Warren M. Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 (edited) Item: Orpheus Apollo V1 "Signature" mahogany speakers Location: Bronte, NSWPrice: $2200Item Condition: Near MintReason for selling: WAF problem - apparently too large for our small living room - my wife has been spoilt by my tiny Totem ArrosPayment Method: Pickup - Cash, PayPal.Details: The Orpheus Apollo V1 "Signature" is a huge enhancement over the standard Orpheus Apollo, resulting from a complete redesign and replacement of the crossovers by Joe Rasmussen (Custom Analogue Audio), using top quality components in a current-compatible design. The upgrade has been endorsed by Brad Serhan who designed and built the Orpheus speaker range. The standard Orpheus Apollos are seriously underpriced at $2000, with speaker drivers of a quality usually only seen in radically more expensive speakers. The $1000 Signature crossover upgrade turns these into astonishing speakers by any measure. You would be hard-pressed to find a pair of speakers under $6000 which comes close. The standard Apollos were not in the same league as my wonderful Totem Arros, but the "Signature" version is better than the Arros, capable of reproducing large orchestral forces with startling realism, while disappearing into intimate jazz, vocal and delicate instrumental performances. Unfortunately for me (and fortunately for you), my wife doesn't care how good they sound - she wants them out of the living room! Now you could buy a pair of Orpheus Apollos for $2000, wait for Joe to return from Europe in a couple of months, have him catch up on his growing backlog of work requests, and upgrade your Apollos for $1000 near the end of the year. Or, you can pay me $2200, and get a pair right now in almost new condition. I've struck a bargain with my wife that I won't let these go until I've done a minor crossover upgrade to my Totem Arros in the next couple of weeks. So any time after that, you can have them! Due to their weight, I'd definitely prefer a local purchase. Audition welcome of course. Apollo Specifications (non-signature version) Design: 2 way Front Ported Frequency Range: -3dB at 35Hz and 22kHz-6dB at 30Hz and 25kHz Frequency Response: 39Hz to 20kHz ± 2dB Sensitivity: 90dB at 1 meter, 2.83 V input on tweeter axis Power Handling: 120 Watts Music Programme Impedance 4 Ohms nominal, minimum phase Crossover: 15 Element, audiophile grade components2 oz. copper foil PCB for maximum connectivity Drive Units: Custom designed 7" paper cone bass driver30mm silk dome tweeter with critically damped rear chamber Cabinet: 25mm front panel with 18mm wallsStrategically braced with resonance damping wellRear timber veneer with epoxy lacquer Dimensions: 220mm(W) x 325mm(D) x 980mm(H) Weight: 28kg (each speaker) Finish: Mahogany More info: http://customanalogue.com/jlti_signature.htm Pics: Edited July 6, 2014 by Warren M. 1
MrRogers Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 These are Superb speakers at a bargain price. I wish I had a spare room for these beauties.
Warren M. Posted July 10, 2014 Author Posted July 10, 2014 A little bit more about the crossovers: Joe Rasmussen has been working on current-compatible speakers for several years. His most substantial current-compatible design is the Elsinore DIY design, now in its I think 6th major revision. He points out that relatively few speaker drivers can be made to work in a current-compatible design and, generally speaking, the better the driver quality, the more likely it can be made to work this way. So he was very surprised to discover that the drivers in the Apollos were of sufficient calibre for such a crossover. It turns out that Brad Serhan had used the best drivers possible, given the enormous cost constraints on a $2000 pair of speakers. Simple high quality boxes, and a good crossover using modest components were the compromises. My first comment to Brad when I heard the Apollos (before upgrade) was that they punch well above their price bracket. But that does not make them great - just good, and excellent value. But with the JLTi Signature crossover, it is another story! Joe's crossover is a world away from the crossover originally used in the Apollos. Completely redesigned and optimised for the drivers and box size, the crossover uses only high quality components, including Jantzen Superior-Z capacitors. With the new crossovers, the Apollos become something really special! Once you hear these, it is almost impossible to imagine you are listening to a $3000 pair of speakers. They are truly exceptional. Make contact with me and drop around for an audition. RegardsWarren
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