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NorthCountry Audio Reference Systems

Email: northcountryaudio@cadencebuilding.com

After years of putting audio systems together it has become apparent that the status-quo of high-end audio does not work when it comes to reproducing music. Our extensive involvement with not only the production of electronics but the recording process as well has enabled us to "hear the sound", so to speak, in ways that few people ever do. To those ends we have selected equipment with three key issues in mind:

Musicality. This is an overused term which has been used far too often to differentiate over-detailed, over-bright, hard sounding systems from those that are considered musical. The problem is that the term musical has been used as an excuse for systems lacking dynamics, resolution, articulation, and full intelligent frequency coverage. We strive to find equipment that is as close to neutral as possible. To those ends it will be musical, as well as detailed, articulate, and of high resolution.

Balance. Far too often stereo systems are put together with the idea that balance can be achieved at any extreme. While mathematically +10 and -10 will add up to zero this does not work with audio systems. A system that is too bright is not going to be fixed by the addition of a component that is too dull. It is paramount to stay with components that deviate from the zero point as little as possible. It is amazing how far most stray.

Intelligence of design. It is a rare component that manages to succeed at one and two while still being designed with long-term viability in mind. You would be surprised how many highly touted products are poorly executed. They hum, buzz, lose performance quickly, and in general are made to look good on the shelf and in the ads, but fail to meet basic standards of design intelligence.

Our Reference Components: For many people most of this equipment will be unknown. Don't let that confuse you. Given the high cost of marketing products some manufacturers have chosen to spend their money and efforts on a better product for the consumer at the risk of being lesser known. For those that know these products can't be beat.

Speakers. Brentworth Sound Labs. Never before has a single product so dramatically upset the normal rules of system architecture. Combining high efficiency (100 dB for 1 watt and over), no cross-over and, depending on the model, only one, two, or four, 6.5" drivers these speakers redefine resolution, clarity, dynamics and tonal and timbral accuracy. Finally a speaker that does not have to be 'fixed' by the electronics. Suddenly the path is open to simply chose amplification that sounds good. And, without the need for high power, this speaker can make use of better sounding lower output amplifiers. The fewer gain stages in the amplification the better. All things being equal the same design will sound better at 25 watts than it will at 50 watts. This is not to say that all low powered amps sound better than higher powered ones, that is simply not true. In fact we would argue that the lowest powered amplifiers available have very little to do with fidelity. To read more about these speakers and their design concepts click here.

Amplification: TriMax.

Tube amplification that is truly high fidelity. We do not have much info for reading regarding the TriMax amplifiers suffice it to say that they are well worth checking out as one of the best amps around. Using just two output tubes per channel these mono amps produce some of the best sound with 25 watts that I have ever heard.

There are various and other sundry products that we also feel are quite good. This area will expand in the future as we have time and product to put here. The above products are just so good they deserved special mention. They are also the products that we use here to evaluate everything from recording projects to wire. We would encourage you to contact Vladimir to discuss these and any other products that may interest you.

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