Sydney Audio Club Meeting - Sunday 19th May 2019 - Hulgich Audio
For our May club meeting we are very pleased to have Nick Hulgich of HulgichAudio present his new flagship speakers, the Duke. As well, Nick is bringing lots of new gear like the AudioGD Master 1 Class A preamplifier and AudioGD Master 2H monoblocks.
After the club meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to hear Nick’s new Duke speakers in a dedicated and optimised music room. If you are interested, see here for full detail.
Details of the system…
Speakers: HulgichAudio Duke (new flagship speakers)
http://www.hulgichaudio.com.au/duke.html
Source: Mac mini using JRiver. Music in 2TB Solid State Disc (SSD).
DAC: AudioGD R8 resistor ladder DAC
http://www.audio-gd.com/R2R/R8/R8EN.htm
Preamp: AudiogGD Master 1 Class A preamplifier
http://www.audio-gd.com/Master/M1_2017/Master-12017EN.htm
Both preamp and DAC are connected with ACSS cables. ACSS is a non-feedback technology made with discrete amplifiers. Most people know that global feedback design can offer better specs in test measurements, and non-feedback can't do well in test measurements but can offer better sound for the human's ears. Here is a conflict of the classic circuits. But ACSS opens new opportunities - it can offer a less colored sound which is more neutral with very low distortion and high linearity. So it can retain the dynamics, detail and neutral sound but not sound bright or harsh. [Copy from Audio GD website].
Amplifier option 1: Nord Acoustics Revision D monoblocks (latest upgrade) using Sonic Imagery op amps. Connected to preamplifier via XLR cables. Nord Acoustics amps are Class D amplifiers based on Hypex NCore Technology.
Amplifier option 2: AudioGD Master 2H monoblocks. Connected to preamplifier via ACSS cables. Krell amplifiers uses the same technology which they call CAST technology.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Master/Master-2H/Master-2HEN.htm
Features:
· This is a real balanced ACSS Non Negative Feedback Power Amp.
· Supports XLR and ACSS inputs.
· The Master 2H applies "Linear Fidelity" technology on the output drive stages. The output drive stages have no negative feedback but can keep the distortion low and steady, and have ultra-excellent linear performance [copy from Audio GD website].
· Soft Start Power Design.
· 80 wpc output transistors.
All Power cables done by HULGICHAUDIO based on shielded copper cables and copper connectors.
Speaker cables: HULGICHAUDIO “FTM” cables. These cables use the same silver plated copper cables used inside the speakers to guarantee the same sound quality from the amplifiers to the speaker drivers. They are terminated with Rhodium locking banana connectors to ensure a proper and safe connection to the audio system.
Oppo BDP-105D – additional source for BYO session.
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/SACD or USB thumb/flash drives (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 19th May 2019
Doors open 1pm
Meeting starts at 2pm
Tom Waters
President
Sydney Audio Club
W: http://www.sydneyaudioclub.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyaudioclub
E: [email protected]
After the club meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to hear Nick’s new Duke speakers in a dedicated and optimised music room. If you are interested, see here for full detail.
Details of the system…
Speakers: HulgichAudio Duke (new flagship speakers)
http://www.hulgichaudio.com.au/duke.html
Source: Mac mini using JRiver. Music in 2TB Solid State Disc (SSD).
DAC: AudioGD R8 resistor ladder DAC
http://www.audio-gd.com/R2R/R8/R8EN.htm
Preamp: AudiogGD Master 1 Class A preamplifier
http://www.audio-gd.com/Master/M1_2017/Master-12017EN.htm
Both preamp and DAC are connected with ACSS cables. ACSS is a non-feedback technology made with discrete amplifiers. Most people know that global feedback design can offer better specs in test measurements, and non-feedback can't do well in test measurements but can offer better sound for the human's ears. Here is a conflict of the classic circuits. But ACSS opens new opportunities - it can offer a less colored sound which is more neutral with very low distortion and high linearity. So it can retain the dynamics, detail and neutral sound but not sound bright or harsh. [Copy from Audio GD website].
Amplifier option 1: Nord Acoustics Revision D monoblocks (latest upgrade) using Sonic Imagery op amps. Connected to preamplifier via XLR cables. Nord Acoustics amps are Class D amplifiers based on Hypex NCore Technology.
Amplifier option 2: AudioGD Master 2H monoblocks. Connected to preamplifier via ACSS cables. Krell amplifiers uses the same technology which they call CAST technology.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Master/Master-2H/Master-2HEN.htm
Features:
· This is a real balanced ACSS Non Negative Feedback Power Amp.
· Supports XLR and ACSS inputs.
· The Master 2H applies "Linear Fidelity" technology on the output drive stages. The output drive stages have no negative feedback but can keep the distortion low and steady, and have ultra-excellent linear performance [copy from Audio GD website].
· Soft Start Power Design.
· 80 wpc output transistors.
All Power cables done by HULGICHAUDIO based on shielded copper cables and copper connectors.
Speaker cables: HULGICHAUDIO “FTM” cables. These cables use the same silver plated copper cables used inside the speakers to guarantee the same sound quality from the amplifiers to the speaker drivers. They are terminated with Rhodium locking banana connectors to ensure a proper and safe connection to the audio system.
Oppo BDP-105D – additional source for BYO session.
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/SACD or USB thumb/flash drives (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 19th May 2019
Doors open 1pm
Meeting starts at 2pm
Tom Waters
President
Sydney Audio Club
W: http://www.sydneyaudioclub.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyaudioclub
E: [email protected]
Follow-up Report
Our May meeting was well attended. We arrived early, and spent a fair bit of time measuring to ensure the speakers were positioned equidistant from the side walls and the back wall. The Dukes are engineered to work best with a 15% toe-in. So we measured that as well before listening. When we finally did listen, we were a bit surprised that the sound was excellent right away! There was very little adjusting required after. It pays to do your homework!
The sound staging was pretty good considering the room. Tonality across the frequencies was very good, even the bass wasn’t too lumpy (a known issue in our room at the Epping Community Centre). Dynamics were good as well.
We now have Nick’s Dukes setup for listening at my place, and they do indeed sound much better. I can now say with confidence that they are excellent speakers and considering the retail price, I dare say they’re a real bargain. If you wish to come for a listen, contact either Nick on 0401 419 342 or email at [email protected], or me (via email or mobile) after Thursday the 23rd.
Nick will be here until Thursday the 23rd. However, the Dukes will be here and setup until about the end of May. So you’ll be able to hear them at any time during that period, even after Nick has returned to Adelaide. However, If you have questions after Nick has gone home, then it would be best if you emailed or called him.
Here are some comments from the feedback forms…
“Great speakers.”
“Lovely speakers.”
“Impressive sound.”
“Some segments played too loudly. Some of the demo music Nick was using towards the end detracted from the equipment.”
“Excellent speakers.”
“Audio GD amps sound a lot better”. [TomW - than the Nord monoblocks]
“Best speakers so far. Equal to PMCs.”
“Much better clarity with second set of amps.”
“Nice to see new Aussie manufacturers.”
“Most enjoyable listen.”
“One of the best meetings and systems this year.”
“Top speakers and sound.”
“Quite good speakers. Suggest better quality recordings for speakers demos.”
Photos to follow…
Our May meeting was well attended. We arrived early, and spent a fair bit of time measuring to ensure the speakers were positioned equidistant from the side walls and the back wall. The Dukes are engineered to work best with a 15% toe-in. So we measured that as well before listening. When we finally did listen, we were a bit surprised that the sound was excellent right away! There was very little adjusting required after. It pays to do your homework!
The sound staging was pretty good considering the room. Tonality across the frequencies was very good, even the bass wasn’t too lumpy (a known issue in our room at the Epping Community Centre). Dynamics were good as well.
We now have Nick’s Dukes setup for listening at my place, and they do indeed sound much better. I can now say with confidence that they are excellent speakers and considering the retail price, I dare say they’re a real bargain. If you wish to come for a listen, contact either Nick on 0401 419 342 or email at [email protected], or me (via email or mobile) after Thursday the 23rd.
Nick will be here until Thursday the 23rd. However, the Dukes will be here and setup until about the end of May. So you’ll be able to hear them at any time during that period, even after Nick has returned to Adelaide. However, If you have questions after Nick has gone home, then it would be best if you emailed or called him.
Here are some comments from the feedback forms…
“Great speakers.”
“Lovely speakers.”
“Impressive sound.”
“Some segments played too loudly. Some of the demo music Nick was using towards the end detracted from the equipment.”
“Excellent speakers.”
“Audio GD amps sound a lot better”. [TomW - than the Nord monoblocks]
“Best speakers so far. Equal to PMCs.”
“Much better clarity with second set of amps.”
“Nice to see new Aussie manufacturers.”
“Most enjoyable listen.”
“One of the best meetings and systems this year.”
“Top speakers and sound.”
“Quite good speakers. Suggest better quality recordings for speakers demos.”
Photos to follow…
