AlsyVox Botticelli with external crossovers

Marcus

Member Sponsor
Oct 5, 2012
559
552
1,155
32992C87-2C00-4664-B8ED-40A13F5EAA51.jpeg

I first heard AlsyVox Botticelli speakers in Munich Hi-Fi Deluxe in 2017 and since I was on a hunt for new speakers, became extremely intrigued since they sounded surprisingly full-bodied, transparent and refined, and they produced bass I have never heard from any planar speakers. Demos on following Munich shows were unfortunately less successful but I made my homework and decided to buy them. I’ll not describe how Botticellis sound to me since my experience has been basically the same as other owners already reported and no need to repeat what was already written or invent new adjectives. So, I would just like to describe in a few words how my Botticellis sound with external crossovers.

0A5F19B8-5561-4D26-9D1E-2F5C78218CF7.jpeg

1576343623249.png

1576343623346.png

If you buy AlsyVox Botticelli speakers with external crossovers, the package is called Botticelli X but they can also be bought separately as an upgrade to the standard Botticelli. External crossovers come in a high quality, huge and very heavy case, weighting 50kg/110lbs. Speakers are finished in black plexiglass, but external crossovers are made completely from that material (aluminum is optional) and are resting on a separate isolation platforms, made from transparent plexiglass. Inside you would find only high quality Mundorf capacitors and resistors, Jensen inductors and there’s also an option to fine tune the mid and high frequencies (+-0.6dB). The topology of the crossover is patent pending by Omega Audio Concepts, also umbilical connections between speaker and crossover are made with Omega AC Nano extra cables. You can choose black color if you wish...

Connection between internal and external crossovers is simple but you need to by-pass the internal crossovers first (a quick and simple procedure), and then you just connect three cables to appropriate inputs of speakers and outputs of crossovers, and connect them to power amps. Unfortunately my experience with this beautiful pieces of equipment lasted only a few hours but still enough to get a feeling how good they are. Even though I expected they would sound better than build-in crossovers, they did surprise me since I never imagined the improvement could be so huge. Obviously the design is crucial and, as I wrote above, is patent pending.

81F109BC-3DF9-4E0C-8AE6-356FCB239CF9.jpeg

The most obvious improvement was in soundstage width and depth. Soundstage wasn’t small to begin with but it literally exploded the moment music started to roll. The sensation was like opening big doors or windows to the event. Everything became more clear and in more realistic proportions. System was breathing even more freely and sounded more unobtrusively open (and these speakers already sound very open and clean). Room walls disappeared much more convincingly, there was more distinction among the instruments and images were also more stable. Next thing were lower registers. Bass was “turbo charged” - much more powerful, had greater impact and control. It was like speakers were driven by a high power solid state amps. Since this is very important to me, I was also paying attention to colors of instruments, their timbre and density, and this was also improved. Not as much as bass or soundstage but tonal density was on a higher level too.

20FECAF4-30C2-4074-954F-78D51EE2F703.jpeg

I would write more if I could listen longer, but this short audition was enough to get an idea of what these crossovers basically bring to the table. For me, they represent important sonic upgrade to beautifully made, finished and sounding Botticelli speakers. Also they offer a bit of welcome and simple fine tuning via connection possibilities and look as gorgeous as speakers themselves. Perfect combination. Yes, they’re expensive but judging from this audition, easily worth their money.
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
2,509
1,448
Congrats!!! Enjoy!
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
12,308
1,425
1,820
Manila, Philippines
I love your choices Marcus. You must be awash with waves and waves of pure pleasure. Congratulations!
 

gwalt

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2019
86
115
118
68
Marcus
Thanks for posting this information as it is just hard to know the total sonic differences without your ABing experience already owning the speaker. As we both know this speaker is very honest in sonic capabilities to the source. Enjoy the music and have fun with your fine system!;)
 

amadeus

VIP/Donor
Jan 13, 2018
312
380
255
View attachment 59825

I first heard AlsyVox Botticelli speakers in Munich Hi-Fi Deluxe in 2017 and since I was on a hunt for new speakers, became extremely intrigued since they sounded surprisingly full-bodied, transparent and refined, and they produced bass I have never heard from any planar speakers. Demos on following Munich shows were unfortunately less successful but I made my homework and decided to buy them. I’ll not describe how Botticellis sound to me since my experience has been basically the same as other owners already reported and no need to repeat what was already written or invent new adjectives. So, I would just like to describe in a few words how my Botticellis sound with external crossovers.

View attachment 59824

View attachment 59821

View attachment 59822

If you buy AlsyVox Botticelli speakers with external crossovers, the package is called Botticelli X but they can also be bought separately as an upgrade to the standard Botticelli. External crossovers come in a high quality, huge and very heavy case, weighting 50kg/110lbs. Speakers are finished in black plexiglass, but external crossovers are made completely from that material (aluminum is optional) and are resting on a separate isolation platforms, made from transparent plexiglass. Inside you would find only high quality Mundorf capacitors and resistors, Jensen inductors and there’s also an option to fine tune the mid and high frequencies (+-0.6dB). The topology of the crossover is patent pending by Omega Audio Concepts, also umbilical connections between speaker and crossover are made with Omega AC Nano extra cables. You can choose black color if you wish...

Connection between internal and external crossovers is simple but you need to by-pass the internal crossovers first (a quick and simple procedure), and then you just connect three cables to appropriate inputs of speakers and outputs of crossovers, and connect them to power amps. Unfortunately my experience with this beautiful pieces of equipment lasted only a few hours but still enough to get a feeling how good they are. Even though I expected they would sound better than build-in crossovers, they did surprise me since I never imagined the improvement could be so huge. Obviously the design is crucial and, as I wrote above, is patent pending.

View attachment 59823

The most obvious improvement was in soundstage width and depth. Soundstage wasn’t small to begin with but it literally exploded the moment music started to roll. The sensation was like opening big doors or windows to the event. Everything became more clear and in more realistic proportions. System was breathing even more freely and sounded more unobtrusively open (and these speakers already sound very open and clean). Room walls disappeared much more convincingly, there was more distinction among the instruments and images were also more stable. Next thing were lower registers. Bass was “turbo charged” - much more powerful, had greater impact and control. It was like speakers were driven by a high power solid state amps. Since this is very important to me, I was also paying attention to colors of instruments, their timbre and density, and this was also improved. Not as much as bass or soundstage but tonal density was on a higher level too.

View attachment 59826

I would write more if I could listen longer, but this short audition was enough to get an idea of what these crossovers basically bring to the table. For me, they represent important sonic upgrade to beautifully made, finished and sounding Botticelli speakers. Also they offer a bit of welcome and simple fine tuning via connection possibilities and look as gorgeous as speakers themselves. Perfect combination. Yes, they’re expensive but judging from this audition, easily worth their money.


Congratulations Marcus!

I was one month ago in Valencia Spain to Visit Daniele at his own place to listen to the Alsyvox had a great whole evening whit Daniele and his lovely wife listening to so many Music in almost every genre that i brought and also his choices.We listened intensively to Botticellis whit build inn Crossovers and after two hours we switched to External crossovers everything in the system stays the same the difference was dramatically in the first notes it was clear that the external crossover is superior in so many ways!
 

ack

VIP/Donor & WBF Founding Member
May 6, 2010
6,774
1,198
580
Boston, MA
Congrats!!! Wow!
 

Marcus

Member Sponsor
Oct 5, 2012
559
552
1,155
Thank you everyone and I would also like to thank Daniele for his kindness and willingness to drive to my home and let me hear these beauties. What a great experience.
 

cakeaudio

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2012
32
5
915
Southern California
Very nice setup Marcus. What are your room dimensions?
 

Marcus

Member Sponsor
Oct 5, 2012
559
552
1,155

Marcus

Member Sponsor
Oct 5, 2012
559
552
1,155
Must correct one minor mistake in my text. Inductors used in crossovers are Jantzen, not Jensen.
 

Thieliste

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2014
815
295
285
53
I need to look at the Botticellis and the Bayz Audio 2.0 might be a good alternative to regular cone speakers.
 

Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
1,139
478
Must correct one minor mistake in my text. Inductors used in crossovers are Jantzen, not Jensen.

I started using huge Jantzen coils in my Apogee crossovers before I had even heard of Alsyvox.

Really good quality stuff. Forget about the price. When they're in your hands and in front of your eyes you know it is top notch. That's merely confirmed by great sound.
 

Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
1,139
478
BTW I am not saying Jantzen inductors are that expensive. I am saying the quality is excellent based on a sample set of one pair for the price charged. Paying more for a pure copper foil inductor is probably silly.
 

Marcus

Member Sponsor
Oct 5, 2012
559
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Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
1,139
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You could be the judge of that by getting some put in your crossovers and telling me what you think!;):)
 

Marcus

Member Sponsor
Oct 5, 2012
559
552
1,155

CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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Hong Kong

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