Osborn Loudspeakers

21/04/2026

Announcing the 1st all new speaker, not just a new model of an existing speaker in 20 years.

Everyone is welcome to come and hear them, or anything else in the range. Absolutely no obligation or expectations. Just book a time by message or email. [email protected]
Up to 8 at a time.

The Monument.

Direct: Monument $23,990 | All finishes. (Elite option is standard)

There will be an introductory Special price of $22,000 until the end of June 2026.

This is the first all new model in nearly 20 years. The Epitome and Eclipse Towers were designed as an extended version of the normal speakers. The Grand Monuments was designed from the start as a Flagship speaker in the Tower configuration. There was never a conventional single bass driver version. The main reason is that I thought that performance level was covered by the Epitome Tower, and doubted that the sound could possibly be better. But it always nagged at me so I finally ordered a set. After running them in, I sat down in front of them with some trepidation. I need not have worried. The sound was thrilling and spectacular with an impact clearly superior to the Epitome Tower, something that I frankly thought of as an impossibility. Who would have thought the World's best bass driver would be so incredible and I can see why it and the mid range is used in 1.8 million dollar speakers. It is known as "The best of the best" and in this configuration, they certainly are. I stand in awe of them.

https://www.osborn.com.au/monuments

Web site: https://www.osborn.com.au

Monument Specifications:

Speaker Dimensions: 1140 x 440 x 482 mm
Weight: 95kg each
Efficiency: 90 db for 1 watt at 1 meter
Frequency Response: 15 to 22000 Hz. Tweeter accuracy throughout operating range +0/-1db.
Cross-over points: 125 Hz and 3500 Hz @ 12 db/Octave
Minimum Impedance: 6 Ohm
Rec. max. power: 120 Watts R.M.S per Channel
More power is fine, but unnecessary. Good watts are better than lots of them.
Rec. min. power: 20 Watts R.M.S per Channel

22/03/2026

The Rialto Stair climb today. I used to scoff at 54 floors, but not any more. Last year I only had 3 weeks to train, and I was sick for 10 days and weak after that so this year I had 6 weeks of so was determined. After one week training I got John's cold, so was sick for 10 days. And weak after that, my trading was a struggle. Then a week out I got gastro, so got weak again.
I was shocked at how much I was panting and alarmed it was only the 4th floor. But at least later starters didn't start passing me until level 22, then it became hard. I did it in under 30 minutes, so will see how I went. I
t won't be on next year as the top floor has been rented and it might move to the 92 story building. Don't know if I could do that at 76

22/07/2025

A new Review:-
I started making the Epitome Tower about 12 years ago and it immediately became my second biggest seller, and since the Elite version was introduced, only two pair of Reference, and one pair of Standard Towers have been sold. Both of the Reference people quickly had theirs upgraded to Elite, as the difference is just that big. Although they are a screaming bargain and sell for about 1/5th of the price a speaker like that would normally sell for, at $18,900 they are not cheap, in the schemes of things. But if they were sold and marketed normally, they would be at least 5 times the price. The Grand Monument uses the same 4 bass drivers and the same midranges as the Wilson WAMM, but are 1/417th times the price. Bound for Sound Magazine in the USA described my Grand Monuments as “An island of tranquility in a sea of fiscal stupidity.” I like to think that all my range fits into that category, as there are a lot of prohibitively expensive products out there, and most of it is, surprisingly, not that good. If it costs as much as a nice house, it really should be something.
So, when Shane Stevenson from The Aussie Audiophile Channel on YouTube asked me for another pair of speakers to audition, I was happy to support him and give him a pair of Epitome Tower Elites for a month-long audition. I have faith in Shane who started his channel a couple of years ago and since then has gained over 4000 loyal followers and has had over a million views. It was early days when I gave him the Titans to try, but I am always happy to help anyone starting in this industry, as it is a hard one to break into. He told me that since having the Towers in his system, several of his local followers who are very familiar with his system and often come around to listen, were shocked and stood there with bulging eyes and jaws dropped. I assured him that I get the same reaction with every audition I do on them, which is why after making them now for over 12 years, I cannot recall anyone coming to audition them and not buying them. The comment I get most is "I had pretty high expectations, but I just had no idea" A phrase I never tire off, and I get the impression that Shane now fits into that group.
Because at my prices, I do it for the buzz and the enthusiastic feedback, not the money. The Taxation Department is constantly asking why do you continue turning over so much without a real profit and are suspicious of my motives, but I just like people of all walks of life, from the Sultan of Brunei and several billionaires to the humblest of people with a passion. If I charged what they are worth, the way I do it, I just wouldn’t sell many and I need to keep my cabinet maker going, for if he goes, so do I.
Shane has an exceptional system where no expense has been spared to carefully put together a system of quite exceptional resolution, despite his smaller sized listening room. He uses very well-respected speakers in the $120,000 range, and the rest of the system has been carefully chosen for the same performance level, so anything with any deficiencies inserted into his system stands out, as does anything superior, which happens a lot less. After finishing his review experience with the Towers, Shane wanted to continue the quest and requested my smallest model, the Eos. He also requested the Eos Elite to partner with some snazzy and quality looking Iron Forge desk top speaker stands he was wanting to review. He is now in the process of doing this.
He then asked about the Grand Monument and could he have a pair for review. I asked if he wanted to wait a while in case people thought he was the Official Osborn Reviewer, but he is keen to see if anything can better the Epitome Towers, so whenever he likes he can help me maneuver the 175kg big boys into his room. He tells me he has lots of people requesting them so I'm happy and confident they won't overwhelm his relatively small room. We had them at the London Hi Fi Show in a room 3 x 4m and they were a sensation.
I will put the link to Shane’s review below. It is quite long since he also explained what is needed to get the towering performance these speakers are capable of. The main summary starts about 2/3rds in, for the impatient.
Shane is doing a great job and unlike many, knows what he is doing. He isn't the usual agenda driven activist, so he should be supported. Subscribe to his YouTube channel and click the bell so you won't miss the upcoming Osborn review, and many other goodies. It was Shane who put me onto the just-magical Stacks Audio feet, which make the biggest difference I have heard to any other tweak in my 40 years of doing this.
I would have included the link to the Titan review below that for those interested, who might have missed it last time, but Facebook only allows one link, so scroll down the posts until you find it, or type Osborn Titans into YouTube search..

24/04/2025

News Update.

Things have been running along smoothly. Business is steady, and about as busy as suits me. At 74 I like to keep busy, but not flat out. I have found that the desire to labour from dawn to dusk, and often to after midnight wanes over 70. I gave up doing Hi Fi Shows after doing over 60 in 5 countries. It was very gratifying to have so many people all over the World tell us we were the Show standout at every show, especially at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with its 1500 display rooms from all over the World, and winning the vote for Equal Best Sound in Show the year we partnered with Audio Aero who made extraordinary CD Players in France. They asked if we would supply a pair of Grand Monuments at their expense instead of the Focal Grand Utopia, which are now $250,000, that they usually used, because they had heard both speakers together in Canada.
We picked up a great dealer from Philadelphia, who’s Shop Manager had gone to and when he returned, he asked in anything had blown him away, and he replied only one, out of so many rooms, so I was surprised with an unexpected 12 pair order, and many more after that. It was nice when we visited him several years later, to see that he had two systems set up in his house, one with a pair of my Eclipse, and the other with Titans, as he had a lot of brands.
So many people at the CES were stunned, saying how could we have the best sound there with no room tuning when the other rooms were crammed with it and still sounded ordinary? Then there was David Manley, owner of VTL and later Manley Products, until his untimely death. He kept bringing in the captains of the industry, telling them they had to hear these Aussie speakers, he had never heard anything like them. He brought in J. Peter Moncrief from International Audio Review, possibly the most respected reviewer in the states, who broke his own rules of not reviewing anything unless it had 5 US outlets to review my speakers. He was notoriously hard to please and did not care who he offended, but he rated the Epitomes and Bass Units as “Virtually the mythically perfect speakers” and the Grand Monuments as “Unsurpassed at any price” and the only speakers in his 30 years of reviewing to get an A1+ rating.
There were so many others with similar feedback from the CES and some mind boggling ones from the Vancouver, Toronto, where we got extraordinary praise from the Focal distributor for Canada and the USA, London and Aukland Shows, but this could go on for pages.
I have been selling lots of the little Eos and Titans. I am still unaware of anyone who has ever come to audition them, not buying them, except for several people who could not resist the Titans after being shattered by the Eos. A very common comment is that they came expecting to be impressed but just had no idea. Everyone thinks the Eos couldn’t be bettered, until they hear the Reference, then the Elite versions has them reassessing their financial situation. Many bring much more expensive speakers to compare, Focal, ATC, Sonus Faber and recently Harbeth, whose owners were rather embarrassed, and even I was surprised to hear such a difference. It still stuns me just how ordinary so many highly regarded brands are. In hi fi, cost is not indicative of performance.
I have been selling a lot of speaker cables and interconnects and getting a lot of amazing feedback. To my knowledge I am the only person in the World who gives a lifetime warranty that if anyone finds a better cable at any price, I will refund the purchase price. I have sold about 4500 pairs of each to the best of my knowledge and only had one pair back. You can’t please everyone.
Many people ask when I plan to give it away. I like what I do, but at my profit margins make very little despite impressive turnover, and I would estimate about 1/6th industry profit margins, but I love to see and hear about the effects of what I do on so many lives. So it’s my fault.
I will keep going until I keel over, or just can’t do it, or that happens to my cabinet maker and he is older and less fit. After 22 marathons and 100 half marathons and about 30 stair climbs of between 3700 and 25,000 stairs and 13,800k total distance since I was 60, I finally gave up long distance running, but still do the stairs. I was a slow learner, but I realised that long distance running does not lose weight, so I do interval training now with short sprints so stay a bit fitter than the average nearly 75. Thank you to my large family of audio lovers that have been so loyal for so long.

24/04/2025

Consonance D Linear 15. Power Conditioner

Consonance D Linear 15

I had sold several of these, but never used one, so on the order for the one below, I had orders for 3 of them, so I ordered one for myself. With some trepidation I plugged my big system components in and switched it one. I was gob smacked by the sound quality difference. I agree with every word, so eloquently laid out by Vernon below.​

Firstly, Happy Birthday. I hope you have a fantastic day and celebrate many more. Secondly, thank you very much to you and your wife for your gracious hospitality and friendliness. Most appreciated. Third, great and relevant conversation. I love speaking to people who say it as it is. Political Correctness is for cowards. Then there the Consonance D Linear. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Even in its brand new condition WOW!!! As it burns-in, it will reveal even more excellence. That case is straight out of James Bond. Something that I would expect strictly from the extremely upmarket components, not from this perfectly affordable component.

Regards, Vernon.

09/06/2024

Our long running renovations are finally completed, and the house is as fresh as it can be with two giant Newfoundland weighing 68 and 60 respectively. We decided against the original plan which involved removing a major wall and removing the old kitchen and laundry and relocating it, due to uncertainty in the world and several idiots starting wars. So, my Renovation sale to get rid of multiple stock and my Forever System which weighed half a tonne and would have been seriously in the way was not necessary, so good luck to those people who were lucky enough to get some great, below cost bargains. Other businesses can have a 50% off sale and still make a handsome profit, 15% off takes me into a not so healthy loss.
I had been a bit nervous about how my two rooms would sound, going from heavy carpet to hard flooring. My lounge room that sounded good enough to have sold over 5000 pairs of speakers at an around 99% audition/buy ratio, went to not that great. I had never had any acoustic treatment, as there was little need for it. A couple of rugs helped a lot, and coating one wall with acoustic wooden slats mounted on heavy felt, and a couple of squares on the ceiling made all the difference.
I learnt about those benefits as I had a square meter of rug that I held out the sides when playing to check for reflections from that direction, and holding it above my head at arm’s length showed clearly what was reflecting off the roof.
The big room where I have my half tonne (now replaced) system was a bit of a disaster. The sound was nowhere near as good as before. The spectacular 3-dimensional soundstage was gone, as was the stunning clarity. A couple of rugs, one in front of the speakers, and another at the other end of the room made a good percentage of the image return. Some acoustic panels from Elite Electronics in Deer Park in the corners behind the speakers tightened the sound and reduced the bass boom. The carpet over the head trick led to two sheets of the wall paneling on the roof. Not a simple job to get them secured by myself. The sound was now much better but not like it had been. I eyed my recessed French Doors down the left side of the room and wondered if they were responsible for that room never sounding as good as the equipment in it.
As I was in the process of installing the wooden slats on felt panels in the other room, I bought 4 sheets in and stood them up in front of the French Doors. This gave a surprising effect and substantial improvement of clarity, focus and soundstage. So, now what could be a long term solution? I enquired with some blind companies if their blinds would help to which they honestly replied in the negative. Curtains would have worked but would be expensive and seriously in the way. So, I googled "Acoustic Blinds" and would you believe it found the Acoustic Blind Company. They made acoustic curtains and blinds. The blinds are more commonly used in officed and Boardrooms to remove the cafeteria like sound reflections making it hard to hear anything. After these arrived and I put them up. I believe the sound is even better than before. Several sets of people have come to have a listen to my Forever System, and it is quite an experience.
Everyone is welcome anytime who wants to look and hear whatever they would like, whether you are interested in buying something or not. People who are not in the market talk to people who are, and we rely purely on word of mouth, which has now reached 17 countries as well as all over this one. No advertising allows me to sell products with a performance that would cost 5 to 100 times more if bought elsewhere. Just give me at least a couple of hours’ notice to when you would like to come and how many are coming and whatever you would like to hear, other than my forever system. If you want to experience the live performance and not a hollow, process facsimile of what really happened. During the day, weekends, public holidays or after hours, it’s all the same to me. I like to show what I can do.

08/12/2023

A new Osborn Titan Review.
It is hard to believe that 2023 is fast drawing to an end. We have now finished the Reservation sale as things have changed a bit. Firstly, we have cleared all the multiple stock options except for one pair of Grand Monuments that I will consider at the 15% off at the sale price to the end of the year. These can be either gloss Redgum or gloss Tasmanian Blackwood. I am happy to keep either. I also have a pair in gloss Bubinga that were made to order, but the customer has changed his mind about the colour, so if someone wants them before the end of the year, great. I will make another pair, if not he gets to keep what he ordered. Which won't be a hardship.
Several people have taken me up on the offer to hear my “Forever System” with the top of the range of everything that I sell. Many minds have been blown. It is so interesting to see how much information is on a recording. Most systems retrieve enough to identify the tune, but the stunning experience that comes with the tune are carefully filtered out.
Usually when there are economic downturns, I'm flat out, but this one is a bit different, and things are quieter, which is good because I am starting to feel like an older person. Oft observed in others, but less satisfactory to be having my turn. But life is good.
Secondly, we have shelved the major renovation plan due to unsettled economy and not being a good time to be assured of fiscal certainty. We are proceeding with the original renovation plan and fixing, painting, replacing and floor coverings, so we don't have to move out for 8 months so business can largely continue as normal. All those that picked up below cost bargains in the Renovation Sale were very fortunate.
Sales of Eclipse and Titans are still brisk, and the Titans have continued their amazing "Everyone who has come to audition them bought them" has bought them record.
A new and fast rising YouTube reviewer and tester of fine hi fi equipment, Shane Stephenson, An Aussie Audiophile, who has been running less than 3 months but has flown past 600 subscribers already was drawn to the reputation of the Titans and asked if he could audition them. Shane has extensive experience in the Professional Audio field and has some eye watering equipment of his own. He has auditioned and experienced a lot of equipment and live performances over his career and leisure and knows what music should and does sound like. He meets my reviewer credentials in that;

He knows what he is doing.
He has no financial incentives or inducements.
He will criticise anything that is not what it claims or could be.

These are rare in the field, as most magazines
Will not review unless you advertise.
Will not criticise anyone who advertises with them.

So we don't get reviews, we get informercials. If there is no integrity, there is no honesty, there is no review.
I can think of several other manufactures who gave their equipment to people of integrity, and it ruined them.
I was confident and think it went well. Reviewers still have to be careful. If they say this product beat the far more expensive A and B, then A and B and their followers will howl you down, it starts controversy, division, scorn, attempts to discredit and a push to have you cancelled starts and often succeeds, Truth is irrelevant, presumption rules. So, the best someone like me can hope for, is a declaration that nothing at its price will beat this. That we got.
Please consider subscribing to Shane. He is a decent bloke who deserves support from the audio enthusiastic community. It is a time consuming, expensive journey to get enough subscribers to become not loss making, and we need people of integrity, otherwise opinions are worthless.
See Shane's review at.

[email protected] any enquiries, reach out to Greg at Osborne speakers. He will only be too happy to help you with any questions you may have.https://rob...

01/08/2023

NEWS ON FUTURE AND ONE OFF IN STOCK RENOVATION SALE.

I would like to say first, that anyone who would like to hear any Osborn speaker is welcome any time. My Flagship "Forever System" that I have for when I retire is an experience worth experiencing. There is no obligation, you don't have to buy anything or even have to be looking. I work by word of mouth, and I am happy for people to experience what I do and pass it on at suitable occasions. Bring friends or just come alone, but please book by phone, message or email. I am not always here, and things need to warm up. My Forever System weighs half a tonne and people say it is way passed what they thought possible. Treat yourself.

Many people have been checking with me lately as to whether I was going to retire soon, as they are worried about missing out when they are finally ready to buy something. Sadly, life often interferes with one’s leisure desires. Especially at times like this, when there is a fiscal shortage and uncertainty. People are not spending on non-essential things, like holidays, overseas travel, new cars and Hi Fi equipment. I did seriously consider giving it away, as I am nearly 73 and I found out that once again I was running at a loss despite mid six figure turnover. The problem with working with just over break even prices, is that the continual industry price rises quickly catch out the unwary, and the desire to work to 2 o’clock in the morning for a loss or very little does wane. Not having to pay tax seems appealing, but it has its downsides. However, even after doing this for so long, it is still enthralling to see the open-mouthed amazement of most people who come for a listen. To get so many comments and excited feed back from customers, new and old. I still get regular calls and emails from people who bought 10 to over 20 years ago, to say how pleased they are, and having them got them through very dark times. The bloke in his mid 70s who drove up to the last Sydney Show I did from Wollongong, just to come in and see me to tell me that he fell in love with some Epitomes and Bass Units at the Show 25 years agoand how he had some really terrible things happen to him since, and he did not think he would have coped, if he had not had his speakers to ease away the pain and desperation. He had seen I was at the show, and he just had to drive up to personally thank me, left me quite emotional. I recently had people from the UK, Holland, the US. Canada and Germany email or rang to say how thrilled they still were. This is very moving and satisfying to me, running a one man business from home and never really advertising, except by doing shows. Otherwise, it has all been by word of mouth.
So many people tell me they heard them years ago and it never left them. Finally, they are ready to get them. I still run at very close to 100% audition/buy ratio and there has been about 2 people since before Covid that have auditioned, were blown away, but have yet to order anything. The same sort of thing happened to me in 2015 when I was fortunate to get a ride in the first Tesla S with Ludicrous mode, the day before it was launched in Australia. When I got in, with two burley blokes got in the back. I was distressed to see the battery on the big centre display with one line of green pixels and underneath, “Estimated range 30K.” Dammit, I thought, it’s nearly flat, it’s not going to do anything. The bloke backed out on the road and said to brace ourselves and keep our heads against the headrest. Hardly necessary I thought, holding my head 5cm off said headrest. HOLY HELL, I ricked my neck, and we were doing 100K before we reached the next block. I had just gone for a ride in a Porshe Carrera GT Turbo and a W12 Bentley Continental GT a short time before, and I thought they were impressive. Driving around the big block coming around some sweeping bends, it was like being fired out of a slingshot. All in silence, except for the grunts and gasps with some blaspheming. I just knew, I really really wanted one.
Many people tell me that they would love to have speakers, but can’t justify the price, and that my wife says I don’t need them! My experience is that people would have miserable lives if they only bought sensibly, and what was justifiable, you just wouldn’t have any good stuff. The great things in life are the things you really want. Great houses, cars, boats, holidays and jewelry. Few are sensible. Life can be good. Music soothes the savage beast. And music of a quality that excites and enthralls you, more so.
Anyway, I have digressed. At the moment, I cannot see any reason why I should retire within the next couple of years, but if something happens to change that, I will give six months’ warning if at all possible. If I lost my cabinet maker, who rather relies on me, as I do him, that could force the issue. Whilst Covid was rearing its ugly head, his business suffered and I gave them orders for more stock than I usually carry. We are planning major renovations and the plans have disappeared into the bowels of the Council. Gutting the house will hopefully start about November, when we will have to move into rental accommodation for up to 6 months. I honestly don’t know how that will affect auditions or construction. There is also the problem of where to store my stock, so I have decided to have a one-off Renovation Sale on all my present stock. I just don’t have sales because my overall mark up is only about 10%. I am prepared to offer a 15% off anything I have in stock, up until I have to start moving everything out. This does not apply to anything ordered that is not in stock. This deal will never be repeated. My prices are about half world prices or less for Electronics, and about 1/5th the price for comparable speakers, if you could ever find any.

PRESENT STOCK. Prices on website. Less 15% osborn.com.au. Speaker Section.
(Note -Gloss finish is at cost extra to marked prices, except on Grand Monuments and Titans where it is included.

EPITOME ELITE- One pair in Satin Jarrah.
EPITOME - One pair in Satin Jarrah. (sold)
ECLIPSE ELITE - Two pairs in Gloss Santos Pallisander.
ECLIPSE – One pair in Satin American Walnut.
INTERLUDE- Four pairs in satin Jarrah. 1 sold.
TITANS – Gloss Bubinga, (Sold) Gloss Redgum, (Sold) Gloss Tasmanian Oak, Satin Tasmanian Oak (Sold), Satin Tasmanian Blackwood, Gloss Tasmanian Blackwood. (Sold)
EOS ELITE – Satin Jarrah, Two pairs Gloss Bubinga, (one sold)
EOS REFERENCE – Satin Jarrah.
EOS – Satin Jarrah.(Sold)
T12 – Satin Jarra.(Sold)
C3 Centre – Satin Bubinga
E2 – Satin white.
F1 – In roof speakers. Satin white.
One Consonance Cyber 880i. Used as standby demo amplifier. New warranty. KT150. Usually $4,980 – Sale $4,000. (Sold)

19/03/2023

Over the years, I have had, and been the Australian agent for some truly spectacular amplifiers and electronics. I chose them for myself, because of their stunning musical reproduction. Some have ceased business for various reasons unrelated to their audio performance, and others because something even more spectacular came along. A couple of them were widely recognized as the very best available. Because of the way I operate, there is no expensive showrooms in the best area, no well-paid staff, no expensive advertising campaign, or the other myriad of expenses confronting the main audio outlets. This allowed me to sell at prices that, in other countries, are below dealer costs. Because of all the aforementioned reasons, the markup on Audio, and on many other products, between factory floor and you are really mind blowing. This is not profiteering. It is just the way it is.
30 years ago, as we were moving into the US market and exhibiting at the CES in Las Vegas, I enquired what it would cost to have a one-page advertisement for 12 months in Stereophile, the largest and best known audio magazine. It was US$73,000 a year. That was back when US$73,000 was a lot of money. It was physically impossible to make enough to even pay that, yet flip through each edition and there are page after page of glossy adds, often several pages for the same companies. Then check through the countless other audio magazines full of ads for the same product. Guess who pays for all of them!
When I first got my first AM 833S. it was because of the strong recommendation from the English Distributor. He had compared them to several Super Amps in the £125,000 range and found they easily beat everything, I found the same. When I compared them with much more expensive amps which were considered the best, I found they were not. I sold a pair to a person replacing a pair of US$220,000 Wavac, on which the AM are roughly based, and he was amazed at how much better they were.
The amazing thing was that when I compared the entry level AM 805M with what was considered the best, the 805s were clearly better in every way except outright slam. Considering their price, even at half world prices, I have sold a surprising number of all 3 models, and both preamps. Every customer, just as blown away as I was. The new Mk 2 versions are better again, and even heavier.
Mid last year I was contacted by a discerning audiophile from Brisbane. He said he had spent a fortune on his passion and was extremely happy with the amps he had. He had compared them with several others in the “Just don’t ask” price bracket and none had gone close, but he had heard of the AM 833S and wanted to hear them, but was forthcoming in that it was very unlikely he would buy them, but he was prepared to pay the not inconsiderable freight up and back and pay for them up front to show he was genuine, providing I returned that part when they came back. Off they went. They didn’t come back.
I quickly went to order another pair for myself, but then hesitated. What I got now were probably going to be my forever pair, as I was contemplating retiring. I had earlier lashed out and bought a RT-3 Ultima preamp. The normal RT-3, weighing a svelte 56kg was just extraordinarily sublime. The Ultima version cost a lot more, having pure silver transformers and umbilical’s, and was surprisingly better in every way. The Ultima amplifiers cost a lot more, but led on again by the UK distributor, I took the risk. Some things are just worth it, despite being impractical and unjustifiable, they are just so special. The Ultima’s were just that.
We had never heard a soundstage like it. HUGE. Deep, wide, high, and soooo transparent with a natural timber that left us emotional at the end of each track. Everything sounded good. Crap recording had strengths not before noticed, good recordings were amazing. Amazing recordings ………. just lack an applicable adjective. Everybody hearing them commented they had never heard a better sound using the Grand Monuments and the absolutely incredible AM DAC. A story for another day.
I had an electronics engineer who had built several specialist application amplifiers for his work and had dabbled in making something extraordinary in a pure Class A stereo amplifier, bring it over to show me. He had done an amazing job and it looked better than a lot of insanely expensive super amps. Looking at how it was built, and the components used, I could not see how he could sell them direct for under $20,000 and a lot more retail. The sound quality was really excellent, and I was impressed. Having done over 50 Hi Fi Shows, 16 of them overseas and gigantic Shows, I have heard a lot. He said he understood I had a super system and could he please hear it. I was reluctant, as pure class A needs to warm up a bit before serious auditioning. Even I was surprised at how good it sounded after 3 tracks. After 5, we were ready. Not 100% but getting close. He was astounded, saying not only was it the best he had ever heard, but far exceeded what he considered possible. He asked me if I could play a 1Kz tone, so he could hear the distortion and phase shifts on the amps. These are typically not great on valve amps. He listened and measured the tone and just could not believe it. There were virtually none. It was the best result he had ever seen and just could not fathom how a valve amp could do that. There are many reasons they sound like they do.
I had a customer who just wanted the best. He had decided to buy virtually the same system, but not in Ultima versions. We played all his test tracks, and he was just shattered as he had recently played the same tracks on a $2,000,000 system and it wasn’t even close. I had given the matter some thought previously, so made a special offer. We just committed to quite a major restoration to our 42-year-old house. Where my stereo is now, is becoming the new kitchen. The renovation will take 6 months and this giant system, weighing half a tonne, would be seriously in the way. I made an offer on everything playing and he leapt on it. So, it is now in a new loving home. When we get sorted out here, I will replace it. My new system jumped from the flagship pre/power to entry level. Still extraordinary sound, but…..
I just got an email from him. He is a very nice, private person and just wanted his initials to be used online. I had sent him the following email from Simon, who just got a pair of the Ultima amps.
It's always a pleasure to read about the enjoyment that your equipment has brought into the lives of others, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be able to experience this firsthand. As I've shared with you before, over time I've found that many things which once stirred and moved me no longer have the same (or any) effect. Music is one of the few things, and perhaps the only thing on some occasions, which has not completely faded away. However, I've found that it does require an extraordinary musical experience to elicit the kind of powerful emotional response that, for want of a better expression, makes life worth living. And the ability of your system to create such an experience is, frankly, priceless.
Regards, J.
Following is an unsolicited feedback email I received from Simon, who had thought he about the most musical speakers available until he came out and heard the Grand Monuments, and he bought the first pair of the new model. I have now made 20 pairs. I was moved when he told me that after receiving his Grand Monuments, he had to completely reassess everything that he thought was possible in audio. He has extensively travelled the world and heard the best, or what used to be, and has extraordinary ancillary equipment. I was a bit worried when I delivered his Ultima amps, as he had never seen or heard a pair, and he listened to the normal 833S over 3 years ago when he heard the Grand Monuments, but stone cold, straight out of the box, he could hear it.

Hi Greg,

I just wanted to thank you for the amazing AM 833S Ultima amps you and Yvonne dropped in to me last week.
Ever since I acquired the Grand Monuments, I’ve remembered your comments about the 833S and wondered whether I ought to consider getting a set to replace my current monobloc amps. Two years of immersing myself in the music voiced by the Grand Monuments, I decided it was worth taking the punt… Am I am so glad I did!
Although the sound really has been amazing up until now, I found myself wondering whether I could get something a bit more three-dimensional – particularly for the music where I’ve always felt there was a bit missing – or I wasn’t hearing everything as clearly as I wanted (particularly ‘difficult’ low orchestral bass such as is often found in Sibelius symphonic works). My entire system is connected with solid silver wiring, so the fact that the Ultima is also manufactured with silver made sense – there’s just a slightly better tonality and purity to be had if you can find silver that’s really good. The cream on the cake if you get it right. So I guess there’s no real surprise that the 833s slotted right in and delivered - and far more than I dared to hope for.
The improvement is really about depth, texture and ‘fullness’ of the sound. Certainly, it is more magical and more captivating – and I’ve found myself back listening for even longer hours, just for the joy of it! But among the standout benefits has to be the fact that every genre and type of music I can think of just sounds so much better. With solo voice or choral works, the person or choir are so ‘in the room’ it’s hard to believe they aren’t actually there. The brass and slap bass in jazz music is, again, eerily present and real – and as a saxophonist, I can tell you it’s as real as it gets. Orchestral or chamber works also have a really tangible improvement in soundstage – particularly a deeper and far more accurate sense of placement – both sections and individual instruments in the orchestra or ensemble are very clearly locatable. Even Rock classics have more life – far greater clarity but also a much higher level of energy. The only (very, very slight) downside is that crap recordings are probably easier to pick! On the upside, though, a lot of recordings – particularly live recordings – that sounded a bit flat, turn out to be amazing.
Anyhow, as you can see, I couldn’t be happier. The investment was worth every penny and I’m working my way back through rafts of recordings with renewed joy and a certain degree of amazement at hearing notes, voices, or inflections I’ve not heard up until now, only multiple listenings. As always, your advice was right on the money, and I’m delighted that I listened to you. (I’ve attached a pic of the system in case you want to share it).

Thanks again – and all the Best! 😊

Simon

(See photo provided by Simon at bottom of post)

MOST AFFORDABLE AM - The 805M

As extraordinary as the Ultima are, and such value at my prices, they are not a consideration for most people who may not strive for the very best, but do strive for the best possible affordable sound. I do warn my customers considering a pair of speakers well above what they came to look at, that they are getting themselves on a treadmill as the end sound will only be as good as the weakest link in the chain. Most audio equipment available is NOT musical. You don’t go to a Ferrari dealer and say you don’t need the engine or the tyres as you have an old Holden grey motor and a pair of Bob Jane All Rounders in the garage.
The other AM models in the range are just as special at their price points. The AM 805M monoblocks are astonishing in their musicality, despite being the cheapest in the lineup. They also have unbelievable authority and control and scale for Single Ended Amplifiers.
My present top system sounds amazing using them. I could go one and one, but here are three recent cases.
I had a well known in the industry serial pest, who was always borrowing equipment to try, but never really bought anything. He loved his speakers (not mine) but was unhappy with the bass performance and the soundstage size. He wanted to try the 805M. After he loaded them in the car, he admitted that he had three other well known amps to try. One $22,000 and the other $33,000. When he returned, it was to pay for the amps. Not only did the AMs blitz the other amps, it cured everything wrong with his speakers and he could not be happier.
The second last pair I sold was to a well know identity in the Melbourne Audio Club, he had had several quality amps and just wanted to have a listen as I spoke highly of them. They did not come back and he vows these are his forever amps.
Attached below is a warming for me, but fairly typical feedback email from another customer who had bought several other great amps trying to get the best from his very special speakers. (mine)

Hi Greg,
Just a short note. Thanks for steering me in the direction of these AM Mono blocks. This is the sound I have always been looking for. It is big, room filling without giving anything away in detail, nuance and delicacy.
As soon as I had them hooked up I noticed straight away the width in stage the amps were producing. It is striking the way the stage gets extended well beyond the edges of my Eclipse speakers. The stage widened considerably and the rear to front staging was palpable as well. I have heard in my listening room good amps that produced very good width and depth but not like this.
The other thing that I noticed, and this really clinched it for me, was the seductive quality of the sound. The amps are asking and enticing the listener to engage with the music, and engaging they are. And yet, all the detail and dynamics you would ever want is present, so I am not hearing merely a warm mushy sound which would be sweet and pleasant, but a perfectly precise presentation dynamically charged and powerful. The amps seem to have untapped reserves available. At no point have I sensed any strain in the presentation and confidence in the equipment relaxes the listener.
What I have said so far applies to all types of music from techno to classical. Out of curiosity I did switch between the AMs and some SS mono blocks I had on hand rated at 250 watts a channel. I thought rock and especially electronic music would fair better on the SS rig, however, this was not the case. The sound stage was there and the dynamics but not that extra seduction and magic that the AMs brought to the music. It seems that all my music benefitted from the AMs.
I also noticed that I was able to listen to massed strings and crowded musical passages with ease. For a long time, I had been avoiding symphonic works on my rig simply because I could not get the sound to work for me. Maybe it was fatigue, lack of good listenable detail. However, the AMs have solved this issue for me due, I assume to their ability to image well with detail in a wide sound stage. Whatever the reasons, it is an excellent outcome.
Interestingly, these amps do require a good 30 minutes warm up even after run in. Prior to warm up I have noticed that image and focus is not quite there and then everything snaps into place. It is quite noticeable. A small inconvenience and I know this applies to most amps but I haven’t come across it to the degree I sense it with the AMs. Not a concern really, just don’t expect them to be at their best after 5 minutes.
In short, the AMs have a seductive and engaging presentation that sacrifices nothing in detail, power or dynamics.
Thanks again for the guidance and allowing me to try out AM demos in my system prior to purchase.
~~~~~~~~~~
Walter