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| Phono Preamps | ||||||||||||
| Artisan2 Phono Stage | ||||||||||||
| Japanese Red | Matt Black "urushi" finish | Clear Coat over Birch | ||||||||||
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Features 1. Input Resistors made by ZYX The Artisan preamplifier is designed using the resistor made by us. The resistor is made of pure copper wire, world first Cryogenically Purified Crystal Copper Wire which is also used in our R-1000 series X type. The resistor is made by winding the wire into a coil that has no inductance through a special process. Then our resistor can transfer the output signals with no noise and no inductance at all. You can listen to the effect in the pure sound of the Artisan. 2. CR type RIAA Equalizer Artisan employs a simple but most appropriate CR type RIAA equalizer circuit. Figure 1 shows RIAA recording circuit. As shown therein it has to be noticed that this circuit is comprised of CR configuration, as there is no necessity to employ other type of equalizer such as LCR or NF type. For precise reproduction of time information in musical elements, restoration is required to be made under the condition equal to original sound through CR type circuit. Because, music reproduction to natural sound equal to the reality is made best only by correctly reproducing time factor. 3. Noiseless Power Supply and Rectifier Circuits Artisan works with 9 pcs. of NiCd batteries in order to avoid normal power circuit noises. So the minute signals from an MC cartridge can be clearly amplified in the circuit. In addition, the Artisan is equipped with 2 types of stabilized rectifier circuits. One drives the linear amplification stage, and another equalizer stage. Thanks to these, extremely stable operation and noise-free amplification with wide dynamic range are secured. 4. 2 types of Inputs, MC and MM Artisan accepts both MC and MM phono cartridges at respective input connectors. Figure 2 shows the Input Switch which enables you to use 2 turntables for comparison. For a listener who wishes to use an MC cartridge in the future, MM operation assures you of fine and unwearied performance of Artisan. MM input mode allows connection with an MC cartridge through ZYX CPP-1 pre-preamplifier, or an MC step-up transformer, or a head amplifier, so you can use 2 MC cartridges simultaneously. 5. 100% Playback Circuit In order to playback the sound information of an MC cartridge in 100% fidelity, Artisan has a simple but special amplification circuit. Normally each electric part has its own time domain, and it gives unbalanced sound as the result. So, ZYX had to correct these each time domain to the perfect one through our own circuit. For example, we never use all resistors and capacitors with normal way. (patent pending) 6. Electrically Skeleton Wooden Box A metallic shielded box makes the sound signals disturbed by some eddy currents occurred on the shielding surfaces. The Artisan has no metallic surface around the circuitry. It enables you to listen to the effect in the fastest response in the sound of MC cartridge. Further, in order that Artisan can match your audio system, 3 different colors are available for choice; Japanese Red semi-matt finished with genuine Japanese traditional 'urushi' lacquer coating, matt Black "urushi" finish, and natural Clear wooden finish with urethane coating. Artisan-r: Japanese red, Artisan-b: black, Artisan-c: clear |
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| $4,995.00 | ||||||||||||
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| Acoustic Signature | ||||||||||||
| Tango MKII Phono Preamp - MM and MC with New Power Supply! | ||||||||||||
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| With the Tango, we created a mid price phono preamp that is easy to use and produces outstanding sound quality. The mainboard is manufactured as a double-sided board with a large shielding surface on the top. Only with the double-sided layout those short signal paths are possible which are needed for the perfect amplification of the extremely small cartridge signals. This guarantees very low hum and noise values and an outstanding sound quality. MM and MC settings are widely selectable. The voltage supply comes with a R.P.C. circuit. This is a newly developed circuit which extremely decreases the ripple after the regulator and therefore creates a nearly battery like DC. To make sure the Tango is working in the best possible way, we have included more than 20.000uF capacitors for filtering!! This is more than much power amps have. We only use the best quality capacitors on the market. All electrolytic capacitors are bypassed with Foil-capacitors to make sure small and fast impulses are transmitted in the best way. The allowed tolerance from the RIAA curve is less than 0.2 dB. This is reached by using 1% resistors and high-precise 1% tolerance capacitors. To ensure perfect operation every Amp has a on site additional power reservoir of 2000 uf direct connected to its power pins. This additional local stabilization guarantees the best possible working conditions for the amp. The Tango also has a subsonic filter which eliminates extreme low frequency distortions under 6 Hz. The technical data corresponds to the enormous effort we have used in designing this phono preamp. | ||||||||||||
| Reviews: | ||||||||||||
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The Stereo Times Review The Acoustic Signature Tango Phono Preamplifier:
Paul Szabady; May 2002 "Thankfully, the Tango was not neurotic in demanding that only a particular interconnect be used to show its merits, but its resolution is high enough that one should avoid choking its output by using a cheesy interconnect. Two to three days of playing were necessary for the Tango to find its voice after I first plugged it in, and with no on/off switch, once broken-in, it stays broken-in. MC load impedances should match most cartridges on the market, although I couldn't exactly match the van den Hul Frog's lowest recommended loading of 600 ohm requirement and used 1000 ohms instead. The lowest output MC cartridge I used - the Talisman Boron at .26 mV - had ample amplification with the 64 dB of moving coil gain provided. . Analog Corner Review of the Acoustic Signature Tango. The Tango is in the same league as the excellent Lehmann Black Cube: very fine performance for the price. It did nothing particularly wrong, and quite a bit right. Jay Kaufman comments on the Acoustic Signature Tango The Tango is such a gem, a terrific performer for modest money. You~ll get a heartfelt sound, great dynamics and flexibility to accommodate any cartridge you want. The Tango is the make-sense choice for those who want it all - minus the steep price tag. HiFi World UK I nearly jumped from the settee. Dubs of vocals and synthstabbed out powerfully from the Yorkminsters - this preamp has real push and comes over as exciting, yet without the obvious cutting edge of other designs. It has big, rounded bass too that underpins the sound nicely, giving performances plenty of body and power. |
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| $2000.00 | ||||||||||||
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| R50 Bloom | ||||||||||||
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Natural sound having a pleasant texture. Easily and
clearly reproduces even a shallow grooved or worn record. |
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| The R-50 Bloom MC cartridge is the first cartridge in the world that can completely eliminate “time distortion” and play back the sounds that have the same sound balance at both channels and are truly authentic to the original recording. | ||||||||||||
Technical DATA |
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$1,000.00 |
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| R100 YATRA 2 - Boron cantilever | ||||||||||||
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The dynamic sound of R100 added with clearer vocal stereotaxic
position giving better feeling of being at a live performance. YATRA 2 version with wider bandwidth. Sound with realistically flat balance over wider range. The R-100 series MC cartridge is the first cartridge in the world that can completely eliminate “time distortion” and play back the sounds that have the same sound balance at both channels and are truly authentic to the original recording. All of the R-100 series have boron cantilever that is the most suitable material for wide range reproduction and the best stylus Micro-ridge diamond stylus. Beside each of them has improved magnetic circuit that is applied with two more vital design points upon 13 points of our RS series |
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| Technical DATA | ||||||||||||
$2,000.00 |
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| R-100 Fuji - Boron cantilever | ||||||||||||
| R100-02 or R100-02H | R1OOFS or R100FSH | R-100FX or R-100FXH | ||||||||||
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| Clear and wide sound reproducing subtle overtones stem to stem. | ||||||||||||
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The R-100 series MC cartridge is the first cartridge in the
world that can completely eliminate “time distortion” and play
back the sounds that have the same sound balance at both
channels and are truly authentic to the original recording. All of the R-100 series have boron cantilever that is the most suitable material for wide range reproduction and the best stylus Micro-ridge diamond stylus. Beside each of them has improved magnetic circuit that is applied with two more vital design points upon 13 points of our RS series |
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| REAL STEREO” Generator System: world’s first 15 vital design points. | ||||||||||||
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| Technical DATA : | ||||||||||||
$2,500.00 |
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| R-1000 Airy3 | ||||||||||||
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Wide and flat balance, clear and definitive feeling of being at
a live performance. Its dignified and natural sound makes you
sense performer’s sensitivity. The R-1000 AIRY3 series have “REAL STEREO” generator system that gives us the perfect balanced sound at both channels by applying up to date method to eliminate “time distortion” in the magnetic circuit. AIRY3 is newly developed in 2004 in order to realize the freedom sound in AIRY2 series. ZYX R-1000 series is our highest grade models and has revolutionary magnetic circuit treated with newly developed cryogenic process. You will enjoy 3-dimensional Airy sound presence and vivid sound images you have never experienced. That is our goal, where the sound has actually lively performance of analog music. |
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| Technical Data: | ||||||||||||
$3,450.00 |
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| 4D | ||||||||||||
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| SOUND OF 4 DIMENSIONS: | ||||||||||||
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The factors that can be documented as data of an audio component
such as frequency response and distortion characteristics are
only two dimension. Frequency (X) and level (y) where a sound is
structured by three dimensional factors including time (z) then
a question comes how the time (z) response is presented in audio
equipment. I have found that exactly the time factor Z is very
important to represent playback sound quality. Analog recording
that contains the same continuously sequential Z information as
the sound in natural world is essential in real sound playback
as known and makes it possible to reproduce sounds that are
natural and clear. Three dimensional image oriented and
sensitive and wide range. ZYX MC Phono cartridge are designed and built with this important central factor Z and unparallel in the world they enable time responses begin even over the entire range. Resultant gain are equal sound quality on both left and right channels flat sound balance and clear stereo sound flied as widely accepted by users. Further, ZYX 4D model has come out with newly added feature each of which is upgraded for better sound image orientation, clear outline expression, purer stereophonic sound field, and more realistic acoustic space so that you will recognize again the amazing sound information of analog playback. The 4D has four dimensional factors that realize reproducing new three dimensional music whenever, whenever and repeatedly going beyond time and space. Newly Developed Features: 2 Layer Laminate Armatures An armature which is the frame whereon generator coil is wound is key part as center of all mechanical vibration in generator system. It simultaneously affects electrically an audio signal from coil output and quality of reproduced sound. For reproduction over wide range, it is indispensable to reduce numbers of coil turns and equivalent moving mass in vibration system, and to cover resultant drop in output voltage a high-permeability metal having 6 times more efficiency than an empty core is generally used as armature material. On the other hand a metal armature generates induced eddy-current over armature and disturbs the flow of audio signal generated by a coil. Induced eddy-current is extremely minute so it might have been considered least influential, but we should not neglect its influence now that we aim higher quality of sound level. ZYX has succeeded in taking the most effective measures to meet this situation into 4D for the first time. We made the armature structure have double layers facing each other with opposite polarity mainly one laminate to face N-polarity and the other S- forming mutually reversed phase positions in order to short circuit and simultaneously dissolve both eddy current generated in each armature. As the result double layer armatures showed immeasurable effect and are presenting new world of sound we never experienced before. For sure you will sense animate sounds which are beyond those mechanically reproduced on every count such as vocal, piano, violin and every other musical tones in texture, Dynamism, too realistic noiseless sound feeling. This is what reproduction of original sound means. Semi-Skeleton Body Any phono cartridge aiming higher sound quality should never show body resonance, which feedbacks to vibrate generator system that has to be kept statically. To be free of body resonance, 4D has introduced for the first time in the world a semi-skeleton body without side panels that are most apt to produce resonance. It is basically pillar structured like Parthenon to be one of the factors of clear sound without inter-modulation. |
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ZYX 4D: Super fast reproduction ability over entire bandwidth. Vividly supernatural sound beyond the dimension of play time. You can even feel the stage floor. |
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| Technical DATA: | ||||||||||||
$4.580.00 |
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| ZYX OMEGA Series | ||||||||||||
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| Review from Tone Audio April 2010 Pages 87-89 | ||||||||||||
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Here is what Tone Audio call ZYX Omega is “ Dreamy” As this cartridge arrived with a few hours on the clock from CES , it came out of the box sounding gorgeous. The first listening session began with a few favorites from Mobile Fidelity, old and new. Those of you with a penchant for listening to female vocal recordings will be in heaven. Having seen Madeline Peyroux a few times now, I found her Careless Love LP on MoFi to be a good reference, with a healthy dose of breathy vocals, a great lineup of acoustic players and a gigantic soundstage Here’s the key to what makes this cartridge so special: your best records sound stunning, but even the average records in your collection sound fantastic. Please click on the link above to read full review: |
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| Sound of Miracle: | ||||||||||||
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Centroid (Sweet Spot): As you may well know a golf club head or
a baseball bat needs hitting a ball at its centroid. It is the
point on the rotation axis where inertia moment becomes minimum
when a golf club head or baseball bat makes a sidespin. Energy
of motion of the head or the bat can be 100% carried to the ball
at this point. If a ball is hit at a spot of the centroid, the
ball flies out to unexpected direction, curves, and the player
feels strong backlash at his hand. In a phono cartridge too, the relationship between a ball and head is opposite but relatively a similar phenomenon seems to be occurring. Also vibrating energy from a record (disc) given to cartridge weight and stylus tip is extremely light and low level compared to the aforementioned case, but must be equal in proportion. Corresponding parts are ball vs vibration system having a stylus tip that receives vibrations from a disc and head or bat vs cartridge body. At the thought from the phenomenon as mentioned above, if the gravity center of vibration system corresponds to the centroid of the cartridge body 100% of vibration energy of recorded audio signal are transmitted to the generator system in the body to be fully converted to electrical signals and quite an ideal cartridge is possible to design. Moreover, if the position of vibration system is off the body centroid not only that vibration energy from a disc is 100% transmitted to generator, but also the energy lost transforms to another type of energy. This is just like an element similar to the backlash a golfers or baseball batter’s hand feels, i.e. a force to vibration a cartridge body. For a cartridge that traces subtle signals body vibration is quite harmful. Because the fulcrum point of vibration system having a stylus tip at forefront be this vibration. This, a structure of a cartridge is considered essential to be achieved to cope with centoid phenomenon. |
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A spherical object fix to the front nose of ZYX OMEGA series is a balancing weight to accord the sweet spot of the cartridge body and the gravity Point of vibration system. Having checked up materials and repeated audio monitoring a nonmetal lapis lazuli ball having hardness 5.0 specific gravity 2.5 diameter 8mm, and weight about 1 gram is put in at the most appropriate position to form the best cartridge structure. B. Non-vibration Body
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Even if vibration energy from stylus tip generated through
direct operation of vibration system to power generating system
is 100% converted to generator energy, Vibration wave is
transmitted to cartridge body. It corresponds to comfortable
slapping sound when a ball is hit at the centroid. When the
vibration of generator is evaporated in natural flow from
cartridge body to headshell and tonearm, there should exist no
harmful effect to the cartridge body. To protect this problem,
it is necessary to have eliminating mechanism that naturally
cancels repetitions of this wave within is necessary avoiding
use of a metal that contains a risk to absorb vibration elements
quite essential to power generation at the stage before
conversion. The Lapis Lazuli ball used in OMEGA series has another important merit than centroid. Due to its composition blended of a few kinds of sodalite and spherical shape, vibrating wave flown from the north pole of the ball is absorbed in the crystal architecture mingled inside and vibrating wave running down the ball surface is cancelled at the sound pole of the ball. |
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| OMEGA: | ||||||||||||
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Ultimately enhanced power sound version of ZYX 4D. From surrealistic sound to airiness in three dimensional can be sensed. You will be surprised afresh with massive information grooved in a record. In Addition to ZYX 4D feature, Omega incorporates K18 Gold Solid Terminals and Sapphire Terminal Board to eliminate sound coloration and extra vibration. Lapis Lazuri Balancing weight (1g weight, 8mm Diameter) is attached on cartridge top end to coincide sweet spot of cartridge body and gravity point of stylus vibration system. Material nature of Lapis Lazuli nurifies vabrating wave running from north pole on it's surface to the south pole. |
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| Technical Data: | ||||||||||||
$6,500.00 |
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| R-1000 Sigma 2 | ||||||||||||
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| Micro-ridge Diamond Stylus: | ||||||||||||
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R1000 Sigma: Fast, straight, and natural sound due to use of cantilever made of diamond a supreme material. Especially vocal expression is Sigma’s characteristic. |
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On top of 4D feature, cantilever is made of square natural
diamond rod (.022mm), being low mass, highest rigidity and
superior dampening characteristic as raw material, which allows
Sigma 2 to track and respond to the most dynamic passage with
great accuracy and extremely low resonance. In addition, light and rigid diamond cantilever provides the cartridge with the quickest sound transmission of any material, allowing the fastest time response in magnetic circuit. R-1000 Sigma 2 has REAL STEREO generator system that gives perfect sound at both channels by applying the latest technology to eliminate “time distortion” in magnetic circuit. R-1000 series is our second top of the line models and designed with revolutionary magnetic circuit using cryogenic process. Among the series R-1000 SIGMA 2 has an ideal diamond cantilever for the highest fidelity in mechanical reproduction. |
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REAL STEREO Generator Sys Tem: World first 15 vital design point
that is ZYX’s know how. World first cryogenically treated magnetic circuit the cryogenic temperature is -196c (320F) that is the lowest temperature among other commercial cryogenic methods. Under this lowest temperature metal parts are purified with their molecular structures regularized to the original state pure silver wire generator coils: R-1000 uses cryogenically treated 5N silver wire made in USA. It can easily make the sound extend high range and transparent mid and low range. 6N crystallized copper wire generator coil R-1000 uses cryogenically treated giant crystal copper wire for the first time in the world. You will find a new sound world never expected. The most superior cantilever R-1000 series utilizes a state of the art diamond solid cantilever begin beside boron cantilever, the lowest in mass, highest in rigidity and fastest in response to the most dynamic passage. |
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| Technical DATA: | ||||||||||||
$12,500.00 |
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| Diamond | ||||||||||||
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| Sound of Miracle: | ||||||||||||
| Centroid (Sweet Spot): As you may well know a golf club head or a baseball bat needs hitting a ball at its centroid. It is the point on the rotation axis where inertia moment becomes minimum when a golf club head or baseball bat makes a sidespin. Energy of motion of the head or the bat can be 100% carried to the ball at this point. If a ball is hit at a spot of the centroid, the ball flies out to unexpected direction, curves, and the player feels strong backlash at his hand. | ||||||||||||
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In a phono cartridge too, the relationship between a ball and
head is opposite but relatively a similar phenomenon seems to be
occurring. Also vibrating energy from a record (disc) given to
cartridge weight and stylus tip is extremely light and low level
compared to the aforementioned case, but must be equal in
proportion. Corresponding parts are ball vs vibration system having a stylus tip that receives vibrations from a disc and head or bat vs cartridge body. At the thought from the phenomenon as mentioned above, if the gravity center of vibration system corresponds to the centroid of the cartridge body 100% of vibration energy of recorded audio signal are transmitted to the generator system in the body to be fully converted to electrical signals and quite an ideal cartridge is possible to design. Moreover, if the position of vibration system is off the body centroid not only that vibration energy from a disc is 100% transmitted to generator, but also the energy lost transforms to another type of energy. This is just like an element similar to the backlash a golfers or baseball batter’s hand feels, i.e a force to vibration a cartridge body. For a cartridge that traces subtle signals body vibration is quite harmful. Because the fulcrum point of vibration system having a stylus tip at forefront be this vibration. This, a structure of a cartridge is considered essential to be achieved to cope with centroid phenomenon. A spherical object fix to the front nose of ZYX OMEGA series is a balancing weight to accord the sweet spot of the cartridge body and the gravity Point of vibration system. Having checked up material. |
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B. Non-vibration Body: Even if vibration energy from stylus tip generated through direct operation of vibration system to power generating system is 100% converted to generator energy, Vibration wave is transmitted to cartridge body. It corresponds to comfortable slapping sound when a ball is hit at the centroid. When the vibration of generator is evaporated in natural flow from cartridge body to headshell and tonearm, there should exist no harmful effect to the cartridge body. To protect this problem, it is necessary to have eliminating mechanism that naturally cancels repetitions of this wave within is necessary avoiding use of a metal that contains a risk to absorb vibration elements quite essential to power generation at the stage before conversion. The Lapis Lazuli ball used in OMEGA series has another important merit than centroid. Due to its composition blended of a few kinds of sodality and spherical shape, vibrating wave flown from the north pole of the ball is absorbed in the crystal architecture mingled inside and vibrating wave running down the ball surface is cancelled at the sound pole of the ball. |
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| ZYX Diamond: | ||||||||||||
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Ultimate model featuring all ZYX technology.
Dramatically enhances your favorite audio system. |
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| Technical Data: | ||||||||||||
$14,900.00 |
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