Over 2 and a half years in development, and designed to beat the absolute best Diva of all time before (metal chassis Apogee Diva Encore 9), here is the Diva Advance 9. Both models are like all of our metal chassis speakers, able to be produced for clients, to order.
The virtue list of the original classic Diva is long, the list of the metal chassis Diva Encore's virtues and abilities longer, so making something that beats them by a worthwhile margin was not going to be easy. So – with that in mind, and a list of all of the Definitive concept speaker (2004 design) retrospective observations was also thrown in, just for fun! All speakers have their downsides, the early Diva has a few as any Scintilla owner is fast to point out, especially around rigidity and MR performance. The new Diva had to have a foil only MR, and better MR excursion control. It needed to be the most rigid planer made, a tall order after the metal chassis Diva Encore. This meant an absolutely all new design would be required, literally not a part of previous Divas retained.
Composites are used for suspension parts, related composites for the case fronts. A split construction was chosen, as the weight of a Diva Encore 9 was uncomfortably insane. Split construction throws up it's own issues, but if well considered the two parts combine to exceed the whole, as in the case of the Diva A9. Calculations considered, plans were made. The considerations had really been in mind for over a decade, literally an Apogee fantasy - so the CAD flowed well for the A9...
Ribbons. The original Divas ribbons are a mixture of pure foil and kapton (KS) backed. The Diva Encore took this to new levels with KLM bass, and KLM6/7 MR, whilst retaining the proven excellent LW format tweeter. New limits had to be reached! For the Diva A9, all ribbons are unique except the tweeter, made to the same specs as the earlier Definitive as I believe it to be an unmatched high frequency performer on large planars, taken to even higher levels in the stronger Diva A9 MRTW structural array. The MR ribbon (unique to the A9) is also foil only, with unique tension, material and other processes steps in it's manufacture learned from the Definitive. Bass – again unique in design, with it's own magnetic structure, a genuine 4 ohm unit, made using XLM panel construction for unparalleled performance. XLM bass are only available on Apogee Advance bass ribbons.
Crossover. X-CABLE – an outboard crossover with built in wiring, soldered from the amp terminal spades to the panel connection terminal spades. A massive, solid, non resonant super-filter at over 20kg per side containing the most considered highest performance parts for astonishing transparency. Truly discrete across circuits, with mirror optimised component positioning, inert setting of each component section for no inter-component mechanical interaction or hysteresis. All sections silver soldered, audiophile grade mono-crystal copper wired for the most accurate circuit with regard to length, position, symmetry, measurements, and proximity interaction. All Apogee Acoustics Inductors are made in house using high quality CNC machinery, with our own format tension system. All Capacitors are extreme high end units, chosen for their unique lack of signature in their individual crossover positions, made for us to exact tolerances and values by state of the art capacitor experts. All resistors made to resist without unwanted reactance, set into their own individual convection chambers to control thermal characteristics and lowest reactance byond their resistance requirement. And of course – all crossover values identical left to right to meter tolerances (ie – identical meter readings). All cables audiophile grade, terminated in high quality copper spades on all but the TW connection, these are silver over copper. All main panel terminals Cardas CPBP copper - I consider to be the finest made of all time, at any price. Several weeks work goes into each and every Apogee crossover, time well spent as the ribbons and panel chassis of modern Apogees are well able to reward upstream efforts and attention!
Stands. The stands on the Diva Advance 9 are developments of the Diva Encore 9 stands, themselves stronger than the classic Diva by 500%. For the Diva A9 even stronger by an extra 50% over the Encore.
Much time was taken in considered crossover/driver simulation backed up with solid testing in the real world with high quality run-in components. The final design (#215a) managed to get what I believe to be the most from the speaker as a whole, where points of driver peak ability sweet spots were matched to components for an overall load a single amplifier would be really comfortable with, able to perform at it's best. A three way system of units ideally has to behave as if it were a single drive unit, and I believe in it's final iteration the A9 crossover #215a does this properly, perhaps with tolerances bound by physics itself! The drivers overlap seamlessly to the extent that placing your ear 0.3m from the MR driver most would be hard pressed to believe the full frequency of sound were emanating from the MR alone! In terms of resistance presented to the amplifier(s) the Apogee Diva Advance 9 does not live up to the amp killing legends of old, as the load is a realistic nominal 4 ohms, at its absolute lowest point 2.72 ohms, absolute highest point 6.9 ohms. Utterly benign and low loss.
Shipment. All Apogee Acoustics speakers are shipped in strong aluminium framed marine ply boxes lined with foam, designed to be exceptionally strong for national and international shipping. We want what we make to arrive in good order.
Ordering. The Apogee Diva A9 can be ordered and it's lead time as a finished product is subject to queue place, and work load contracted at the time of order. Contact us via email to arrange a mutually convenient time for a telephone consult (English language, Brisbane Australia time).
Such speakers are not production line products, in the same way as our clients are not production line people. Lead times depend on current activity, no corners cut, quality must be maintained.
A concept nearly three years in the making, a design made to satisfy those who have loved the Apogee sound for nearly four decades, and a chassis construction built to last for generations without degradation. Industrial Art with performance. Apogee Acoustics Diva Advance 9.
Suggested amplifier types, accurate, high quality voltage source class A solid state power, matched to a highly resolving valve pre-amp is a good place to start thinking, ideally able to drive 500w into 4 ohms all day and all night because a disc a day will simply not be enough...
2m High. 0.833m wide, 0.75m deep. 0.7 metric tonne per pair (packed).
From $128K USD/Pair. Contact us for details, and to commence the ordering process.
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