June Meeting Report
For our June club meeting, we are very pleased to have Mark Thomsen of M8Audio present his applauded ‘Sweet Maxwell’ speakers. These are speakers with exceptional musicality, life-like detail and low distortion. Mark garnered much attention with these speakers when he presented at the Munich High End 2018 Show just last month.
Details of the system….
M8Audio ‘Sweet Maxwell’ speakers. Low frequency driver with Egyptian papyrus diaphragm and neodymium motor driver… pure beryllium tweeter diaphragm with neodymium motor driver… cross-over with edge wound baked air core coils of exceptional quality and superior polypropylene capacitors… 100% hand finished cabinet made from cross laminated European birch veneer utilizing precision CNC machines to effect the curvatures… polymer viscoelastic feet… there is a lot of technology and craftsmanship in these speakers. You really have to check-out their design and specification on the M8Audio website to get the full picture.
Refer to https://m8audio.com/product/sweet-maxwell/ and http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/m8audio/1.html
Plinius Reference power amp. Refer to http://www.pliniusaudio.com/Plinius_Range/Power_Amplifiers/SA_Reference.html and https://www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/506plinius/index.html
Classe CP-800 preamp/processor. Refer to http://www.classeaudio.com/products/cp-800.php and http://www.stereophile.com/content/class233-cp-800-da-preamplifier.
Technical Brain Integrated Amplifier TB-ZERO EX INT. Highly respected, ultra-high performance products from Japan. Refer to http://www.technicalbrain.co.jp/stereosound-2015spring-194.pdf and http://www.technicalbrain.co.jp/index_e.html
(We will have a choice of amplification – Plinius & Classe or Technical Brain – we will see what sounds best with the speakers in our room.)
Bricasti Design M1 DAC. Refer to http://www.audiostream.com/content/bricasti-design-m1-dac and http://i.nextmedia.com.au/avhub/australian-hifi_reviews_2014_2014-07_bricasti_design_m1_dac_review_test_lores.pdf
Oppo BDP-105D multi-format player. Note that we will be using the Oppo only as transport into the DAC.
Refer to http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/oppo-bdp-105d-audiophile-blu-ray-disc-player/
Cabling. Synergistic Research, ZenSati, Wireworld – we will see what sounds best with the speakers and amps in our room.
The second half of the music sessions will be our popular BYO. Members and guests are welcome to offer music to share with us all. So bring along your favourite music on CD or flash drive (sorry, no vinyl this month). All we ask is that the music and recordings be interesting. We'll ask you to tell us a little about the artist/recording before it is played. Tracks over 6 minutes will be faded out, to give everyone a fair go.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran, you will have the opportunity to listen, learn and share your experiences with others. Feel free to come and hear the capabilities of the system, or to just share the experience with like-minded music lovers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Guests are welcome – we are a very friendly club so you don't need to know anyone to join us for an afternoon of fine music and sound.
Venue: Epping Creative Centre, Dence Park
Address: 26 Stanley Road, Epping
When: Sunday 17th June 2018
Doors open 1pm
Meeting starts at 2pm
Best regards,
Tom Waters
President
Sydney Audio Club
W: www.sydneyaudioclub.org.au
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyaudioclub
E: [email protected]
Follow-Up Report
Our June meeting garnered many favourable comments regarding Mark Thomsen’s speakers and his presentation. We had two separate amplification systems for the Sweet Maxwell speakers – one based on Classe and Plinius, the other on Technical Brain. Judging from the Feedback forms, it was clear that some people preferred one amplification system over the other. I was impressed with Mark's acute wonderful ears and his attitude – he could hear and describe the differences in the sound from both amplification systems, but to his credit he always enjoyed the music and allowed it to shine through, first and foremost.
I too thought the Sweet Maxwells are lovely speakers. And they definitely "punch above their weight" and size - they filled our large room quite comfortably. If you have a small to moderate sized room at home, they should be perfect. But if your preference is for an even larger sound stage with deeper bass than small stand-mounts can typically muster, note that Mark is planning on two floor standers models. Coming soon...
Here are a few comments from the feedback form:
“Good meeting. I liked the presentation.”
“Good sound in a difficult room. Great mix of music.”
“Great speakers.”
“Great. Dynamic. Informative.”
“Very good small two-way speaker. Very musical.”
“Speakers worked well with Jazz, Vocal and Small ensembles. Great detail and soundstaging.”
“Very jovial as usual and in great spirits! Equipment very impressive, both sonically and visually. A good balance of music.”
“The first power amp (Technical Brain) sounded slightly better.”
“Digital player was great as usual. DAC was superb.. Preferred the Plinius - more musical. Speakers gave wonderful sound at the price. I loved the tweeters.”
“Very enjoyable meeting. Interesting mix of explanation and listening. Speakers were very impressive. Technical Brain amplifier also impressive.”
“Classe/Plinius was less resolving than Technical Brain. Wonderful speakers - value, size, performance.”
“Very enjoyable. The speakers were great - I particularly liked the sound stage.”
“Quite enjoyable meeting.: Sweet and detailed sounding speakers. Always musical.”
“Great speakers, very enjoyable. Well balanced, engaging.”
“Very good presentation on speakers technical data.”
“Very good speakers, especially syncopated music.”
“Very informative presentation from Mark. Best sounding speakers in many meetings.”
“Sweet and detailed sounding speakers. Always musical.”
Photos to follow...
Details of the system….
M8Audio ‘Sweet Maxwell’ speakers. Low frequency driver with Egyptian papyrus diaphragm and neodymium motor driver… pure beryllium tweeter diaphragm with neodymium motor driver… cross-over with edge wound baked air core coils of exceptional quality and superior polypropylene capacitors… 100% hand finished cabinet made from cross laminated European birch veneer utilizing precision CNC machines to effect the curvatures… polymer viscoelastic feet… there is a lot of technology and craftsmanship in these speakers. You really have to check-out their design and specification on the M8Audio website to get the full picture.
Refer to https://m8audio.com/product/sweet-maxwell/ and http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/m8audio/1.html
Plinius Reference power amp. Refer to http://www.pliniusaudio.com/Plinius_Range/Power_Amplifiers/SA_Reference.html and https://www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/506plinius/index.html
Classe CP-800 preamp/processor. Refer to http://www.classeaudio.com/products/cp-800.php and http://www.stereophile.com/content/class233-cp-800-da-preamplifier.
Technical Brain Integrated Amplifier TB-ZERO EX INT. Highly respected, ultra-high performance products from Japan. Refer to http://www.technicalbrain.co.jp/stereosound-2015spring-194.pdf and http://www.technicalbrain.co.jp/index_e.html
(We will have a choice of amplification – Plinius & Classe or Technical Brain – we will see what sounds best with the speakers in our room.)
Bricasti Design M1 DAC. Refer to http://www.audiostream.com/content/bricasti-design-m1-dac and http://i.nextmedia.com.au/avhub/australian-hifi_reviews_2014_2014-07_bricasti_design_m1_dac_review_test_lores.pdf
Oppo BDP-105D multi-format player. Note that we will be using the Oppo only as transport into the DAC.
Refer to http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/oppo-bdp-105d-audiophile-blu-ray-disc-player/
Cabling. Synergistic Research, ZenSati, Wireworld – we will see what sounds best with the speakers and amps in our room.
The second half of the music sessions will be our popular BYO. Members and guests are welcome to offer music to share with us all. So bring along your favourite music on CD or flash drive (sorry, no vinyl this month). All we ask is that the music and recordings be interesting. We'll ask you to tell us a little about the artist/recording before it is played. Tracks over 6 minutes will be faded out, to give everyone a fair go.
Whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran, you will have the opportunity to listen, learn and share your experiences with others. Feel free to come and hear the capabilities of the system, or to just share the experience with like-minded music lovers in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Guests are welcome – we are a very friendly club so you don't need to know anyone to join us for an afternoon of fine music and sound.
Venue: Epping Creative Centre, Dence Park
Address: 26 Stanley Road, Epping
When: Sunday 17th June 2018
Doors open 1pm
Meeting starts at 2pm
Best regards,
Tom Waters
President
Sydney Audio Club
W: www.sydneyaudioclub.org.au
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyaudioclub
E: [email protected]
Follow-Up Report
Our June meeting garnered many favourable comments regarding Mark Thomsen’s speakers and his presentation. We had two separate amplification systems for the Sweet Maxwell speakers – one based on Classe and Plinius, the other on Technical Brain. Judging from the Feedback forms, it was clear that some people preferred one amplification system over the other. I was impressed with Mark's acute wonderful ears and his attitude – he could hear and describe the differences in the sound from both amplification systems, but to his credit he always enjoyed the music and allowed it to shine through, first and foremost.
I too thought the Sweet Maxwells are lovely speakers. And they definitely "punch above their weight" and size - they filled our large room quite comfortably. If you have a small to moderate sized room at home, they should be perfect. But if your preference is for an even larger sound stage with deeper bass than small stand-mounts can typically muster, note that Mark is planning on two floor standers models. Coming soon...
Here are a few comments from the feedback form:
“Good meeting. I liked the presentation.”
“Good sound in a difficult room. Great mix of music.”
“Great speakers.”
“Great. Dynamic. Informative.”
“Very good small two-way speaker. Very musical.”
“Speakers worked well with Jazz, Vocal and Small ensembles. Great detail and soundstaging.”
“Very jovial as usual and in great spirits! Equipment very impressive, both sonically and visually. A good balance of music.”
“The first power amp (Technical Brain) sounded slightly better.”
“Digital player was great as usual. DAC was superb.. Preferred the Plinius - more musical. Speakers gave wonderful sound at the price. I loved the tweeters.”
“Very enjoyable meeting. Interesting mix of explanation and listening. Speakers were very impressive. Technical Brain amplifier also impressive.”
“Classe/Plinius was less resolving than Technical Brain. Wonderful speakers - value, size, performance.”
“Very enjoyable. The speakers were great - I particularly liked the sound stage.”
“Quite enjoyable meeting.: Sweet and detailed sounding speakers. Always musical.”
“Great speakers, very enjoyable. Well balanced, engaging.”
“Very good presentation on speakers technical data.”
“Very good speakers, especially syncopated music.”
“Very informative presentation from Mark. Best sounding speakers in many meetings.”
“Sweet and detailed sounding speakers. Always musical.”
Photos to follow...
