Audio Limits/Thrax - T.H.E. Show 2019

[Ron Resnick]

Audio Limits presented an almost all-Thrax system, including the Thrax Lyra/Basus loudspeaker system ($59,356). This looks like a two part speaker, consisting of a midrange - tweeter - midrange module on top of very large solid metal enclosure containing a 15 inch sealed woofer and a built-in 1,000 watt power amplifier.







I was most intrigued by the Thrax Spartacus 300B amplifier ($75,864) which uses six 300B tubes in two stages to produce 50 watts of Class A Directly Heated Triode power.





While the system was aided by one of the largest rooms in the venue which allowed the speakers to be pulled far into the room and away from the front wall, I found the sound to be very transparent and very dynamic. I certainly was fascinated by the very unusual design of the large monoblock Spartacus amplifiers.

Overall this was one of my favorite systems of the show.

 

[Hieukm]

View attachment 53876



View attachment 53877


Audio Limits presented and almost all-Thrax system, including the Thraz Lyra/Basus loudspeaker system ($59,356). This looks like a two part speaker, consisting of a midrange - tweeter - midrange module on top of very large solid metal enclosure containing a 15 inch sealed woofer and a built-in 1,000 watt power amplifier.



View attachment 53878



I was most intrigued by the Thrax Spartacus 300B amplifier ($75,864) which uses six 300B tubes in two stages to produce 50 watts of Class A Directly Heated Triode power.


View attachment 53879


While the system was aided by one of the largest rooms in the venue which allowed the speakers to be pulled far into the room and away from the front wall, I found the sound to be very transparent and very dynamic. I certainly was fascinated by the very unusual design of the large monoblock Spartacus amplifiers.

Overall this was one of my favorite systems of the show.

What aspect of the sound that makes you intrigued by these 300b mono, Ron?

 

[Folsom]

You're joking right? It's 50w of class A 300B, how much more intriguing can you get?

 

[Hieukm]

You're joking right? It's 50w of class A 300B, how much more intriguing can you get?

It has 6 x 300B tube haha. I believe these has special finemet transformer for output and power.

 

[Folsom]

They have to use some transformers for sure. 300B need to run in the hundreds of volts, with low current, and then transformer into higher current & lower voltage in order to make a speaker work that need any real power at all... which clearly 50w is a serious amount.

 

[Ron Resnick]

What aspect of the sound that makes you intrigued by these 300b mono, Ron?

The circuit design — 50 watts from a series of 300B tubes.

 

[Hieukm]

All reports on this room have the same points: dynamic, open and transperancy and good(not great) tone which is basicaly Thrax sound signature. I was wondering if you have any more insight.

 

[Tango]

There are great tone arm designers, amplification designers, speaker designers, tt designers, dac designers, cable designers, grounding device designers, etc. But I have never seen a designer who could be best in all. What do consumers think Thrax and Aries Cerat really good at?

Tang

 

[Audiolimits]

Here is a little info for you guys regarding the Spartacus 300b monoblock.
The input is a 300B tube driving 4x300B tubes in the output stage and a shunt regulator based on yet another 300B tube makes sure all signal currents go trough 300B tubes with no capacitor in sight.
Now for the first time you can actually hear what a 300B really sounds like and prepare to be amazed. Complimented by the finest nano-cystaline core output transformer, nano-crystalline choke power supply it really redefines tube amplification.
Spartacus features one of the simplest possible signal paths with absolute zero feedback (wire-vacuum-wire-vacuum-wire).
To achieve simplicity while delivering exemplary performance, each device in the signal path had to be the best possible.

 

[bonzo75]

On my site I have compares of Thrax phono with FM 123 using different carts, and then with phasemation 500 (half price of Thrax phono) and Anamighty sound own phono at Anamighty. Anamighty is also more stocking the Thrax DD which they were running inn the Vitus Rockport room.

On a separate note, to Tang's point, I have never come across a designer who is good at everything. I know people buy into oh if I like one of a designer's components I will take the entire stack thing. They should all be looked at independently

 

[KeithR]

Here is a little info for you guys regarding the Spartacus 300b monoblock.
The input is a 300B tube driving 4x300B tubes in the output stage and a shunt regulator based on yet another 300B tube makes sure all signal currents go trough 300B tubes with no capacitor in sight.
Now for the first time you can actually hear what a 300B really sounds like and prepare to be amazed. Complimented by the finest nano-cystaline core output transformer, nano-crystalline choke power supply it really redefines tube amplification.
Spartacus features one of the simplest possible signal paths with absolute zero feedback (wire-vacuum-wire-vacuum-wire).
To achieve simplicity while delivering exemplary performance, each device in the signal path had to be the best possible.

Thank you for commenting- I thought your system was best in show (I was the guy in the wheelchair strolling through a few times)

 

[Audiolimits]

Thank you for commenting- I thought your system was best in show (I was the guy in the wheelchair strolling through a few times)

HI Keith, you are very welcome. Thanks for coming to see us. I'm very happy you enjoyed the system. It even sounds better in our Showroom. If you ever make it out to Laughlin area come by and visit. We reserved the room in Long Beach for next year as well.

 

[bonzo75]

The Allnic A6000 also gives 60w from parallel SET monos of four 300b tubes in either channel. With KR audio .

It would be interesting to hear the Thrax either with KR or Elrog tubes. They made a big difference in the Alieno 300b amp as well

http://zero-distortion.org/soulution-pre-kr-va-200/

The circuit design — 50 watts from a series of 300B tubes.

 

[Hieukm]

The Allnic A6000 also gives 60w from parallel SET monos of four 300b tubes in either channel. With KR audio .

It would be interesting to hear the Thrax either with KR or Elrog tubes. They made a big difference in the Alieno 300b amp as well

http://zero-distortion.org/soulution-pre-kr-va-200/

How would you describe the difference??

 

[bonzo75]

How would you describe the difference??

I have not heard the Thrax amp. I just meant that Allnic has a 300b too of that power

 

[Hieukm]

I have not heard the Thrax amp. I just meant that Allnic has a 300b too of that power

Yes i meant the difference for the Alieno amp. :-D

 

[bonzo75]

Yes i meant the difference for the Alieno amp. :-D

In two different set ups i preferred the elrog the most. They were the most transparent with a mid hall soundstage, wider. The KR were next best, slightly more forward, good drive. Both seem quite neutral for 300b. Tak was Midbass and midrange hump, overb rich, and too near field for me. People who listen to stockfisch recordings will like them. EML XLS colored recordings a not so didn't like

 

[Audiolimits]

The Allnic A6000 also gives 60w from parallel SET monos of four 300b tubes in either channel. With KR audio .

It would be interesting to hear the Thrax either with KR or Elrog tubes. They made a big difference in the Alieno 300b amp as well

http://zero-distortion.org/soulution-pre-kr-va-200/

We would be interested in hearing the KR and Elrog tubes as well. The Emmision Labs 300b that it comes with are quite fantastic. Definetley one of the best 300b we have heard. Maybe at some point we will get around to trying the KR and Elrog. But I think we want to try the new Western Electrics first. I've heard some good things about them.

 

[Hieukm]

I heard report that these have special mid range but the high is not as details as OTLs. Any comment?

 

[BruceD]

Ha!--it seems like the venerable 300B may have come of age --sonically

Pretty good kudos above for an item designed originally merely to carry "scratchy"voices across the Atlantic!

I use a Quad set myself and do exactly as I intended them to deliver

BruceD