8 Australian
D’AGOSTINO I GRAHAM AUDIO I GOLD NOTE
GOLD NOTE A3-XL
Italian manufacturer Gold Note has released its A-3 XL, a two-way
bass-reflex bookshelf loudspeaker with a 152mm treated carbon-fi-
bre and ‘melted paper’ bass/midrange driver and a 25mm elliptical
silk-dome tweeter. It’s being distributed in Australia by Absolute
Hi End. The A3-XL features two thick side wall aluminium pan-
els—available in brushed black or silver finish—recessed into the
cabinet and anchored with threaded steel bars. Gold Note claims
that these panels work as work as passive radiators or, as Gold Note
describes them: ‘Virtual Passive Drivers’ and as such, enable greater
bass extension. The 152mm bass/midrange driver is made for Gold
Note by SEAS to Gold Note’s specifications.Boris Granovsky,
of Absolute Hi End, told Australian Hi-Fi Magazine that the driver
was unique: ‘It melds specially-treated carbon fibre with melted paper,
providing an exceptionally low, powerful frequency response yet retaining
fast transient response, for enabling a very natural music reproduc-
tion.’ The A-3 XL is a front-ported bass-reflex design to enable the
speaker to play placed on a stand or shelf close to a rear wall.GRAHAM AUDIO LS5/
Graham Audio has released its LS5/8 loudspeakers, which it says are
‘the big brother’ to the LS5/9. Although the original BBC-designed
LS5/8 was an active speaker, the Graham Audio version designed
byDerek Hughesis a passive bass-reflex design, using a bespoke
305mm Diophantine polypropylene bass/midrange driver made for
Graham Audio by Volt Loudspeakers and a 25mm 13D34H Audax
tweeter which together deliver a claimed frequency response of
40Hz–16kHz ±3dB at
89dBSPL when driven
by a 2.83V input.
‘Thanks to these two driv-
ers, and Derek’s masterful
passive crossover design,
this new model greatly
improves on the resolu-
tion and imaging of the
original speakers,’ said
George Neophytou,
of Neophonics, which
distributes GrahamAudio in Australia. ‘But although the tonal balance and natural sound of
the speakers is greatly improved over the original design, the sound is still
typically British in nature and conforms to the BBC license. Graham Audio
pays a royalty directly to the BBC for each speaker sold.’ The Graham
Audio LS5/8 uses the same high-quality birch ply construction and
real wood veneers as the LS5/9, and the cabinets are dampened,
upholstered, and feature the correct BBC lossy design principle. ‘The
design principle was to maintain the high-class midrange and balance of
the LS5/9 but with greater extension, power handling and authority,’ said
Hughes. ‘Such is the continuity of sound between the models that engineers
are able to swap between the two different speakers with confidence during
recording and mastering.’ All Graham Audio speakers are hand-built in
South Devon as matched pairs. High-quality stainless-steel bolts and
fixings are used to ensure the speakers are field serviceable. The speak-
ers, which measure 760×460×400 mm (HWD), are available now in
Cherry veneer for $17,395 per pair or in Rosewood for $18,995 (RRP).
Optional stands cost $1,495.For further information, please contact Neophonics on
1300 858 887 or visit the website at http://www.neophonics.comManufacturer’s Specifications:
Gold Note A3-XL Loudspeakers
Frequency Response:45Hz–20kHz ±3dB
Sensitivity:86dBSPL (2.83V/1m)
Nominal Impedance:8Ω
Crossover Frequency:2.5kHz (12dB/octave)
Crossover Slopes:12dB/octave
Dimensions (WHD):
190×285×350mm
Weight:18kg
Standard Finishes:Black Gloss
or White Matte
Optional Finish:Real LeatherFor further information,
please contact Absolute
HiEnd on (04) 8877 7999
or visit the website at
http://www.absolutehiend.comD’AGOSTINO MOMENTUM PHONO STAGE
Many very good phono stages have made it into production, but
nearly all are complicated to use, with adjustments having to be made
via DIP switches, links, or by inserting resistors and capacitors. On
Dan D’Agostino’s new Momentum phono stage all adjustments are
made via the front panel using pushbuttons that control gain, 16
resistive loads for the two MC inputs, 16 resistive and capacitive loads
for the MM input and select any one of fi ve different phono equalisa-
tion curves (RIAA, FFRR, RCA,
Columbia, or DGG). In order
to get the a.c. power supply as
clean as possible, the Momen-
tum’s power transformer is
in a separate chassis, and the
rectifi cation and regulation
circuits are built into the base
on which the Momentum sits.
‘In doing this, Dan has given the
Momentum phono stage whatmay well be the cleanest a.c. power supply ever created for a phono preamp,
with noise levels of less than 60 nanovolts,’ said Nigel Ng, of Advance
Audio, which distributes D’Agostino in Australia. ‘Thanks to the design
of the power supply and the design of the phono stage itself, Dan has
extracted every last bit of music hidden in even the most microscopic fl uctua-
tions in the fi nest vinyl records.’ The D’Agostino Momentum Phono
Stage has two moving-coil inputs and two moving-magnet inputs,
each with XLR and RCA jacks, plus XLR and RCA
outputs. ‘As with all products from Dan D’Agostino
Master Audio Systems, each Momentum Phono Stage
is built by hand in Dan’s factory in Arizona, literally
within a dozen footsteps of Dan’s desk,’ said Ng.
Available now, the D’Agostino Momentum Phono
Stage sells for $47,895 (Silver) or $50,495 (Black).For further information, please contact
Advance Audio on (02) 9561 0799 or visit the
website at http://www.advanceaudio.com.au