounding. We haven't yet
heard them, but the previous two generations of Anaconda and Python
were similar in this manner.
Shunyata Hydra M-8 power distributor
(ENJOYABLE): This does much the same thing as the
'filled' Shunyata Vx power cords - the Hydra itself being filled
with the same stuff.
Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) MXR equipment rack
(REAL, IMPRESSIVE): The MXR is the best
sounding rack for many reasons not the least of which is that
the shelves are HRS M3 Isolation Bases. The racks are also
not half bad looking either and the sides of the rack being
somewhat solid help obscure the mess of cables coming out of the
back of the components - and the often pedestrian looking sides of
the equipment.
Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) M3 Isolation Base
(REAL, IMPRESSIVE): The HRS Isolation Base
is wonderful, it has so far improved the sound of everything we have
put it under, some of them tremendously.
Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) Nimbus, Nimbus
Couplers, and Nimbus Spacers (REAL, IMPRESSIVE):
These typically are inserted between a component and its Isolation
Base further improving the sonics by channeling away vibrations to
the Isolation Base better than the component's feet do.
Rix Rax equipment rack: Very beautiful racks which
are 100% custom built. Any type of wood or size is yours for the
choosing. HRS M3 Isolation Bases can be put
under your favorite components on a Rix Rax shelf in order to provide much of the same sonic benefits of having a HRS
rack.
Acoustic Dreams equipment rack: This equipment rack
also has some vibration control capability and is very portable.
Most people find the 'art deco look' of these racks quite attractive
here in our showrooms.
|
|
THE SYSTEM SOUND
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARTEN COLTRANE SPEAKERS
WITH
EDGE NL SERIES AMPLIFIERS |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Marten Coltrane / EDGE Electronics system
is one of our very favorite systems.
The EDGE amplifiers play to the Coltrane's
strengths. They both have very high resolution, but the details
are not highlit in any way, they just accurately portray the music
coming from the source components. They both are very fast and
able to quickly start and stop a note as well as changing the
volume and tone during the note - both essential to communicating
what the skilled musician is doing.
All of this finesse or 'sophistication' as we
often call it helps the listener both enjoy the music to a greater
degree as well as appreciate both the skill and the message the
musician is communicating.
|
|
For example, a good guitarist not only picks a
string, but they may also drag the pick along the string just
very slightly during the picking. They may press the string
down on the top section of the fret a fraction of a second
before the pick hits the string, causing a sort of fuzzy 'prequel' to
the note. They may slide the finger sideways across the neck of
the guitar as the pick leaves the string in order to put a
miniscule little 'question mark' at the end of the note.
The musician does these things for a reason.
They are part of the music. The musician is trying to say
something, or maybe they are just showing off. The Marten / Edge
system lets you hear what they are doing.
|
|
This system also accurately portrays these
details in correct proportion to the rest of the music. It can do
this because ALL of the music is treated equally, with an even
hand, up and down the frequency spectrum - from the lowest of lows
to the highest of highs. This is important because some purely
Impressive systems also have lots of detail, tons of in your face
detail, but they are not in correct proportion to the music and
all one hears when listening to these types of Impressive speakers
are the details, not the music.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
We have exhibited two Coltrane / EDGE
systems at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. Our room there is
rather large at about 20 feet by 24 feet and one side opens up into a 15x15 foot entry
way. The systems sound fantastic there (the Martens respond well
to having a straight, flat wall close behind them; we do not have
any flat walls here in our showrooms... which is good for some
speakers and not so good for others) and the feedback from the
visitors to our room and the best of shows from
reporters testify to their appreciation of the sound of this
system as well. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARTEN COLTRANE SPEAKERS
WITH
EDGE NL SERIES AMPLIFIERS
WITH AUDIO AERO
CAPITOLE REFERENCE
and PRESTIGE
CD PLAYERS |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The design of this particular system has the
back-end pieces, the amps, the speakers, and all the cabling, be
as clear and pure and as revealing as technically possible. This
makes them a clear window on the character of the source
components - either the Audio Aero CD players or potentially a
Brinkmann or Walker turntable setup.
And all of these sources produce music that is
a wonder to behold.
The Audio Aero CD players have... charm. Their
rich tonal character is just so true - and it just comes right
through the EDGE amplifiers and Coltrane speakers - adding color
to these two fairly neutral pieces (which are just a hair
to the warm side of neutral).
|
|
These players also have an analog-like
realistic dynamic to them which really helps to liven up the
system. The nature of the amplifiers and speakers is that they are
both extremely accurate along with a slight reticence when it
comes to macrodynamics - neither of the two are big, open or bouncy
sounding. The Audio Aero players help to balance this with their
dynamic character - being one of the more naturally dynamic
digital sources available.
We have found that connecting the players
directly to the amplifier, using the player's built-in linestage,
is the best way to suck every last capability from the player -
the richness and dynamics are just awesome. This also saves quite
a bit of expense as there is no need for a preamplifier and the
cables and power cord the preamplifier would require. |
|
There is then no need for an equipment rack for
a purely digital system either. Putting the amp (or two amps if
they are monoblocks) on the floor, and the player on the floor
between the speakers works just fine. We recommend an HRS
Isolation Base to go underneath the player - and underneath the
amps too if one wants to extract every last nuance out of the
system.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accessory
Assignments |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Marten Coltrane Speaker: Nordost
Valhalla or Nordost Frey or Jorma
Design No. 1 speaker cables
Running the Valhalla between the Audio Aero CD player and Edge
amplifier lets the music through while adding little if anything of
its own. Similarly with running the Valhalla speaker cable between
the Edge and Coltrane speakers. But the special attribute to note
here is that the Valhalla is one of the fastest cables made (both
interconnect and speaker), if not the fastest and the Edge is the
one of the fastest amplifiers
made. This combination lets through every nuance, each tiny aspect
of every rhythm, each and every part of every note envelope, and
lets it through NOW - when it is supposed to and how, as the music
itself dictates. The result is clean, detailed, full of PRaT (foot
tapping plus plus), and oh so smooth, by which is meant that the
flow, the continuousness, the raison d'être of the music is
preserved and offered up to the speakers. And, in this case, these
speakers can handle it.
EDGE Amplifiers: The older Shunyata Anaconda
Alpha or new Shunyata Anaconda Helix Vx or Python Helix
Vx power cords
The big Shunyata power cords help eek out a
little more dynamics from the system. We have used the Valhalla
power cord as well, it has the same sonic signature as the other
Valhalla cables, and it sounds more detailed and slightly more
transparent, but is a little lean, and somewhat less macro
dynamic. The 'Vx' power cords contribute to a little more open and
luscious sounding system, the Alpha to a more powerful and quicker
sounding system. The newer Alpha Helix does not seem to match well
with the Edge for some reason.
Audio Aero CD Player: Shunyata Anaconda Helix Vx or
Python Helix Vx power cords. HRS M3 Isolation Base.
The Audio Aero, like most digital, sounds
smoother and less digital when using a 'filled' Shunyata power
cord. Filled, that is, with substances that filter out power line
anomalies that just seem to aggravate digital source equipment.
System: Stealth INDRA, Nordost Valhalla or Nordost Frey interconnects
The INDRA rocks. Very, very pure. As close to
perfect as we have heard to date. Also very expensive. The
Valhalla and Frey are excellent interconnects and let through the
music just fine, thank you very much.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Optional Accessories |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Shunyata Hydra M-8 power distributor:
This does much the same thing as the 'filled' Shunyata Vx power
cords - the Hydra itself is filled with the same stuff - so for
those who wish to use a different power cord on their Audio Aero,
they could plug that power cord into the Hydra and get most of the
same benefits.
Equipment Rack: A turntable
setup is going to need an equipment rack. The turntable itself
sits on the top shelf of the rack. Then there is typically a need for another
shelf to hold the phono preamplifier (unless your preamplifier has
a built-in phono stage). Then there is often a power supply for
the turntable that needs to go on a shelf as well, somewhere close
to the turntable. Then one might as well put the CD player on a
shelf as well. So all this adds up to a 4-shelf equipment rack (or
a 2- or 3-shelf double-wide).
|
|
The MXR is the best
sounding rack and has custom M3 Isolation Bases for many
turntables, available to use as the top shelf.
The Rix Rax equipment rack is a very
nice looking rack which can also handle the weight of the 225 lb
Walker just fine; here at the Audio Federation both the Brinkmann
and Walker have sat together on top of a Rix Rax Grand Hoodoo rack
- the Brinkmann on top of a custom HRS M3 Isolation Base.
The Acoustic Dreams equipment rack also
has a custom top shelf that can
be ordered to suit extra large turntables like the Walker (we use
one of these larger shelves here at the Audio Federation when we
put the Walker on top of one of our Acoustic Dreams racks).
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS |
|
|
|
|
Configuration 1
'Mini
Reference'
For smaller rooms, by replacing the Coltrane
with the smaller Alto this system provides a sound
that is very, very close to the sound of the Coltrane systems
but with a smaller footprint.
|
|
Marten Coltrane Alto
loudspeakers |
 |
|
Edge NL-10.1 225
watt stereo amplifiers |
 |
|
Audio Aero Capitole
Reference CD player |
 |
|
1.0 meter Frey RCA
interconnect |
 |
|
1.5 meter Frey bi-wire
speaker cable |
 |
|
3 Shunyata Python power
cords |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Approx.
List Price |
$61,000.00 |
|
|
|
Configuration 1
'Midi Reference'
This system is a very nice system for the audiophile with a
medium-sized room who wants a very engrossing yet detailed and
real sounding experience.
|
|
Marten Coltrane
loudspeakers |
 |
|
Edge NL-10.1 225
watt stereo amplifiers |
|
|
Audio Aero Capitole
Reference CD player |
|
|
1.0 meter Frey RCA
interconnect |
|
|
1.5 meter Frey bi-wire
speaker cable |
|
|
3 Shunyata Python power
cords |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Approx.
List Price |
$85,000.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
