ArthurDent Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Aspen Amplifier Presentation 7:30pm Wednesday 21st February Willis Room, City of Whitehorse Offices Maroondah Highway (Whitehorse Road), Nunawading Melway Map 48 Ref G9 Contact: 9579 0936 Our February presentation will be delivered by Hugh Dean of Aspen Amplifiers, a member of MAC for 25 years and an audio designer for almost thirty years. He founded Aspen Amplifiers in 1994, and produced his first amplifier, the Glass Harmony, in 1997. This was a tube hybrid, with 28W output, in single-ended Class A. In 2000 he marketed the AKSA 55, and in variations this amplifier sold as a kit in the hundreds around the world. In later years, he released the Lifeforce, then the Soraya, the NAKSA, the SAKSA, and recently, the Titan which he auditioned to our club in August 2022. This list of products reveals consistent, improving electrical design and production engineering, leading to very high sound quality from moderate cost. In 2015 Hugh released the Maya, the flagship amplifier we will hear tonight. This is a 200W Class AB MOSFET amplifier, sold in either modules or as a plug n play version. Since that time he has sold more than 35 pairs of this amplifier. After eight years, the Maya is now in version 4, incorporating many subtleties Hugh has uncovered over long design experience. The Maya is second harmonic dominant, less than 0.05% at full power with tube grace and solid state muscle. The new Maya costs $3200 plus GST in modules (including the substantial heatsinks), and $6800 fully built and warranted. Aspen offers complete warranty support and email through the build and installation process for buyers of the modules. Our source for the presentation will be a SMSL D6S DAC, which uses an ESS Sabre 32bit chip with up to sampling rate of 768KHz. A very good guitar track of 24bit 384KHz sampling will be played for those who want to hear what High Definition really can deliver. The system will be run from a ten year HP laptop, all the music files on a memory stick, and JRiver software. If members would like to hear their best/ difficult music on this system, bring it in a memory stick, preferably in FLAC and you can try it out at the end of the presentation. Tonight we will use a pair of very large Adelaide Speakers, the Summoner 1293SQTL. This speaker has been through a metamorphosis under the expert care of Ron Newbound. The 1293 now feature Satori midranges and tweeters from SB Acoustics, featuring Egyptian Papyrus cones and the original Peerless 12" bass driver. The crossover has been re-developed, using two third order filters and a single order for the bass driver. This speaker was original purchased for $1600 and after Rons changes owes Hugh only $3000. Although an inexpensive product, this speaker is now outstanding, with huge scale, breathtaking dynamics, very high resolution and astonishing depth of image. You will agree at the end of the presentation that this sound system compares with brand name gems costing up to five times. The source for the evening music is handled by an HP Laptop using JRiver music software and a DAC from SMSL. The music is mostly 24/96 high resolution, and selected over a number of genres to show up the qualities of the sound system. Hugh will introduce each selection describing his choices, and what to listen for so that you can appreciate the musical and technical qualities of the design, manufacture, critical listening and musical appreciation. The evening will be fascinating to anyone who is attracted to the finer issues of audio technology and musical appreciation. Hugh Dean Aspen Amplifiers Thanks to Hugh for providing with his overview of his equipment and what we should expect for the February 2024 GM. As always, please feel free to bring along anyone who would be interested in Hughs deep knowledge of amplifiers and music. Dave Polanske Programme Coordinator Ken Tripp Wise and Wonderful Webmaster Melbourne Audio Club, Inc. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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