All,
I’m very excited to announce that I am teaming up with Clayton Shaw of
Spatial Audio for his new
X1 UniWave Loudspeaker!.
Refer to:http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=146217.0 and:
http://www.spatialaudio.us/x1-main (webpage still under development)
A good number of LIO customers simply love the Spatial M3 Turbo S with the LIO, and since word of the Spatial’s revolutionary X1 UniWave Loudspeakers surfaced recently, I believe now is a good time to mention that we have been working on
two LIO-based, ground-breaking solutions!
As you might have read from the preliminary X1 announcement linked to above, it will require an active crossover / equalization solution (the X1 will not contain any built-in passive crossover components). This is where I have been hard at work with Clayton designing two LIO-based solutions for X1 customers:
Solution 1: "LIO X1 AMP" (module)This involves a new, 4-channel LIO amplifier module that is custom designed for the Spatial X1 UniWave Loudspeakers.
The LIO X1 AMP module is a custom-designed 4-channel LIO MOSFET AMP with built-in active crossover / EQ circuitry for the X1.
The rear plate will contain 4 sets of speaker output posts:
- LEFT BASS (45wpc RMS into the 4-ohm, 18” bass driver, Class AB MOSFET)
- LEFT TREBLE (15wpc RMS into 16-ohm compression driver, Class AB MOSFET)
- RIGHT BASS (45wpc RMS into the 4-ohm, 18” bass driver, Class AB MOSFET)
- RIGHT TREBLE (15wpc RMS into 16-ohm compression driver, Class AB MOSFET)
- On the top of the module's PCB will also be a gain control for the two treble amplifier channels to fine-tune their gain relative to the bass amplifier channels. This will be very useful for those who might want a little bit more (or less) treble depending on their tastes and room acoustics.
Benefits of the LIO X1 AMP solution:- This makes for an all-in-one LIO system (only one box!) that keeps things very simple and clean
- Eliminates the need for interconnect cables for a very short, clean signal path
- No need for digital EQ'ing (everything is done in the
analog domain with a very low noise, ultra high bandwidth design).
- Off-the-grid isolation throughout via LIO’s patent-pending ultracapacitor power supply
- Modular system approach (customer can add dac, phonostage, DHT linestage, etc. at any time)
- A great way for existing LIO customers to start using the X1, and for many, this could easily be their end-game solution!
Price: $1995 for the LIO X1 AMP module.
Solution 2: "LIO X1 Line-Level" (module)This solution involves another new, custom-designed LIO module (which takes the same location of the LIO MOSFET AMP module) - designed for the customer who wants to use their own external amplifiers for their X1 speakers (a total of 4 channels of amplification would be needed).
The LIO X1 Line-Level module provides the X1 preamplifier outputs (which have the active crossover / EQ’ing for the X1 built-in).
The rear plate would consist of:
- LEFT BASS RCA OUT
- LEFT TREBLE RCA OUT
- RIGHT BASS RECA OUT
- RIGHT TREBLE RCA OUT
(I can also try to offer an XLR version as well)
- On top of the module PCB will also be a gain control for the treble outputs to fine-tune their gain relative to the bass outputs. This is essential as not all amplifiers have the same internal gain. This will also be very useful for those who might want a little bit more (or less) treble depending on their tastes and room acoustics.
Benefits of Solution 2:- Off-the-grid isolation via LIO’s patent-pending ultracapacitor power supply
- Modular system approach (customer can add dac, phonostage, , DHT linestage, etc. at any time)
- No need for digital EQ'ing (everything is done in the
analog domain with a very low noise, ultra high bandwidth design).
- Ideal for the customer who already has power amplifiers (stereo or monoblocks) and wants a flexible, high-end X1 preamplifier solution allowing for flexibility in choosing amplifiers and interconnects.
Price: $1295 for the LIO X1 Line-Level module.
And what about LIO customers who already have a LIO MOSFET AMP? You guys already know how I roll... you will receive 100% trade-in credit of your LIO MOSFET AMP towards
your LIO X1 AMP (or you can keep your LIO MOSFET AMP module for future use with other speakers or a 2nd LIO system, right?
)
Regarding POWER 
The LIO X1 AMP will contain a
dedicated amplifier channel per speaker driver of the X1. The X1's Radian compression
drivers are 110dB sensitive, so there is more than enough power for those! The X1's 18" bass driver has two 8-ohm voice coils
wired in parallel for a 4-ohm load, and will receive a dedicated amplifier channel that will deliver 45wpc into this ~ 95dB driver.
We'll be confirming this point in December, but we believe the LIO X1 AMP's 4 'active' channels into the X1 will deliver very similar
output levels as LIO customers are experiencing with the M3 Turbo S, so for most, you'll have plenty of SPL's for even
very demanding music!
As for the LIO X1 Line-Level module, you choose the power amplifiers.
AvailabilityWe'll be shipping by late December - just in time for when the X1's will be ready!
Vinnie
