Stellavox Introduces a New State of the Art Amplifier IDEM Monoblocks

[pk_LA]

I thought we were talking about the Stellavox?

 

[cjfrbw]

Sorry. I was bouncing off of

DasguteOhr's comments above. A bit of thread drift from the latest and greatest.​

 

[Kingrex]

Its a paid for thread under a manufacturer paid for banner. Not just a free for all under general amplifier categories. Best to stick to their subject.

 

[Audioarts]

I see comments comparing the Dartzeel designs to Stellavox attempting to draw similarities, but the two brands are actually quite different. I’ve also received many inquiries asking to distinguish the the IDEM from other brands, especially Swiss ones. So I need to make clear that Stellavox is fundamentally quite different and I wanted to touch on some key elements here:

DartZeel:

PUSH PULL CLASS A/B.

VOLTAGE amp WITH local negative feedback.

Output impedance under ideal measuring conditions 0.28Ω. Under working conditions
at least 0.5Ω (not measured, shown in simulation).

THD 1% (not defined on which level)


Stellavox:

SINGLE ENDED WITH CURRENT OUTPUT STAGE

NO negative feedback applied, neither local nor global.
No op amps.
Output impedance under normal music listening: 0.002Ω,
max Impedance at full power: 0.015Ω

I mention these points to show that the philosophy, circuit and blueprint of both amps are drastically different, namely from the thermal compensation device to the output stage. Of course there are many more differences but what I listed should hint at the divergent designs. The only thing I can find that they have in common is that both amplifiers are manufactured in Switzerland.

Gideon

 

[morricab]

I see comments comparing the Dartzeel designs to Stellavox attempting to draw similarities, but the two brands are actually quite different. I’ve also received many inquiries asking to distinguish the the IDEM from other brands, especially Swiss ones. So I need to make clear that Stellavox is fundamentally quite different and I wanted to touch on some key elements here:

DartZeel:

PUSH PULL CLASS A/B.

VOLTAGE amp WITH local negative feedback.

Output impedance under ideal measuring conditions 0.28Ω. Under working conditions
at least 0.5Ω (not measured, shown in simulation).

THD 1% (not defined on which level)


Stellavox:

SINGLE ENDED WITH CURRENT OUTPUT STAGE

NO negative feedback applied, neither local nor global.
No op amps.
Output impedance under normal music listening: 0.002Ω,
max Impedance at full power: 0.015Ω

I mention these points to show that the philosophy, circuit and blueprint of both amps are drastically different, namely from the thermal compensation device to the output stage. Of course there are many more differences but what I listed should hint at the divergent designs. The only thing I can find that they have in common is that both amplifiers are manufactured in Switzerland.

Gideon

Yes, you are right, radically different. I would now be interested in hearing the Stellavox, given it has an interesting single ended design without negative feedback applied.

 

[matthias]

BTW, Stellavox updated their website:

IDEM - Stellavox

Stellavox was founded in 1955 by Georges Quellet, a genius inventor, engineer and photographer. He was continually searching for the ultimate in quality, whatever it might take to achieve. The products he created remain unmatched after many decades. Timelessly beautiful, they are still...

stellavox.swiss

 

[Audioarts]

Matthias, you beat me to it…, thank you. Much of the impetus behind the IDEM is described there.

Another inquiry I’ve been receiving is whether the Stellavox PW1 amplifiers pictured below, are still in production. To be clear, the Stellavox PW1 was licensed by Goldmund years ago, are no longer in production (for many years) and have nothing in common with the current IDEM.

Gideon

 

[KeithR]

It’s refreshing Mike. This is what this hobby is all about. Good we can share it with like minded individuals.

Candidly Steve, I've been hesitant to get involved lately on WBF as it's thread after thread of "new" products distributed by a single person with several industry insiders and a reviewer tied to the game. And they seemingly all are "new references" and "must buys." For hundreds of thousands of dollars, no less.

Marketing is one thing, but it would be great if all parties could disclose their financial relationships. It's all a little too in cahoots for my tastes.

It's also ironic that Jay's Audio Lab is banned from WBF based on what's been going on.

@Elliot G @Ron Resnick

 

[Kingsrule]

@KeithR ....great perspective and excellent post

 

[Porsche]

flavor of the month

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Candidly Steve, I've been hesitant to get involved lately on WBF as it's thread after thread of "new" products distributed by a single person with several industry insiders and a reviewer tied to the game. And they seemingly all are "new references" and "must buys." For hundreds of thousands of dollars, no less.

Marketing is one thing, but it would be great if all parties could disclose their financial relationships. It's all a little too in cahoots for my tastes.

It's also ironic that Jay's Audio Lab is banned from WBF based on what's been going on.

@Elliot G @Ron Resnick

Keith,

didn't we just have a 464 post thread about exactly this? do we need to do that again? the point has been well made, all parties contributed, and perspectives discussed.

 

[jeff1225]

Candidly Steve, I've been hesitant to get involved lately on WBF as it's thread after thread of "new" products distributed by a single person with several industry insiders and a reviewer tied to the game. And they seemingly all are "new references" and "must buys." For hundreds of thousands of dollars, no less.

Marketing is one thing, but it would be great if all parties could disclose their financial relationships. It's all a little too in cahoots for my tastes.

It's also ironic that Jay's Audio Lab is banned from WBF based on what's been going on.

@Elliot G @Ron Resnick

This is where the audio hobby and many hobbies are. This is the long term effect of the internet, as dealers are all gone. There are few aquarium stores left, not one tennis shop in Los Angeles, Joann’s Fabrics is out of business, etc.

The game has changed.

 

[KeithR]

Keith,

didn't we just have a 464 post thread about exactly this? do we need to do that again? the point has been well made, all parties contributed, and perspectives discussed.

I’m getting to the point on a thread with the parties in question as that thread never did and was stupidly closed. The only required disclosure was that industry disclaimers are in a posters signature. The other thing is I’m a regular Joe poster and not a dealer complaining.

We should require more and it’s likely bigger than that.

 

[stellavox]

SO, how much did it cost the current guys to BUY the Stellavox name and copyright logo from whomever owned the previous rights - if in fact there WAS a legal transfer - in Switzerland - anywhere else? The logo's history, post tape recorders (till 1990), includes (at least) one amp and a DAC, maybe 15-20 years ago.

Only legacy is the name.

 

[microstrip]

Keith,

didn't we just have a 464 post thread about exactly this? do we need to do that again? the point has been well made, all parties contributed, and perspectives discussed.

In fact, as far as I remember the thread you point failed to debate the points referred by KeithR, but probably this is not the place to carry such discussion.

When I read " I've been hesitant to get involved lately on WBF " I think we should think about it. Just IMO.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

In fact, as far as I remember the thread you point failed to debate the points referred by KeithR, but probably this is not the place to carry such discussion.

When I read " I've been hesitant to get involved lately on WBF " I think we should think about it. Just IMO.

i think that thread did debate those points. certainly danced around them seriously. but we can all have an opinion. the 'Jay' thing is in forum terms ancient history.

 

[ctydwn]

was ‘great’ @Mike Lavigne was happy to quite actively participate in jay’s (ron & elliot) new hi fi live show. isn’t that quite the irony and the best of both worlds claimed. ban one but no qualms participating in his forum. does not smell like ancient history. can’t have it both ways. or what are we missing? we surely ‘all can have an opinion’. would love to know yours without all ‘the dancing around’ and as keith alludes to, your lack of any disclosure

 

[Mike Lavigne]

was ‘great’ @Mike Lavigne was happy to quite actively participate in jay’s (ron & elliot) new hi fi live show. isn’t that quite the irony and the best of both worlds claimed. ban one but no qualms participating in his forum. does not smell like ancient history. can’t have it both ways. or what are we missing? we surely ‘all can have an opinion’. would love to know yours without all ‘the dancing around’ and as keith alludes to, your lack of any disclosure

i have zero issue with Jay or his channel. i've met him and hope someday he visits my room. he is doing well. i also invited OCD Mike to my room but he has not taken me up on it. i don't watch any YouTube hifi influencer channel (i do watch a couple of RV and Boating YouTube channels and music/news videos). and i view the HiFi Five as an extension of the forum topics, not an influencer channel.

@microstrip made a point to me above that the thread i had linked did not cover all points @KeithR made, which other than the 'Jay thing' i felt it had. so i wrote that. as far my 'Ancient' comment the mods have made it clear that that topic is not open for discussion numerous times. so not much to say about it. i know it's somewhere between 5 and 10 years old. i was never any part of it and only heard about it years after it happened. i have no idea about the details.

i respect that Jay has friends/fans here and that it's a sensitive issue. but it is what it is. it's history.

 

[Elliot G.]

was ‘great’ @Mike Lavigne was happy to quite actively participate in jay’s (ron & elliot) new hi fi live show. isn’t that quite the irony and the best of both worlds claimed. ban one but no qualms participating in his forum. does not smell like ancient history. can’t have it both ways. or what are we missing? we surely ‘all can have an opinion’. would love to know yours without all ‘the dancing around’ and as keith alludes to, your lack of any disclosure

please join us and ask the question and subscribe

 

[pk_LA]

...and so back to our regular discussion on Stellavox?