Description

Welcome to my System,

The Apogee Acoustics GRAND is controlled by 4 Intel 8051 Microprocessors, 256K EPROM and Non-Volitile Memory. Each side has an active 4 Way Crossover and a massive 120 lbs external power supply. The speaker stands at 7.4 feet tall and weighs 1200 lbs per side. Via a Remote Control you can change the Phase, Rake and Driver Levels of each unit. It took me more then 6 years to fix these speakers and to get them to run. I have had Apogee Scintillas, DIVAs, Calipers, Stages and Fullranges. They are newly restored by Frank from the HI-FI Burg in Z rich.

The beauty of this speaker is that you can drive it with very good SET amps. Over the past years i had some legends in this room. CAT JL2, Krell KRS200s, Einstein The Tube, Sphinx Hybrid amplifiers and much more. The Brand which suits my ears best is NAT Audio. They make high powered SET amps using the General Electric NOS 1942 VT4-C or 211 Tube. I use 6 mono blocks, one for each ribbon. My system is built around ZERO Feedback and simple designs. The single ended triode and none feedback preamplifier is the heart of the system. Its a NAT Audio Utopia with a True Copper CAP Coupler to protect the electronics in the speaker.

Another aspect is that the midrange ribbon starts at 125Hz and goes to aprox. 5000Hz where the ribbon tweeter takes it up to over 42Khz. The subwoofer integration is perfect, its just like the panel. Zero difference. Its a massive sealed box, uses custom drivers and its being crossed at 70Hz and driven by a custom built Krell mono block per side.

DC is a major threat to active ribbons, which is why i had 6 custom boxes developed which monitor for DC and distortion and cut the signal to the drivers in events of a failure or distortion.

My phono preamp is a NAT Audio Signature Phono. It is battery powered, single ended and no feedback As to the sound, well it entirely depends on the recording. The system places whatever is on the disk before you ears. Sometimes it is identical to live (Mike Garsons - Jazz Hat from Reference Recordinds) and sometimes not. The system has the upmost transparency and dynamic power. You hear what you feed it.

The Apple TV is used as a digital source with the Monarchy Audio NM24 Tube DAC and DIP Combo which removed Jitter and Reclocks the Digital Output. You can hook up any digital source and the sound is exactly the same. Cables are from Virtual Dynamics and others such as Vacuumstate Electronics which i use for the Turntable.

Enjoy my system and let me know if you have any questions or comments

Best regards

Florian

PS: I want to thank the following people:

Frank from the HI-FI Burg Zürich for the ribbon installation

Mr. Bill Orner- for finding the schematics for the Apogee Grand. Without that it would have been much harder to get this beauty back up

Jason Bloom, Leo Spiegel, Gary Walker, Andy Lewis, Mike Daniels and Todd Eichbaum for building, what is to me, the best loudspeaker ever designed.

Graz - For providing me the new ribbons for my speaker, without him it would be just a pile of steel and magnets

Brad (Morricab) - For his patience and not giving up on me even tough i went back to Krell twice ;-)

W&W Audio in Holland - For letting me try tons of electronics and offering me not only good service but also great human interaction and guidence

Dipl. Ing. Ralf Kassel (Germany) for fixing my Grand electronics and for developing custom DC protection boxes.

My Girlfriend - For not killing me as i spent weeks in the basement trying to fix the speaker and lifting hundreds of pounds of amplifiers with me up the stairs :-)
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Components Toggle details

    • Apple TV 128GB
    I use this together with a Monarchy Audio DIP which removes Jitter and provides a Masterclock. So you hear no difference between this and the most expensive CD Transports.
    • Monarchy Audio NM 24
    Tube DA Converter. Take the Digital Straight Off the Chips and onto the Tubes. Zero Feedback!
    • Monarchy Audio DIP
    Jitter Remover - Master Clock
    • Sony HW30ES
    3D Projector
    • NAT Audio Utopia
    Zero Feedback Dual Mono Separate Power Supply All Relay Driven
    • Behringer UltraCurve Pro
    All DSP Driven and used only with digital in and digital out. Used with Jitter Remover before and after. Doesnt impact the sound at all. Used to cut down the bass frequencies
    • NAT Audio SE3
    Two pairs ZERO Feedback Single Ended Triode 1943 General Electric 211 Tubes 140 Watts Output Transformer measured flat to 110Khz (Actually Measured) 110lbs per Monoblock They actively drive the midrange ribbon
    • NAT Audio SE2 SE
    Zero Feedback
    Single Ended Triode
    1943 General Electric 211
    90lbs per monoblock
    • NAT Audio SE1SE
    Zero Feedback Single Ended Triode 1943 General Electric 211 75 Watt
    • Apogee Acoustics Grand
    7 pairs exist world wide. For me at least, the ultimate speaker. 1302lbs per speaker External Power Supplies Fully active 4-way Microprocessor Driven System Displays Remote Controlled
    • Ortofon Statement
    Its really really really good :-)
    • SME Model 20/2A
    Comes with the Series V arm :-)
    • NAT Audio Battery Signature Phono
    A battery powered single ended triode phono preamp.
    • PS Audio P1000
    Power Conditioner
    • Dipl. Ing. Ralf Kassel DC Protector
    Custom developed DC measuring and protection system for the ribbons

Comments 13

Hello  Florian
Beautiful system and I am sure it sounds magnificent. Lots of effort and time getting everything in a cohesive mixture of components. You should be supremely proud as I am of my own modest system. I also own NAT 211 se2se's  like you so you know where my tastes may lie. Currently I am considering purchasing tubes. Right now, I have Psvane 211 hi fi tubes and would like to upgrade up the Psvane line. My amps had GE 211's before and the sound wasn't as marvelous as when I installed the Psvanes. I am sure they were a little worn out. Have you upgraded your tubes as of yet?  I an considering Psvane 211T mkII or the new series Psvane 211 TA black tube. Any thoughts will be much appreciated......Thanks.

Chuckie

chuckie

Owner
System edited: The following has changed: - New Tweeter Ribbons - New Midrange Ribbons - New Bass Ribbons - New Paint Job - PS Audio P1000 Added - NAT Phono Signature Added - Virtual Dynamics Cables Added - New Room Setup

florian

Owner
And you are right to asume this :-) In combination with the Monarchy Audio DIP Combo and Tesla 6922 tubes, this DAC can be found in many reference systems amongst our HIFI Club members. Its the cheapest component, but extrmely good :-)

florian

Judging by the rest of your system, that Monarchy D/A must be some dac.

devilboy

Owner
System edited: I added a SME 20/2A Turntable with Ortofon MC7500 Cartridge. The best vinyl i have ever heard :-)

florian

Owner
Hi Daniel,

i am considering it. It is by far the best speaker i know, however the system is currently being run by 8 mono blocks! 6 of them are high powered SETs and its getting a bit too much. I was thinking of downsizing to a Genesis 1.1 as it only requires 4 channels (2 external) of amplification.

If you are interested i am also selling Apogee Fullranges, Caliper Signatures and Apogee Stages.

For 95K the speaker is a steal. There are people who spend 200K on a large box. This is the ultimate speaker, no frequency response limit, line-source, dipole and the midrange ribbon goes from 250Hz to 9000Hz. Just crazy good sound. Totally recording dependent! This is all my opinion of course :-)

florian

Indeed. One and the same. An estrogen-driven assassination of audio....again.

agear

Florian,

There is a pair of Grands for sale today on Audiogon,
for $95K. The pictures are yours.
Are you selling these?

danielk141

Owner
Hello Agear and Frank,

thank you for the nice comments. Yes, my girlfriend deserves an award :-)

florian

I enjoy excess at another's expense if properly done. And it appears you've done a very good job.

Your girlfriend should get some kind of award for putting up with you and perhaps be nominated for sainthood.

Cheers!
Frank :-)

plato

Owner
Hello Ish,

i hope your doing well. I tried your setup procedure, read your article :-)
My room is unfortunatly too small to sit about 1,8m infront of the Grand. My room is 4,36 meters wide and 6 meters long. I sit half a meter from the rear wall. The Grand panels are 1,74 meters from the front wall. Each Grand has half a meter from the side walls.

Cheers

florian

Florian, nice pictures. I am curious to know the dimenion of your room and the precise placement of your speakers in there

gallant_diva

Bravo. Stellar, over-the-top rig.

agear

Showing all 13 posts