Nice match to the Alsyvox black/gold motif.The Wadax Atlantis series is much more conventional looking.
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Nice match to the Alsyvox black/gold motif.The Wadax Atlantis series is much more conventional looking.
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I would love to see a survey of all the WBF members of what they consider good looking audio is. That could be fun !
The design of Soulution products resembles CH Precision's a lot.I really like the appeareance of CH Precision gear, in my opinion, the chassis design is functional, simple and solid, yet with subtle unique details that give the "boxes" a definite identity, such as the very light blue-silver anodizing. Amazingly, they manage to do it in a consistent, repeatable fashion. I have not seen anyone complaining about their multiple stack CH Precision being of slightly different colors, which is amazing considering that is not just silver or black, but a very specific silver with shades of light blue (and anodized, not a paint job).
I think that, apart from the physical design, there's a poetic beauty about the fact of delivering such a bespoke result with that level of consistency.
Other gear whose physical design I really like are Robert Koda preamps and phono and the Arai Laboratory MT-1 step up transformer. Again, simple and clean lines, yet with a clear identity.
I like this look less. IMO this is straight up gaudy not Gaudi. I am not talking about the sound but looking at this I want to play Saturday Night Fever and unbutton my shirt ad put on some chains!The Wadax Atlantis series is much more conventional looking.
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Got that .If i had the budget i would get Totaldac d1-Twelve mk2 with the Taiko Extreme, best combo i can think of.
Just my 2 cents.
The design of Soulution products resembles CH Precision's a lot.
I like both.
Sorry, this thing is just plain ugly. Don't they have any taste?
IMO that is better but really I don't care if it sounds great I will own it. I have had lots of gear and the looks never was a concern. The quality is always a concern and the sound of course is number oneYou can always buy the silver version...
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It is a wonderful product and we have shown with them in Munich and were also supposed to show with them at Axpona in 2020. The gold thing is totally something that we just joke about but if you like then own it. I have said before that they make some great gear and I hope this year to have the big guy in my room to hear.Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Don't judge Wadax when you cannot hear and own them in real life.
Mike, I found more info on the Nagra HD Dac X. It is a much better sounding unit. Nagra produced it as a cost no object product with a larger chassis and much more expensive components. Retail on HD Dac X is $65,000, vs. $28,500 for the HD Dac. According to Nagra, the HD Dac was part of their "Classic Line." The HD Dac X is part of their premium "HD Line."for what it's worth; i bought the MSB Select II 30 days after having the Nagra HD Dac in my system a few years ago. i think that was the previous version of the Nagra HD X. my feeling then was that the Nagra HD was not in the league of the MSB Select II. the MSB was much more relevant to my vinyl and tape than the Nagra and it had a different level of refinement and see into and around musical presentation.
I personally don't think most audio gear is "beautiful".
I would love to see a survey of all the WBF members of what they consider good looking audio is. That could be fun !
I think a lot of the gear we admire would fall under the characterization of Bauhaus design. The term Bauhaus literally means “construction house” and was originally referring to the architecture school of German design that emerged in 1919 and was led by the architect Walter Gropius. The basic principles are:
No distinction between artist and craftsman and the artist is an exalted craftsman. Put another way, the designer is part of the complete design process including concept, design and manufacturing.
Form follows function. Simple but elegant geometric shapes were designed based on the intended function or purpose of a building or an object. In audio, what are these electronic devices if not basically boxes that amplify or transduct electrical signals. It’s easy to make this case that for companies like CH, Soulution and Goldmund. Although their chassis work not quite as monolithic like those above, one could consider DartZeel essentially a Bauhaus design as well as a common Bauhaus color motif was to use a single highlight color, typically red or blue in their architectural design. Others might certainly include Taiko and Robert Koda. Wadax? Uh, hardly! McIntosh? A definitely no but for any of us, it is still some of the most beautiful gear ever made.
Minimalism. Bauhaus artists favoured linear and geometrical forms, avoiding floral or curvilinear shapes. It's hard to improve upon a simple box for a minimalist design!
True materials and new techniques. Materials should reflect the true nature of objects and buildings. The appearance of the “screwless” chassis, such as found on Soulution gear typifies this point.
Emphasis on technology. Well, this is crystal clear in SOA audio design. Need we say more?
Smart use of resources. Bauhaus ideology is characterized by an "economic" way of thinking. Similar analogies can be made for their audio counterparts (i.e. novel power supplies, internal power rails, wiring, heat sinks etc).
Simplicity and Effectiveness. There is no need for additional ornamenting and making things more and more ‘beautiful’. They are just fine as they are.
Constant development. Bauhaus is all about new techniques, new materials, new ways of construction, new attitude – all the time. Our audio counterparts obviously share this attribute.
I ordered the Nagra HD DAC X. Was ready to spring for a Select II. Two people who heard Dac X vs Select II in all Nagra Systems with good Wilson Speakers leaned gently towards the DAC X.Why don't you get a Nagra HD DAC X ? seems pretty obvious looking at your gear.
Wow. Congrats. What a present you got yourself!And also ordered the Taiko Extreme.
Thanks!. I'm excited.Wow. Congrats. What a present you got yourself!
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