Sasha DAW Overview

The Man Who Started it All
The original WATT began not as a response to a perceived market need. It was not the product of focus groups. Dave never intended it to be a commercial product at all. Dave Wilson designed the WATT in 1985 as a tool for himself. He was a recording engineer who needed a loudspeaker he could take with him to on-location recording venues, a location monitor that spoke the same language as his revolutionary and revered WAMM reference monitor.

In other words, Dave was literally designing the loudspeaker he wanted to own. There was a certain freedom this approach afforded Dave. He was not governed by business-school notions of market need. Without these considerations, he was unrestricted to design and build a loudspeaker that specifically fit his desire for a loudspeaker that was complete without compromise, crass cynicism, or commercial concerns of any kind. As a direct consequence of Dave’s pure intent and his idealistic approach, a masterpiece was born.

Two Originals
Later, the WATT was paired with a dedicated woofer module—the “Puppy.” The WATT/Puppy combo became Wilson Audio’s largest selling product and the most successful loudspeaker priced over $10,000 in the history of audio. The reason was simple: it was a truly compact, full-range loudspeaker that could fit easily in most real-world listening rooms while still offering the bass speed and extension, the dynamics, and musicality associated with much larger systems.

When Sasha W/P debuted in 2009, it heralded a name change in recognition of the comprehensive redesign of the WATT/Puppy platform.
The addition of W/P to the name was meant to signify the new loudspeaker was still part of an evolutionary chain that extended back to the original introduced in 1989.

With the Sasha W/P, the platform eschewed the modular, two speaker approach of the WATT/Puppy, and instead treated the loudspeaker as a single integrated design. Without this limitation, imposed by the fact that the WATT itself was designed as a standalone monitor, Sasha’s performance established a new elevated standard for what was possible for hyper-performance, compact monitors.
When it came time to upgrade the Sasha, Daryl Wilson was sensitive to what his father accomplished. In the wake of Dave Wilson’s recent passing in 2018, Daryl was all the more motivated to ensure the Sasha would honor his father’s achievements, and yet look to the future for an even greater level of performance than was possible when Dave designed the original Sasha.

An All-New Sasha
Daryl decided a fresh look at the Sasha was in order. He approached the Sasha as if it were an all-new loudspeaker, taking the elements that very clearly worked in its design and, at the same time, applying the myriad technologies generated by Wilson’s design team since the advent of the Series 2 over five years ago. The result is the largest upgrade in the history of the WATT/ Puppy and Sasha platforms.

Led by Vern Credille, the team designed a new woofer for the Sasha. Based on the 8-inch driver found in the Alexia Series 2, the new woofer was redesigned for the specific needs of the Sasha. When Dave designed the original Puppy, speed and dynamic impact were priorities, as well as optimizing the bass extension. He found that two smaller drivers allowed him to optimize both. This strategy has been refined over the years. The Sasha DAW represents the largest leap in bass performance since the platform’s inception and resets the bar in the areas of transient honesty and impact, linearity, and timbrel resolution.

To further augment bass performance, Daryl and his team redesigned the Sasha’s bass enclosure from the ground up. Thicker X-Material panels further reduce (the already vanishing low) panel resonances. Enclosure volume was increased by 13.3%, which allows
for greater bottom-octave authority and reduced distortion. The blades on the top of the module, where its companion midrange/tweeter rests, have been strategically redesigned with openings, which reduces cavity pressure in the space between the upper and lower modules. Finally, a new, ultra-low-turbulence port reduces already low unwanted wind-born noise.

For the design of the upper module, Daryl Wilson worked closely with Jarom Lance, one of Wilson’s mechanical engineers. Thicker panels throughout the module reduce resonance. An all-new pattern is cut into the inside of the enclosure, which mitigates internal reflections. Enclosure volume was increased by 10.2% for increased dynamic range and efficiency.

The midrange and tweeters are the same units used in the WAMM Master Chronosonic, and an all-new crossover blends the entire recipe together. Vern and Daryl worked to improve the frequency linearity of the platform. Already the industry leader in the
areas of ultra-low distortion and vanishing noise levels, the team found ways to reduce both.

In the end, the new design is the highest resolution, lowest distortion, and most linear loudspeaker in the history of the WATT/Puppy platform. It is easier to place in a wider variety of rooms than its predecessors. Most importantly, the Sasha DAW provides a remarkably direct conduit to the numinous beauty of music.

In recognition of the man who started it all, the Wilson team felt it apropos to dedicate this most ambitious iteration of the Wilson compact loudspeaker in its history to the visionary who first imagined it thirty years ago. Thus, the designation “DAW,” David Andrew Wilson’s initials.

The Best Materials
The material to which a driver is mounted provides the “launchpad” for cone excursions. Years of empirical listening trials and
materials testing, most recently with Wilson’s Laser Vibrometer, have shown that different materials provide optimum baffles for different drivers. Wilson’s proprietary composite, X-Material, is the ideal material for woofers and tweeters. The research surrounding the original Sasha led to the development of S-Material, designed specifically to increase midrange accuracy and beauty.

Wilson Audio remains at the cutting edge in the world of enclosure composite development. Using the most sophisticated test
equipment, not least of which is the human ear, Wilson’s team has raised the bar again with the Sasha DAW. The team’s attention to detail and nuanced approach to enclosure design contributes substantially to Sasha’s unique blend of resolution, dynamic contrast, timbrel accuracy, and musical beauty.

On Time
Since the original WAMM, designed in the early 1980s, all of Wilson’s loudspeakers accurately correct the individual drivers in the time domain. Like its bigger siblings, Sasha DAW is a modular design, which allows the drivers to be specifically aligned for each installation.

In the Sasha DAW, a beautiful and functional calibrated “staircase” facilitates extremely fine adjustment within the time
domain. For each installation, the midrange/tweeter module is adjusted in relation to the woofer drivers below, such that
the four drivers are precisely aligned for that particular environment...

In the DAW, Wilson has enhanced the user interface of the group-delay mechanism, which now features a knurled knob, enabling the adjustment to be facilitated without tools. Additionally, the woofer baffle is now angled back, which more correctly integrates the bass drivers with the upper module in the time domain.


MC3500 MK II Overview

Inspired By The Amplifier That Inspired A Generation.

There's no denying the historical significance of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair. There had never been anything like it, and many would argue there's not been anything like it since. With an unexpected crowd of over 400,000 people, there was a lot that could have gone wrong – and some things did. But one aspect that's nearly universally agreed upon was how great all the musicians sounded. That sound quality is thanks in part to the McIntosh MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifiers that exclusively powered the sound system used at Woodstock.1 The MC3500 would go on to power many other influential music events.

It was at a 2019 event to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock where McIntosh President Charlie Randall, realizing the historical importance of the MC3500, first dreamed of bringing it back into production. That proved no easy task considering it was first designed over 50 years ago. But after more than two years of development, that dream has become reality as McIntosh is proud to announce the MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Mk II.

The MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Mk II is a conservatively rated 350 Watt monoblock that takes its inspiration from the original 1968-71 MC3500 and incorporates everything we have learned about vacuum tubes amplifier design since the 1960s. It has been upgraded to modern standards and with modern components to deliver an audio performance worthy of its predecessor and the legacy of its shared model number – all while adhering to the original design as much as possible. Like the original MC3500, the MC3500 Mk II uses our Unity Coupled Circuit output transformer, which allows the full 350 Watts to be safely delivered to virtually any speaker regardless if it has 2, 4 or 8-Ohm impedance.

The MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Mk II is powered by eight EL509S high-power output vacuum tubes. The EL509S tube was chosen specifically due to it having many similar qualities and characteristics of the 6LQ6 "sweep tubes" used on the original MC3500. Like the 6LQ6, the EL509S is very rugged thanks to its robust cathode and associated heating element which produces a high peak plate current capability in excess of 1 Amp.

Sweep tubes like the original 6LQ6 were primarily designed for 1950-60s era TVs where they would sweep the cathode ray gun in the picture tube across the phosphor screen. This was a very power-hungry process that required these high-powered sweep tubes. The use of sweep tubes by McIntosh engineers in the original MC3500 amplifier was a very cool and innovative application. By using the high-power EL509S vacuum tubes, the MC3500 Mk II amplifier remains as faithful as possible to the original MC3500 output design. In addition, just like in the original MC3500, the MC3500 Mk II uses an additional feedback loop to enhance the linearity of the output tubes.

Like the original MC3500, the MC3500 Mk II has a fully balanced driver section that utilizes three 12AX7A and one 12AT7 vacuum tube. The first 12AX7A is the differential input amp; the second is the buffer/driver for the voltage amp; the third is the voltage amp. The 12AT7 is the buffer/driver for the EL509S output tubes. All the vacuum tubes are located behind the power and output transformers and are covered by a 12-gauge stainless steel wire cage with a black powder-coated finish. The cage is shaped so that our patented, gold-plated Solid Cinch™ speaker binding posts are easily accessible even when the cage is installed.

McIntosh's exclusive Power Guard Screen Grid Sensor™ (SGS) technology is included in the MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Mk II. Power Guard SGS is designed specifically for our vacuum tube amplifiers and is similar in nature to our patented Power Guard® technology found in our solid-state amplifiers. Power Guard SGS helps prevent premature vacuum tube failure by monitoring the screen grid current in the output vacuum tubes. If the current becomes too high, a circuit in Power Guard SGS is activated which dynamically attenuates the input signal in real-time to keep the vacuum tubes operating at safe levels. The fully balanced driver section of the MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Mk II is an ideal match to use with Power Guard SGS. Sentry Monitor™, which observes the output current and shuts the amplifier off if it ever exceeds safe limits, is also included.

Both a balanced and unbalanced input are included for connecting to your preamplifier and the rest of your home audio system. Balanced and unbalanced output is also included for multi-amp configurations, such as bi-amping or tri-amping.

Just as the original MC3500 did, the Mk II version has an output meter, though it's larger and centered on the front panel instead of offset to the left side. This makes the meter easier to read and presents an asymmetrical look in a typical two-channel stereo system layout. The meter uses a variation of our DualView™ Power Output Meter design, with the top scale showing the power output in both Watts and decibels, while the bottom scale shows the amplifier warmup time. When powered on, the meter starts to slowly rise; once it reaches 100%, it drops back down to zero and the amplifier is ready to play music.

The MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Mk II has handled just like the original, but they have a more ergonomic design that is friendlier on your hands when moving this 121 lb. (54.9 kg) heavyweight. The base of the chassis is stainless steel polished to a mirror finish. The front panel is machined aluminum with a bead blast finish and gold anodizing that emulates the look and finish of the original MC3500. A clear glass insert covers the meter; a black glass insert at the bottom houses the knobs and illuminated lettering.

As an homage to the look of the original MC3500, the Mk II features two U-shaped side rails that wrap around the top, back, and bottom of each side. Many of the original MC3500s were used on the road a lot and these side rails provided a lot of strength and durability. It is a very unique design element that we wanted to duplicate in the MC3500 Mk II. There were also four black rubber bumpers on the back of the rails that allowed the amp to be temporarily stood upright while setting up for shows; the bumpers were big enough to prevent any parts sticking off the back of the amplifier from scraping against the floor and being damaged. These bumpers have also been replicated on the MC3500 Mk II.

The MC3500 Vacuum Tube Amplifier Mk II is both a thoroughly modern and thoroughly retro amplifier. It's inspired by the amplifier that helped inspire a generation. You can combine with a variety of preamplifiers, turntables, CD players, media streamers, speakers, and other specialty products to form a complete home audio system.

C22 MKV Overview

This newest version of our C22 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier – the Mk V – is the direct replacement to our highly regarded C70 Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Preamplifier, which commemorated our 70th Anniversary that took place in 2019. The new C22 Mk V is the latest McIntosh vacuum tube preamplifier to carry the cherished C22 model number. It has all the performance of the acclaimed C70 but with the hallowed C22 moniker and its signature glass and aluminum front panel design.

The C22 uses one 12AT7 and five 12AX7A vacuum tubes which can be seen through a glass panel located on the top of the preamp. Knobs and rocker switches operate all control functions while modern LED lights indicate input selection and volume level. The C22 Mk V has two balanced inputs, three unbalanced inputs, one Moving Coil, and one Moving Magnet phono inputs, for a total of seven inputs. There are two pairs each of balanced and unbalanced output connections; the two outputs allow sending signals to two separate power amplifiers.

Bypassable bass and treble tone controls are located on the front panel and can be adjusted in 2dB increments via rotary knobs. Impedance and capacitance for the phono inputs can also be adjusted via separate rotary knobs. In addition to setting the listening level, the volume knob can also be used to adjust the relative volume balance between the left and right audio channels. The ¼” headphone jack is powered by our High Drive headphone amplifier and features our Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) technology. HXD improves the sound localization for headphone listening by restoring the directionality component of the sound stage that's normally only heard from loudspeakers.

Our Power Control technology is included with four ports that can automatically turn other connected McIntosh components such as amplifiers, CD players or turntables, on and off. Data ports are also present and can control basic functions of connected McIntosh source components via the included remote control.

The C22 Mk V sits atop a stunning polished stainless steel chassis and features the timeless McIntosh illuminated logo, control knobs, and aluminum end caps. With its retro black glass and aluminum front panel design, the C22 Mk V will fit right in with McIntosh home audio systems of any era – from the 1950s to current day.



RS150b Overview

Hifi Rose RS150 Description

RS150 is High-Performance Network Streamer that provides various multimedia services with high-quality sound and ultra-high-resolution video.

Create your own high-quality sound station with RS150.

Pure Sound
State-of-the-art DAC Setting Integrated with Asahi Kasei's flagship DAC chip AK4499EQ, the RS150 offers low noise, low distortion, ultra-high-resolution sound and analog rich density with proprietary processing supporting PCM 32bit / 768KHz and Native DSD512 (22.5792Mhz).

Analog Acoustic Sensitivities
Delivers the musical inspiration from high-quality sound by the tuning of Acoustic engineers with thirty years of experience. Clearly expresses the full range, from grand, and rich bass to delicate, and elegant highs.

Linear Power System and Ideal Circuit system
Linear power supply minimizes noise inflow significantly. An ideal circuit system eliminates electrical noise and creates dramatically improved sound quality without distortion.

Highly Precise Femto Clock
The highly precise Femto clock delivers superb stereoscopic,
and distortion-free sound with quiet and clear background imaging.

Case milled from Solid block of High Purity Aluminum
The high-purity aluminum is integrated into one piece to maximize thermal efficiency. By minimizing parts in the assembly area, vibrations that can affect sound qualities are greatly reduced, creating a profound and ideal sense of space.

MQA Certified
RS150 supports MQA full decoder technology. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download.

Ultra HD 4K Video Support
Watch Local or RoseTube video files in Ultra HD 4K quality on a large display with an HDMI connection. Feel the magnificent and vivid touch of the Opera House at home now.

Advanced Control
14.9-Inch-Wide Touch Screen Intuitive, and convenient interface through high-resolution IPS Multi-Touch panel. The front display can play album art and music videos at a wide viewing angle.

Bluetooth Remote Controller
With a Bluetooth remote controller, control the device with ease.

Innovative ROSE OS
HiFi Rose OS system provides an innovative musical experience. Stream and play ultra-high-quality music, 4K high-definition video, ad-free YouTube, Podcasts, various radio stations from around the world, CD playback/Ripping, and more.

Connect Anything

Wired/Wireless Connection
Seamless streaming over the network is possible.
It supports Airplay and DLNA functions and can connect to smartphones,
computers, and tablet PCs via Wi-Fi / Giga Ethernet / Bluetooth communication.

Build a home media library
Designed to contain enough storage in consideration of listening to HiFi music sources, RS150 can recognize up to 4TB of SSD, 10TB of external HDD, and 400GB of MicroSD. Also, it supports connection with NAS. Experience high-quality music without worrying about drive capacity from now on.

High Performance Input / Output Terminal
Compatible with multiple devices via several kinds of terminals. Supporting a variety of input and output terminals, RS150 completes the ultimate connectivity.