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12.2024

Axiom M-50 Tower, $1400 Per Pair

{35.5h, 9.25w, 13d, 39 lbs, 94 dB SPL, 8 ohms, 10-200 w/ch}
Axiom M-50 Tower

Two 6.5” Aluminum Woofers, One Titanium Tweeter

Bryston contracted Axiom to build its speakers over a decade ago. The project was a tremendous success and the companies merged. The resulting company is simply called Bryston. Bryston is using the Axiom banner to bring speakers and electronics to market that are outstanding- yet under the price and power levels reserved for the Bryston brand. Axiom speakers are built in Canada with a 5 year warranty.

M-50 Is Axiom’s Most Affordable Tower

We booted ALL the Chinese speakers out of our store in early 2024. We wanted better sound, construction and yup, we don’t want our money going to China. With that move, our most affordable tower has been Axiom’s M60 at $2k. It’s terrific.

We heartily welcome M50 as a sturdily built, even less expensive tower. You’re no longer stuck with a Chinese bucket of bolts in this price range. We’re thrilled to be able to offer Canadian muscle and smoothness that you can drive with virtually any range of amplifier or receiver due to M50’s high efficiency.

Two-Way

M50 is a formidable little brother to M60, which is a 3-way. M50 features a pair of 6.5” woofs and Titanium tweeter.

Axiom has created this highly efficient tower, competitive with horn loaded designs, at this attainable price point. M50 maintains Axiom’s smooth upper end performance and yet has impressive, weighty bass as well. At 94dB the M50 can be driven by any amp. But make no mistake… with the bass and dynamic capabilities of M50 you’ll be rewarded by running a solid class AB amp like those made by Atoll. If you run a D amp or something with SMPS or tiny power supplies, you won’t be hearing what M50 is capable of.

McIntosh MA-352 Integrated Amp

200×2 (9 7/8h, 17.5w, 20.5d, 67 lbs)
McIntosh MA-352 Integrated Amp

McIntosh makes a mountain of integrated amps and separates. They make so many options even we dealers have a tough time keeping them all straight. What’s the best bang for your buck in the family? Consider the hybrid (tube preamp section/solid state amp section) MA352.

Mac won’t let us post the price of its gear on our site. I think it’s ridiculous, but it’s their sandbox we’re playin’ in. It rhymes with heaven.

MA352 starts with Mac’s gorgeous power meters with blue lights. It’s a stunning piece of audio gear to look at, as well as listen to. Since any integrated in this range is going to be a good performer, perhaps you’ll just want to cut to the chase and buy MA352 for its scintillating elegance.

It’s OK to consider sex appeal as part of the package. Why not have some fun?

McIntosh DNA starts with POWER. MA352 runs 200×2 and delivers a TIGHT kick in the fanny to your speakers. MA352 doesn’t use autoformers so it throttles dramatically more power into 4 ohms.

While some brands eschew tone controls, Mac does NOT. Mac feels a properly built, noiseless EQ is a valuable musical TOOL. It has five turnover hinge points. 30Hz, 125Hz, 500Hz, 2kHz and 10kHz.

Many speakers AND ROOMS can use some help with the lower two settings. Likewise for the highest setting. 500 & 2k will be used less often, but if you want to pull the midrange forward a bit, you have the ability to do so.

MA352 uses four tubes in the preamp section- two 12AX7A, and two 12AT7s. You’ll garner a tubey, iridescent flavor with this epicurean integrated. The power amp section is solid state, which is important for high current and stalwart reliability. MA352 sounds especially clean, lean and controlled- not heavy and murky.

MA352 is an ideal partner when you want to create a rounder, more mellow musical hue.

Inputs:

Three sets RCA inputs

Two sets XLR inputs

MM phono on board

Outputs:

Variable preamp line out R&L for sub or different amp

Heavy Duty Binding Posts

Every speaker will sound better with a weighty Mac vs something skinnier or lean. MA352 is a synergistic match with revealing speakers like Brystons and Magnepans in particular!

Musicians Who Have Sold Their Catalogs For The Most $

Queen, $1.2B

Springsteen, 500M

Dylan, 500M

Pink Floyd 400M

Genesis, 300M

Sting, 300M

Tina Turner, 300M

Kiss, 300M

Paul Simon 250M

Bowie, 250M

Katy Perry, 225M

Bieber, 200M

Neil Young (50%), 150M

11.2024

Audio Emporium Newsletter 11-1-24

Atoll Streaming Integrated Amplifiers

Atoll makes two dynamite streaming integrated amps. First and foremost, these are fabulous sounding integrated amps! They just happen the have Atoll’s outstanding streaming app built it. The streaming app has proven to work quite well in our time with it. Of more importance is the magnificent integrated amp within which it is housed.

These SDA (streamer on board) models have dual, powerful transformers that Atoll has built to spec for them in Spain. The filter caps are also of Atoll design, built specifically for them in Japan- not China. Both models use Mundorf caps that are housed in mumetal boxes to prevent RFI from being generated.

Both models also feature the same Atoll hand matched MOSFET output transistors- used in all Atoll integrateds and power amps. Taking the time to match transistors delivers a smoother sound than just plugging in any and all transistors yanked out of boxes. Atoll feels this cost is well worth the more mellow sound you’ll garner from this SIGNIFICANT effort.

Both models feature Burr Brown DACs that are run without negative feedback. Many competitors brag about latest greatest chip sets with more processing power. But this processing has to be controlled and Atoll prefers the sound of BB running with no feedback. So please appreciate that plugging in the latest chip… does NOT give you the best sound. More processing doesn’t lead to a less electronic aural experience.

Atoll products are made in France, not purchased from a vendor in China. The warranty is three years. Atoll amps are AB in design, running about 15% class A. They have a warmish, muscular sound that differentiates them from all of the D amps out there. Virtually every other streaming integrated is a D, or low powered AB.

Atoll sounds stronger, heavier and more dynamic. It’s a real piece of hi-fi gear, not just a slapped together one box convenience package.

When you study what’s available in streaming integrateds, it’s mostly D designs from China. The Euro guys, like Naim’s Uniti Atom, only provides 40×2 for $3800 and the streaming platform is notoriously buggy. What good is a streamer that sputters or drops signal?!

SDA200 $4300 (120×2)

While rated at 120×2, SDA200 sounds much gutsier than you’d expect from that rating. That’s because… it features two 340VA toroidal power transformers. Filter caps are 66,000 uF. This… is a thunderous power supply that leaves the Asian and Euro streaming integrateds looking like pikers. It uses four matched MOSFET output transistors per channel. Read the comments we offer at Daves Faves on IN200. They hold true for SDA200.

SDA300 $5500 (150×2)

SDA300 is a beast that delivers a much bigger kick than you’d infer from its 150×2 rating. It features a pair of 440VA toroidal power transformers. Filter caps are 66,000 uF. It runs six matched MOSFET output transistors per channel. Read the comments we offer at Dave’s Faves on IN300. They hold true for SDA300. SDA300 is like SDA200 plus 25% more PUSH to your speakers. I can’t think of a speaker that SDA300 wouldn’t be comfortable with.

We’ve sold many IN300 integrated amps from Atoll. They’re out there driving speakers from Pans to huge towers. Every IN300 buyer has told us they luv it. SDA300 is the same product, with the Atoll streamer on board.

If you’d like the streamer on board, by all means go for SDA300. If you want to save a few bucks and don’t care if the streamer is in another box, you can buy IN300 and an outboard streamer like a Bluesound. Run digital out of the Bluesound into the Atoll and you’re in business. Either solution works great!

Ms Moji Rates Top 30 Songs Displaying Best Singing Harmonies

Phil & Don Everly

30 Boyz to Men: It’s So hard to Say Goodbye

29 Billy Joel: Longest Time

28 Heart: Alone

27 ELO: Telephone Line

26 Tremeloes: Silence Is Golden

25 Simon & G: Scarborough Fair

24 5th Dimension: Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In

23 Hollies: The Air That I Breathe

22 Peter P & Mary: Early Morning Rain

21 Association: Cherish

20 Wilson Phillips: Release Me

19 Bangles: Eternal Flame

18 Seekers: I’ll Never Find Another You

17 Extreme: More Than Words

16 CSN: Helplessly Hoping

15 En Vogue: Don’t Let Go

14 F. Mac: The Chain

13 Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody

12 Carpenters: Rainy Days & Mondays

11 Bee Gees: To Love Somebody

10 Righteous Bros: You’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling

9 Ronettes: Be My Baby

8 Byrds: Turn, Turn, Turn

7 Beach Boys: God Only Knows

6 Beatles: Because

5 Abba: Thank You For The Music

4 Simon & G: Sound of Silence & Bridge Over Troubled Water

3 Eagles: Seven Bridges Rd

2 Mamas & Papas: California Dreamin

1 Everly Bros: All I Have To Do Is Dream