"...Mr. Baker through his "mod" is able to enhance the Adagios
with a midrange that has a more liquid presentation, an incredible
open soundstage that has more substance and palpability, and a
sweeter top end with greater attack and resolution. SO when I take
into account the total cost as a whole, I feel it competes with
loudspeaker that are much more costly and I think you might have to
look far and wide to find another bargain...."
Read the full review by Craig
Fitzpatrick at
Stereo Times
Welcome to the Adagio EXtreme by Response Audio. Our goal with this
venture was to take an already exceptional loudspeaker and bring
forth every last nuance of potential the Adagio has to offer. Like
most of our Bella EXtreme products, The Adagio EXtreme is not
designed to a *price point* rather designed for those who want only
the absolute best any given design has to offer. EXtreme Adagio
loudspeakers can now be found in many corners of the globe.
After
having shown with our Response Audio
Bella Extreme 100 at RMAF06, Robert Lee of Acoustic Zen
Technologies not only purchased our amps himself, but also
has given Response Audio the Exclusive Rights for our Adagio EXtreme
modification venture. We would also like to state that the Response
Audio Adagio EXtreme is fully authorized by Acoustic Zen
Technologies without any compromise of the Acoustic Zen
Technologies factory warranty
Over
the years, technological developments in the passive components used
within a speaker's crossover as well as the materials used to
assemble them have become much more advanced. Within the Adagio
EXtreme, you will find some of the most advanced designs in audio
capacitors, Air Core inductors and non-inductive resistors with very
tight tolerances.
The
Adagio EXtreme utilizes completely new, enhanced crossovers using
components that bring the full potential of these speakers to the
surface. The EXtreme crossovers are not simply a replacement of a
few capacitors with larger pieces rather custom built from the
ground up. We do not reuse any original components in the signal
path or the original printed circuit board.
The
low pass filter utilizes the highest quality Erse low DCR air core
inductors for a fast, accurate and deep response, high quality film
capacitors and non-inductive resistors.
The
high pass filter is assembled using top quality components depending
on the presentation you are seeking. You will have your choice of
SoniCap capacitors with Teflon bypass, Mundorf Silver/Oil or
proprietary ModWright Instruments' Oil-Impregnated Polypropylene as
well as Teflon film capacitors.
Other
components found in the high pass filter are non-inductive
audiophile resistors, high quality Erse air core inductors and Erse
polypropylene and polyester capacitors.
Both
the high pass and low pass circuits are built on their own 1/4"
boards (for internally mounted crossovers) eliminating the original
single printed circuit board. Two separate boards are required due
to the large physical size of the audiophile grade components we
use. All connections are point-to-point wired for the shortest
possible signal path.
The
single wire input connection is made through a pair of high quality
speaker binding post. Everything is tied together using only the
highest quality internal wiring.
The
crossover components are matched to very tight tolerances even
before assembly begins. Once the crossover assemblies are completed,
they are again matched to assure tight tolerances. This critical
step is all too often overlooked by most speaker manufacturers but
here at Response Audio, we realize how crucial this is. This is not
a step worth skipping as improperly match crossovers within a pair
of speakers can have a degrading effect on the speaker's
capabilities to provide a spacious soundstage as well as pinpoint
imaging. Shown at right are some of the ModWright Oil Impregnated
Poly capacitors as well as their Teflon units. We use between 10-12
pieces per pair of EXtreme Adagio crossovers.
Multi
Channel
For
the sake of argument, we will not call it a home theater system,
instead let's call it a 'multi channel' system as many systems now
serve double duty as a 5.1 home theater as well as multi channel
audio playback for SACD, DVD-Audio, Blu-Ray, etc. For movies and
multi-channel audio, the center channel is critical as it is
responsible for reproducing about 80% - 90% of the soundtrack. With
the Adagio EXtreme Center speaker, you can rest assured your movie
and multi channel experiences will be all they can be.
The
Adagio EXtreme upgrade is available for all of the Adagio
loudspeakers which includes the original Adagio floorstanding
system, Adagio Jr. stand mount system as well as the Adagio center
channel speaker.
Sonic Expectations:
The
Adagio EXtreme loudspeakers are voiced for full, fast and accurate
presentation of the entire frequency spectrum, well-defined and
sweeter highs, more emotion and more controlled bass weight. You
will hear more details across the board when listening to vocals,
drums, woodwinds, piano as well as horns.
-
Bass is faster, tighter and more authoritative.
-
The midrange provides the greatest sense of ease and realism
allowing even the smallest subtleties to shine through.
-
Upper frequencies sparkle with more air and extension as well as
greater inner detail retrieval. Many have commented on how much
smoother the upper frequencies are.
-
There is much more information released at the frequency
extremes.
Pricing: Complete New EXtreme speaker system;
Adagio
Floor Standing: $5,795 pr. internal crossover / Add $100 for
Mundorf x-over
Adagio Jr: $4,995 pr. internal crossover
/ Add $100 for Mundorf x-over
Adagio Center Channel: $2,495 ea. / Add $50 for Mundorf x-over
ALL
EXTREME ADAGIO LOUDSPEAKER ORDERS INCLUDE FREE RETURN SHIPPING UP TO
$150 (within the continental US only)
Modification to customer supplied loudspeakers:
Includes complete
EXtreme upgrade - does not include loudspeakers
Adagio
Floor Standing: $1,495 pr. internal crossover
Adagio Jr: $1,495 pr. internal crossover
Adagio Center Channel: $849 ea.
Please
note: Response Audio has worked with all models of the Adagio
speaker. Even the very first production of the Adagio is still an
excellent loudspeaker as you already know. You can obviously buy a
pair of Adagio speakers online at places such as Audiogon or Ebay at
well under retail price to have sent to us for the EXtreme upgrade.
In the end, you could end up with a pair of EXtreme Adagio
loudspeakers for under or near retail price of a stock pair.
Interested in
custom outboard crossovers?
DETAILS
This
pricing includes full EXtreme upgrades. Customer supplied speakers
must be sent to our Response Audio NY location to receive the
upgrades. The consumer is responsible for shipping speakers to
Response Audio. We pay shipping back to you! See policies below:
This
picture shows our Bella EXtreme 100 mono bloc amplifiers being used
in the ModWright & Acoustic Zen room at RMAF 06.
Some consumer
feedback:
Hi
Bill,
Well, the speakers are sounding great. It was a combination of
burn-in time, integrating the sub, and much tweaking. I must
admit that I was missing my electrostats a great deal. I didn’t
know if I would ever dial the Adagio Jrs. in. I live near a
reviewer for Enjoy-the-Music.com and his reference system is
always my benchmark. In his house, the music just floats
through the air. Well, I’m getting very close. Oddly enough,
the biggest shift occurred when I double isolated the tube
monoblocks (two tiers of isolation underneath). I was astounded
at how significant the change was. I guess my amps are much
more sensitive to vibration than I realized.
So, I’m a happy customer. Thanks again!
*********************************
Hi
Bill,
All that I can really say is that I never though that I’d
replace my electostats with box speakers but with your mods on
the Adagio’s, I’m a happy guy.
*********************************
Adagio Floor Standing Speaker
System
Woofer:
2 pieces 6½” composed of doped ceramic coated fabric cone, 2
½” under-hung (short voice coil /long magnetic gap) voice
coil linear motor system, shielded 7oz Neodymium magnet.
Tweeter:
1 5/8” Round Ribbon, shielded 3.5 oz high flux energy and
high temperature resistant magnet structure.
Nominal Impedance:
6 ohm
Sensitivity:
89 dB / 1w / 1 meter
Crossover:
3 kHz / 18 dB / Octave, Linkwitz / Riley Crossovers.
Frequency Response:
25Hz -30 kHz ± 3dB
Power Handling:
50 - 200W
Weight:
78 lbs each.
Size:
48" H x 9" W x 13" D
FURTHER DETAILS
|
Adagio Jr. and Center Channel
Woofer:
2 pieces 6½” composed of doped ceramic coated fabric cone, 2
½” under-hung (short voice coil /long magnetic gap) voice
coil linear motor system, shielded 7oz Neodymium magnet.
Tweeter:
1 5/8” Round Ribbon, shielded 3.5 oz high flux energy and
high temperature resistant magnet structure.
Nominal Impedance:
6 ohm
Sensitivity:
89 dB / 1w / 1 meter
Crossover:
3 kHz / 18 dB / Octave, Linkwitz / Riley Crossovers.
Frequency Response:
35Hz -30 kHz ± 3dB
Power Handling:
50 - 200W
Weight:
Size:
24" H x 9" W x 13" D
FURTHER DETAILS
|
Adagio
EXtreme Policies:
Payment
in full is required prior to starting the assembly of your EXtreme
Adagio Loudspeakers. Shipping charges for consumer supplied
loudspeakers will be calculated when product is complete and
invoiced separately. Shipping is included when you purchase a new
pair of EXtreme Adagio loudspeaker systems.
Turnaround times
are within 20 days depending on current work load.
Shipping
charges
due prior to shipping.
All EXtreme
products are custom built to order. There are no returns or canceled
orders permitted
