12 Australian
HANA | WILSON | TANNOY
WILSON BENESCH DISCOVERY II
Wilson Benesch has added a new loudspeaker to its Ge-
ometry Series, the Discovery II, a 2.5-way stand-mounted
loudspeaker constructed from carbon fibre composite and
aluminium that replaces Wilson Benesch’s Odyssey Series
design.‘The original Discovery was one of the most successful
products in the company’s history, claiming awards across the
globe including Stereo Sound’s Component of the Year in 2001,’
saidBoris Granovsky, of Absolute HiEnd, who distrib-
utes Wilson Benesch in Australia. The Discovery II uses
an isobaric drive system (located in the underside of the
enclosure) for the bass and claims sensitivity of 89dBSPL
and a nominal impedance of 6Ω. Midrange is delivered
by WB’s ‘Tactic II’ driver, and high frequencies by WB’s
‘Semisphere’ tweeter which is said to use a ‘silk-carbon hy-
brid dome’, for which Wilson Benesch claims a frequencyextension to 30kHz (–3dB). At the low-frequency end, WB
says the bass response of the ‘Tactic II’ isobaric drive sys-
tem extends to 43Hz (–3dB). ‘The Discovery II majors in both
the bass and also in high-frequency presentation, so it presents
a natural, highly detailed sound, with unrivalled dynamics and
punch in the bass register, whilst remaining perfectly inte-
grated and open in character through the frequency range,’ said
Granovsky. Available in a range of high-gloss polymers or
in natural wood veneers, the Wilson Benesch Discovery
II measures 1100×230×400mm (HWD) and retails in Aus-
tralia for $35,595 per pair.For further information, please contact
Absolute HiEnd on (04) 8877 7999 or otherwise
visit the website at http://www.absolutehiend.comTANNOY ECLIPSE
MODELS ARRIVE
Audio Active, which distributes Tannoy in Australia, has released a
new entry-level loudspeaker series, called Eclipse. Three models are
available now, the Eclipse One (a bookshelf model), and the Eclipse
Two and Eclipse Three (both floor-standers); a smaller bookshelf and
a centre-channel will become available later this year. ‘This new entry-
level hi-fi series from Tannoy redefines the budget loudspeaker market,’ said
Paul Clarke, of Audio Active. ‘By distilling Tannoy’s technologies and
engineering expertise to their basic, essential elements, refining manufactur-
ing processes and offering a stylish, black oak finish, these Eclipse models
redefine performance for budget loudspeakers, offering audiophile quality
music reproduction at outstanding value for money.’ The drivers used in
the Eclipse models are new designs for Tannoy. Common to all mod-
els, the new tweeter has a 28mm woven polyester dome diaphragm
coated with a layer of nitro-urethane damping, which Tannoy says
moves the break-up frequency much further outside the human range
of hearing, leading to smoother and less fatiguing sound and extends
the frequency response to beyond 32kHz. The bass/midrange driver
has a diameter of 127mm, a cone made from multi-fibre enriched
paper pulp (also coated), a nitrile rubber suspension and a large fer-
rite magnet. ‘The result of using these technologies is improved detailing
and exceptional transient response, which in turn delivers rhythmic music
with realistic drive and punch,’ Clarke told Australian Hi-Fi Magazine.
‘Combined with the new tweeter, the Eclipse models faithfully reproduceultra-sonic harmonics in the music and bring together the smoothness
and accuracy of a coated silk dome tweeter with the attack and punch of
Tannoy’s renowned high-efficiency mid/bass drivers.’ The Tannoy Eclipse
One sells for $449 per pair, the Eclipse Two for $799 per pair and the
Eclipse Three for $999 per pair (all RRPs).For further information, please contact Audio Active on
(03) 9699 8900 or visit the website at http://www.audioactive.com.auHANA MC CARTRIDGES IN AUSTRALIA
Melbourne-based distributor Audio Magic has been appointed the
Australian distributor for Hana moving-coil phono cartridges, which
are manufactured in Japan by Excel Sound Corporation.
According to Aleksander Maksimovic, of Audio Magic, Excel
Sound Corporation developed the Hana Series with an eye to ease-of-
use and set-up, as well as to deliver high-performance reproduction.
All four models in the range have aluminium cantilevers and crossed
armatures and the two ‘S’ models have Shibata styluses, while the ‘E’
versions have standard elliptical styluses. ‘The nude natural diamond
Shibata stylus is famed for its excellent high-frequency reproduction, its
superb tracking, and its low distortion,’ Maksimovic told Australian Hi-Fi
Magazine. ‘This means these cartridges will give you supreme transparency,
a brilliant gorgeous sound, and excellent trackability.’ The range also has
both high-output and low-output moving-coil generators, indicated
by the letter ‘H’ for high-output and the letter ‘L’ for low output.Hana says the high-output
versions have a nominal
output of 2mV, so they’re
perfectly suited for use with
standard moving-magnet
inputs. Available now, the
Hana range comprises the Hana EH
(Elliptical tip/high-output) – $590;
Hana EL (Elliptical tip/low-output)- $590; Hana SH (Shibata tip/high-output) – $895; and Hana SL
(Shibata tip/low-output) - $895. Full technical specifi cations for these
cartridges can be found here: http://www.tinyurl.com/hana-avhub.
For further information, please contact Audio Magic on
(03) 9489 5122 or visit the website at http://www.audiomagic.com.au