AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => VMPS Speakers => Topic started by: Brian Cheney on 1 Jan 2007, 09:51 pm
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"Ambrosia" is the new SS preamp from James Bongiorno, priced at $5900 including MM/MC phono card and remote.
It's only been in my system for 3 days. The unit is large, heavy (50 lbs!), and runs quite warm. Jim calls it "almost the last analog preamp" because of its software and many processing functions. However, I find all this of little importance.
What is important is that "Ambrosia" is the finest-sounding piece of audio electronics I have found in 30 years. I hope all audiophiles will investigate it for their systems regardless of price or complexity.
We will have it in our CES booth, St Tropez 1805, and I invite anyone interested in good sound to visit us and partake of "Ambrosia" with the some of the best associated equipment available.
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(http://www.ampzilla2000.com/ambrosia_face250.jpg)
(http://www.ampzilla2000.com/ambrosia_open250.jpg)
(http://www.ampzilla2000.com/ambrosia_side250.jpg)
(http://www.ampzilla2000.com/ambrosia_back250.jpg)
...................Link... (http://www.ampzilla2000.com/index.html#Ambrosia)....Good luck at the show Brian.... :thumb:
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James has been working on this for some time, and I know it is built like a tank.
And as you can see from the rear view, the it has a full "phono stage" and I beleive James said the phono stages have their own separate power supplies.
(http://www.ampzilla2000.com/ambrosia_face640.jpg)
(http://www.ampzilla2000.com/ambrosia_back640.jpg)
You who like to use your own brand of Power Cord can do so on this unit.
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Man Chris, you are like speedy Gonzales. :o 8) :lol:
It didn't take me but a couple minutes to C&P those URLs.
In any event, now CES/THE Show will be a double treat with the RM v60 and the AMBROSIA.
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Thanks John..... :lol:
I notice AC switched and unswitched outlets on that preamp.....something I've not seen in awhile ?
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The unit has so many features it's hard to list them all.
There are four bands each of bass and treble EQ (7 to 8 dB max boost or cut), balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs, extremely low noise on phono (70nV max on MC!), and best of all, that matchless sound quality.
I've used nothing but tube preamps in my system for many years now and will post a comparitive review. However, nothing I've owned, or heard in other systems really surpasses, or even equals, the "Ambrosia" for sheer fidelity and listening pleasure.
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The unit has so many features it's hard to list them all.
James has covered all the base's....looks really good !!!
And it has a remote.....nice !!! 8)
(http://www.ampzilla2000.com/remotesm.jpg)
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No wine in me yet, but here is my question. I hope it was not obvious, but does this have the trinaural in it as well?
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No wine in me yet, but here is my question. I hope it was not obvious, but does this have the trinaural in it as well?
Jim packed quite a bit into this chassis, and didn't want the TNP to make it even larger and more complex.
The TNT can of course be "added on" no problem, in fact it might behoove (I don't think I have ever used that word before :scratch:) dealers to "kick it" into a package deal.
One can only fantasize what the Ambrosia preamp, TriNauralProcesssor, Son of AMPzilla x 3 or AMPzilla 2K x 3, on a Trio of RM v60's, and a pair of 1000w powered VLA would sound like.
aa aa
Retail list around $42- $50k depending on options
Street Price = less than $35- $40K
All you need is a good TT, and Digital Source. :scratch:
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Damn shame it doesn't include the Trinaural processor- it's not like it's a small preamp anyways. I imagine it's a wonderful preamp but that feature would put it in another class entirely.
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James tells me the unit is over budget as it is and the TP is available separately, but I agree it would be a nice feature albeit one few would use.
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I suppose there isn't much point to including a feature no one wants. It's more that it seems to me having TriP built in would sound better and be better integrated by building it in than tacking it on externally.
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I'm sorry, guys, but SOMeBOdy has to say it!
Does it HAVE to look like thaattt?! :shake:
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Maybe its like that girl we took out in high school that nobody dated for her looks??? 8)
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I'm sorry, guys, but SOMeBOdy has to say it!
Does it HAVE to look like thaattt?! :shake:
Yeah, I wasn't gonna say it but it has that Original Star Trek/Jetsons look about it. :lol: I'd say no married man will ever be permitted to bring on into the house. :P
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I didn't want to be the first to say it...first have to grovel...over the price and it being the best of the best and everything...but it does rather look like a portable welding machine or something fancy to keep out cattle. Pity they didn't spend a bit of that dosh on style.
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Have you seen the suits James wears to shows? Now you know why the pre looks so bad!
Seriously, if the preamp (and the amps) had a normal black or silver faceplate, they would be much more attractive, and probably sell better too.
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I think it looks cute.
James will offer a black faceplate for those not fond of dark blue.
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James will offer a black faceplate for those not fond of dark blue.
Ah! But can he do Krylon red? That's the real question....
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I will be happy to customize yours in any color your like.
James also plans to offer Chickenpox (now that's new and different!), Jaundice (matches your other yellow gear), and Death (unhealthy but nicely pale).
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Ok, blue (or is that purple) and yellow may not work for everyone but Mr. Bongiorno is a colourful guy and he certainly doesn't follow anyone in audio, design wise. Good for him. He could be to audio what Don Cherry is to hockey! On his site http://www.ampzilla2000.com/, some of the close-ups show the materials to be very high quality. Check out the Ampzilla 2000 all in black. I'd go for that. Bring on the Ambrosia in black.
Harvey B.
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I missed the suits. Now it all makes sense!
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I notice the Spread Spectrum Technologies website has two pages dedicated to VMPS. Is there some relationship between these companies?
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James will offer a black faceplate for those not fond of dark blue.
Ah! But can he do Krylon red? That's the real question....
(http://www.ampzilla2000.com/JB_pinksm.jpg)
Yes, he does. :lol: :lol:
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Hi Guys,
I have a Son of Ampzilla which sounds quite good in my system. I've had a few different amps in my system over the last few years and i keep coming back to the SOA. Unfortunately i will never be able to afford the asking price of the ambrosia but perhaps in a few years time (may'be 10) i'll be able to buy one secondhand.
Btw i have the blue version of the amplifier and it looks much better in real life and is a standout in my system :P.
Regards
Rod
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Nice rose colored suit and black hat. Personally I liked his lime green suit with matching shirt and fedora better. I can't remember, did that outfit also have mataching lime green shoes as well? :roll:
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miklorsmith:
You may recall posts several years back where I explained the genesis of my RM/X Elixir speaker system. In brief, after winning the 2002 "Best of CES" award for high end audio with the RM 40, James and I went to dinner at his favorite Italian spot and, during the course of the evening, he made cocktail napkin sketches of the RM/X's distinctive cabinet shape, telling me: "Build it, and you will win again!!"
He left the rest to me, and was right: the VMPS booth, RM/X speakers and Ampzilla Trinaural Processor, supplied two of the three finalists in the 2003 competition and the award went to the processor, since the speaker had won the previous year (as per one of the judges, who ought to know).
After 2003 I received hints that VMPS would not win this award again, regardless of what we entered. This proved to be the case. In 2004 the RM 30 finished 8th in the High End Audio judging and I have not entered since. Who remembers the runner-up?
So, VMPS and Ampzilla (Spread Spectrum Technologies) are unrelated, but James is understandably proud of his contribution to the RM/X and touts it on his site. I have used the Son of Ampzilla as primary amplification in my system since 2004, and just received the "Ambrosia" which turned out to be a truly outstanding preamp, perhaps the best on the market, certainly competitive with any, even those with lofty price tags.
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Cool, thanks for the clarification. I don't think I was active here at that time.
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Brian's THE Show sound was absolutely intoxicating.
This is pure lunacy on my part to admit this, but it never stopped me before. I am convinced I am able to make reasonably accurate conclusions (at least for my own purposes) about individual components when auditioning equipment, as long as I have previous experience w/ some of the ancillary components/equipment. I'm not going to list the reasons, but suffice to say that my conclusions have repeatedly held up over time, even after getting to hear the stuff in my own system.
This was the most fun I've had at any CES. I got to spend all of the four days auditioning some of the best systems I've heard, including Brians.
I agree w/ Brian's assesment of the Ambrosia's sound quality. The other preamp that was very impressive was the new $4k ModWright model SWL 36.5 (his son's weight at the time the preamp was named). I heard both the Ambrosia & both ModWrights preamps (the original 9.0) at length. BTW, Dan indeed is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I never met him & didn't look at his badge. I noticed the sound needed help when first auditioning the 9.0 preamp. I first thought it was the speakers, but later decided they couldn't be that bad. I remembered the preamp inverts the signal. I asked the vendor if he knew the preamp inverted polarity & suggested in a friendly tone (at least) he might want to invert the speaker leads. He said, oh yes, & inverted the leads & we both agreed it now sounded pretty darn good, a big improvement. Then I see it's Dan. Relax, I apologized profusely for not knowing who I was talking to. He's such a gentleman.
Yes, I know, I should conclude nothing because the systems & room were different, but I don't buy that.
The MW is absolutely worth the extra price over the original $2500 preamp 9.0. It's quieter, more dynamic, more accurate, more musical, better in every way.
But I estimate the Ambrosia is unfortunately worth the extra money over the MW 36.5. Just not having to think about tubes wearing out, leaving it on all the time. Plus my estimate is that the Ambrosia is again just as much better than the 36.5 as the 36.5 is better than the 9.0. My 2c.
The Ambrosia has detail like its going out of style. My buddy & I were in Brian's room Wednesday night after closing, around 9pm. We heard a couple of my songs then listened to my friend's Dark Side of The Moon w/ the lights out & the glorious tubes lighting the dark. Besides the detail, the musical quality & smoothness were abundant. Dynamics, punch, it's all there. Noise floor lower than anything I've heard except for MAYBE the proprietary Krell Evolution system described below. An Ambrosia/Krell Evolution preamp shootout would be very interesting.
There were other exceptionally good electronics such as Edge & of course Pass Labs. I liked the Audio Analogue integrateds & the new Creek Destiny integrated very much.
I personally think the latest Krell Evolution technology is probably the best currently available, but it requires a complete commitment of an entire system from source to amp & starts around $60k. The technology appears original, I believe is already patented, & Krell won't be licensing it. It inverts the source/load relationships (high source impedance/low load impedance). Much original & proprietary technology is employed, but the magic is that many gain stages were eliminated. Unfortunately for show visitors Krell was at the Mirage across the street from the Venetian, which probably prevented many people from hearing it. But they sure got better sound than they would otherwise have gotten at the Convention Center! Krell is coming out w/ a new stereo Evolution amp for only about $11k (whoopee, get two!)