Officially Official: New Audison Thesis Amplifiers
We got the final word today (and press release) that the new Audison Thesis amps are a-go! Check out the official press release and a small gallery of "official photos" available after the jump. Oh yeah... And this is more than your typical press release. The information after the jump should answer just about every question you could possibly have about these new amps.
Press Release:
Sound reproduction has forever been a fascinating world where emotion and technology cohabit. Like any other form of art, the best result is achieved when these two values, at their peak, finally embrace.
With this combination in mind, every project we develop is born with this natural instinct. Since the introduction of the HR 100, the application of advanced technology and emotion in every stage of a project, have allowed us to create products which have marked the history of car hi-fi.
Unwaveringly dedicated to the research of perfection in sound reproduction, the recognition that world experts of the industry have shown towards the Audison brand makes us extremely proud of this choice.
Beyond the absolute
In their most pure essence, the synergy between technique and emotion constitutes the keystone of the Thesis project: aiming at one single purpose which, for the audio world, is the Sound. For pure reproduction, every element has been conceived and manufactured according to quality parameters, ensuring sheer excellence.
Since the beginning, the Thesis product range has been conceived, designed and developed according to these principles.
The Thesis project is characterized by a no compromise attitude: in the world of hi-fi car audio, the Thesis name is referenced as a product with the highest technological content, capable of arousing the emotions of even the most demanding audiophile.
The presentation of the Thesis HV venti to the public in 2004 marked a new horizon relating to the technologies applied to car audio.
From that moment, the research activities of the Audison R&D team have continued. The standard set by the HV venti had immediately raised a new challenge: the ambition for this new project. Technique and emotion have once again been applied to the highest level; an engineering based project aimed at obtaining extraordinary results relating to acoustic reproduction, with reference to musicality, transparency and truthfulness.
The products belonging to the new Thesis range have been developed with the know-how and the experience achieved with the HV venti, improved by the innovation of digital technology. The exclusive mechanical and electronic solutions, along with the elegant and polished design make the new Thesis amplifiers and speakers capable of immersing the listener into complete musical nirvana.
The new Thesis products balance brawn with finesse, achieving extraordinary performance superior to the traditional designs currently available within the market.
The transparency, noticeable in every detail of this project, is a direct inheritance from the HV venti. Starting from the design, where the dust cap of the speaker enables an examination of the internal engine, to function, where all operations of the amplifier are visible to the user; each choice was oriented towards transparency. This is the inspiring element of the entire Thesis project: visual transparency, transparency of Sound.
The new products are born with a mission: to repeat the technological leap which made the HV venti, and its predecessor, the HR 100 the two unconditional references within the industry. After a long and exhaustive development process, the new Audison speakers and amplifiers become members of the Thesis family. Reaching beyond the concept of “high fidelity”, the new Thesis components bring the emotions of a live musical event to the automobile.
The amplifiers
The Project
The roads traveled to reach “the Sound” have created a conceptual cross-road, where until now, state of the art digital technology and traditional techniques have gone their separate ways. They both have benefits of a different nature, yet are capable of merging together to achieve much higher Sound quality levels.
The Thesis amplifiers are born from these considerations. The parts related to signal amplification are manufactured using the highest level of analog technology while, at the same time, the input section along with the processing and monitoring functions of the amplifier are the result of the most advanced digital technology.
Technical Updates
Dual Power & Bias Control
A revolutionary function called Dual Power was introduced for the first time in the HV venti. Controlling the amplifier’s output power configuration, this function allowed the predetermination of the amplifiers output power and of the grade of the outputs operational class.
A manual, mechanical intervention within the amplifiers internals is necessary in order to execute the configuration change, with the operation of all the remaining functions handled by a microprocessor. With the TH series, this decision becomes a simple exercise. The digital interface enables expedient intervention by the user, setting up the amplifier’s operational modes by operating push-buttons on the amplifiers control panel, all in real-time. Power configuration alone cannot describe all the parameters which the Dual Power function can adjust.
There are four possible presets, which range from the Energy Saving function, allowing musical enjoyment for extended periods of time with the vehicles engine off, to Hi-Current and Hi-AB Class where the power is the priority even for difficult loads, up to A-Class, perfect for intensifying the musical experience.
A-Class:
Bias: Very High
Power: Normal
Min Load: 4-ohms
Hi-AB Class:
Bias: High
Power: High
Min Load: 4-ohms
Hi-Current:
Bias: Standard
Power: High
Min Load: 4-,2-,1-ohms
Energy Saving:
Bias: Low
Power: Normal
Min Load: 4-,2-,1-ohms
Consistent with Audison tradition: technologically progressive, original circuitry, with extraordinary sound.
The digital technology presented here provides the tools for the complete control of all the amplifier’s functions.
Thanks to the ACS (Amplifier Status Controller) contained within the TH amplifiers, and to the DRC (Digital Remote Control) or with a connection to a computer through the AAmpNet software, the functions of all the Thesis amplifiers installed in the system are close at hand.
The microprocessor stores the serial number, the hours of operation as well as the critical operational conditions; the software allows the user to customise the amplifier by giving it a name, the owner’s name and by saving the audio system amplifier settings.
The sensitivity adjustments, the monitoring of the working conditions and the possibility to adjust the power supply and the operational class of the amplifier are just a few of the actions made available to the user with the AAmpNet software.
A USB connector enables the connection of the system to a computer, while the ACLink (Audison Control Link) allows the creation of communication network. The software will take care of the functional operations for all the amplifiers within the whole chain (system), providing a simple and complete interface.
A revolutionary method for configuration which, up to know, were impossible to achieve with traditional designs.
ASC (Amplifier Status Controller)
The TH amplifiers ASC unit is the operational interface, programmed to control all of the amplifier’s functions.
Using four buttons, it is possible to interact with the microprocessor which, without interfering with the delicate sound, will provide control for:
- Selecting between the low level analog inputs, the optic digital input or the ADLink input (inputs will be available as a source selection through the DRC)
- Identifying and naming the specific amplifier channels through the AMP ID (Amplifier Identification): selected through a drop down menu, with 18 possible nomenclatures which are meant to identify the speaker or group of speakers which the chosen channel will control (i.e.: Front WF-L (Front Woofer Left);
- Adjusting and setting of the Dual Power function for each amplifier;
- Assigning to each amplifier the Dual Power configuration preset, with four possible memories, recalled with the DRC;
- Provides the auto-diagnostic for the presence of the crossover module;
- Running the communications with the DRC and the other amplifiers in the system through the ACLink digital data bus;
- Performing system control (Master Volume, Balance, Fader, Sub Volume) through the digitally controlled potentiometers, on the analog low level input as well as the optical digital input.
- Detecting and rooting the 8 digital audio signal channels, available through the ADLink data bus and generated by potential external processors such as the Audison Bit One.
All the functions are sonically transparent to the user, and are immediately shown on the LCD display of the amplifier mounted ASC and/or the DRC module mounted in the dash of the vehicle.
Status Display
The visual element of the ASC system is a back-lit two line 32 character LCD display; relating all of the configuration parameters memorised by the amplifier during the installation, as well as the operational status of the amplifier.
The available information is as follows:
- Battery supply voltage
- Heatsink temperature
- Selected input
- Sensitivity
- Crossover presence
- Dual Power Configuration
- Channel Identification as indicated in the AMP ID chart
- VU Meter for each channel
- Data bus address of the amplifier
- User name
- Store or installation technician name
- Serial number of amplifier
- Audison Logo
- Thesis Logo and model number
The information presented on the display can be left static on one parameter or alternate between all available parameters.
In case of protection intervention, the state of protection is permanently displayed, until the problem is resolved or until the amplifier is reset:
Despite the endless settings and customising possibilities offered with the digital technology, the TH amplifiers can also be used in a traditional way, taking advantage of the analog inputs and of the controls which provide the signal to the final stages.
The setting of the sensitivity, stereo or bridged mono configuration, the inputs sensitivity, the crossover introduction and the bypass out, enable anyone to build systems with absolute audiophile quality.
The inputs and the pre-amplifier
The TH amplifiers combine an analog and digital section in one device; keeping the two sections on separate PCBs, although mounted within the same sub chassis.
The “traditional” analog inputs can count on selection for various configurations on the input set up and on the outputs, choosing between multi-channel/stereo/mono, but it is the sensitivity control that is absolutely original.
The potentiometer is in actual fact a microprocessor controlled encoder that activates a Digitally-Controlled Analog Volume Control (D-CAVC). It is an absolute high-end potentiometer with 256 steps, with 0,5 dB for each step, for a 120 dB dynamic resolution. An input signal bypass is also available with the analog outputs.
Innovation can also be found in the state of the art digital encoding section. The SP-DIF optical input enables the input of signal from digital sources of the highest quality, with the re-launch of this digital signal to other Thesis amplifiers through the ADLink system (Audison Digital Link). Each amplifier takes care of the D/A conversion through a 24 bit 192 kHz PCM converter.
While in the Digital Input mode, and with the DRC connected, the microprocessor converts the D-CAVC signal, capable of repeating all the system controls (Master Volume, Balance, Fader, Sub Volume).
In practice, each amplifier in the system has its own dedicated pre-amplifier and converter, which receives a digital signal that is converted before the volume control.
The ADLink connectors are also housed on the TH input section panel. Their task consists in receiving the digital signal from sources or multi-channel processors featuring the afore-mentioned outputs (Audison Bit One) and re-launching the digital signal to other amplifiers in the system through a Cat.5 certified cable equipped with an RJ45 connector (provided).
The crossover
Representing a high-end solution, the simplicity and power of the analog system found in the HV venti is thrust forward again in the TH, making use of the amplifiers versatility.
A separate crossover module is provided with every TH amplifier. Through switches mounted on the module itself, it is possible to create a 12 dB/oct Butterworth filter in a Hi-Pass, Lo-Pass or Band-Pass configuration. When either of the TH amplifiers is set up in a mono configuration, the slope of the filter can be set for 24 dB/octave operation.
Small modules, featuring high-precision resistor packs, insert into the main crossover module provide choice between 32 cut-off frequencies from 18Hz thru 7,5kHz. Although this solution may seem limiting at first, this system contributes to a considerable improvement in the linearity of the filter and avoids long signal paths of traditional systems, vastly improving sound quality.
For the most demanding of users, blank modules are supplied, allowing extreme personalization of the cut-off frequency.
The power supply stage
The power supply is composed of five units. A Flayback power supply is especially dedicated to the low-level signal section and operates in a Synchro-PWM mode along with the other four high-efficiency power supplies. The function of these power supplies is to provide energy exclusively to the final stage.
The aforementioned final stage supplies, controlled by a specialised circuit, work in pairs to provide the positive and negative waveforms. This solution, an Audison tradition, increases the impulsive response speed required by the amplifier.
The synchronized operation mode of the four separate supplies reduces RF electromagnetic disturbances and allows the use of a single high power/voltage MOSFET for each power supply section, avoiding the use of multiple paralleled devices.
The supply partition and the implementation of two specific secondary windings for each transformer make possible the Dual Power mode, settable by the user directly and managed entirely by the on-board microprocessor.
The power supply dedicated to the low-level signals, feature two different branches, providing separate power for the analog and digital sections avoiding any possible conflict or interference.
The final stage of power
As with the HV venti, the final stage of power is obtained through the use of groundbreaking circuitry, starting with the PCB layout.
In order to control the strong supply currents of the final stages, the power outputs and the speaker ground return path, the power devices are installed on separate modules which nullify the rise of electromagnetic fields interfering with the signal path.
The pulsing heart of the amplifier features a differential output stage with current mirrored, hand selected, matched pairs of complimentary transistors.
The driver, or voltage amplifier, uses a Cascode type of architecture with triple complimentary inverted power stages.
This imposing complexity of the layout, achieved through the use of absolute reference parameters, allows the ability to use the amplifier in full A class bias, selectable at the user’s liking through the appropriate setting on the ASC or DRC.
The chassis and the layout
The layout of the components and the design of the heatsink are reminiscent of the HV venti, and are designed in order to dissipate the heat generated by the amplifier, especially when used in A-class mode. The chassis is extruded from solid aluminium and is then CNC (numerical control machines) machined to exacting standards. A black anodized finish is employed to improve the heat exchange through the physical phenomenon of convection and radiation.
The characteristic layout of the circuitry and power modules, assembled vertically and external to the mother board, offers the huge advantage of PCB circuits with extremely revolutionary dimensions to make the most of the signal path, aiding the amplifier power and sound quality.
About us
Elettromedia 1987 – 2007
Elettromedia, an Italian company, is a leader within the world-wide car Hi-Fi market. Born in 1987 in Potenza Picena by a group of friends who shared the same passion for in-car high fidelity, throughout the past years Elettromedia has been walking the path of excellence: its products are distributed in more than 50 countries; the company has received many awards and acknowledgements from the most authoritative leaders within the car audio industry; it also can boast reviews of more than 2000 pages published in 27 different languages (visit: www.elettromedia.it/press_area.asp).
The Elettromedia brands are Audison, Hertz, Connection and AZaudiocomp. Through a co-branding strategy, the company offers all of the component required for a complete, top level car audio system.
Gallery:
To check out our complete coverage of Audison's new products, including the Bit One processor, Thesis Orchestra, and previous Thesis amplifier posts, click here.
Share this story:
