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Re: Audiostatic URL (US Distributor)

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Having read the increasing amount of correspondence within the asylum it is about time we set the record straight so that everyone is clear about Audiostatic, its product and its availability. In doing so I hope that I am not breaking any of the asylum's rules - I have done my best to comply.

Audiostatic is a Netherlands-based loudspeaker manufacturer run by Ben Peters who designed a range of full-range electrostatic transducer some 30-odd years ago called the ES240, ES 500, ES 300, and ES 100. The original design and its subsequent iterations are the subject of a number of patents. Over the last ten years or so various models of Audiostatic have been marketed to varying degrees of success, the learning accruing for these exercises being that the original design took some beating and that all product development efforts should be concentrated on perfecting the ES100 design and not dissipated on various hybrid notions that were in vogue at the time (much propagated by the (excellent in many ways) Martin Logan designs that have created so much market awareness for electrostatic ‘speakers in general .

In the last five years Ben’s development programme of the original ES100 has manifested itself into, first, the DCI (Direct Coupled Interface) model which brought significant enhancements to the speaker’s transparency and bass performance, and more recently, the DCI-LT (long throw) evolution which (funny old thing) endows the speaker with even better bass performance thanks to a membrane design and configuration that allows increased dispersion (8mm). This model, the DCI-LT is currently the one and only model manufactured by Audiostatic.

Now let’s talk about the Wing. A few years ago, Michael Geschka, Audiostatic’s loyal dealer in Koln, Germany, requested Ben Peters to make some modifications to the Audiostatic DCI design in order to accommodate some local market preferences – to wit, some protection circuitry for those who might try to drive the loudspeakers beyond their performance envelope, some ‘phase-correction’ circuitry to further protect unsuitable amplification and an auto-standby feature to ‘turn-off’ the speaker when no music signal was present (not a bad idea as it reduces standing electrostatic charge thereby countering the unnecessary attraction of dust particles when not in use, but not perfect when extended low level signals trigger it). But the most noteworthy alteration to the design was the optional ‘Fin’ appendage which endowed each speaker with some beautifully contoured rear-mounted ‘baffle extensions’ intended to make the speaker more benign in its room positioning demands and more effective in bass response. The effectiveness of the Fins is debatable as some swear by the improvement to sound whilst others have found the mid-range to become somewhat coloured and shut-in (thereby compromising one of the absolute raison d’etres of any electrostatic design).

Nonetheless, the Wing has achieved a certain level of market success thanks to the efforts of Audiography in the UK who continue to be enthusiastic in their support of the Wing model. However, it is important to emphasise that Wing is no longer a current model.

Ben Peters never favoured the Wing modifications because the inevitable compromises to sound quality were out of line with the design principles of the speaker; this is why Audiostatic (the one and only manufacturer of any loudspeaker bearing the name) has not continued with the Wing in its product line-up. The Wing & optional FIN models available through Michael Geschka and Audiography are the residual stocks of the model designed and manufactured for Michael Geschka by Audiostatic some 2 yrs ago.

Now, to bring everyone up to date – Audiostatic is about to release its latest incarnation of the original design and this will feature a new, fifth, ‘mirror drive’ transformer ( US patent issued), a multisuspension membrane (US. patent issued), and a new loudspeaker housing designed to insure an optimal damping of the loudspeaker membrane. The new model will be the reference speaker and called the DCI-LT-MD and is, without doubt, the finest incarnation of the Audiostatic design. The MD transformer and new housing will be available as an upgrade for all existing DCI-LT models.

In terms of UK and North American distribution, this is being handled by Musicology who also handle Atma-sphere OTL amplification in the UK – the Audiostatic/Atma-sphere combination is breath-taking.

Arrangements for US. and Canadian dealerships are in hand and will be announced over the next few months, in the meantime, if any of you would like to recommend dealers in your vicinity, we’d welcome your input and we’ll see what we can do…

Thank you for your time and happy listening.

Simon Matanle
Marketing Director for Audiostatic in the UK and North America
Email: simon@musicology-uk.com


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Topic - REVIEW: Audiostatic Wing Speakers - s.hum 07:59:37 01/13/04 ( 21)