Exciting news from Luminance audio. Virtual Dynamics has been aiding in the sale of a new audio product. The KST-150 from Luminance audio is an advanced technology amplifier circuit that is surely stirring the audio industry and audiophiles with its rave reviews. Sam Tellig from Stereophile boasted the amplifier should be a class A recommended component, and argued that the amplifier would be a marvel even if it sold for 18,000 dollars. He suggested that at this price point the KST-150 would force the audio industry to a standing ovation.
The KST-150, as you may be aware, sells currently for $3000, truly a very unique product for audio amplification. Luminance is joining forces with Virtual Dynamics. Steve Keiser has supplied a very unique circuit for Virtual Dynamics to implement and build another amplifier around.
Of course, as can be expected I guess from Steve Keiser, the amplifier boasts unbelievable performance capabilities that include 165 W continuous into 8 ohms from 20 hz to 20khz, doubling to 330w at 4 ohms. This amplifier circuit provides less than .1 % total harmonic distortion, even at full rated power up until clipping.
Intermodulation distortion is less than 0.04 %.
The slewing rate, responsible quite directly for how many driver modulations a speaker can make, is rated at 300 Volts per microsecond. This is in the vicinity of 6 times standard speed for audiophile components with similar circuitry.
The frequency response is an absolutlely stunning 0 Hz or "DC" to 700 kHz. This makes the amplifier capable of producing frequencies at 35 times the industry standard of 20 Hz to 20kHz.
Square wave rise time is measured at 1 microsecond.
The amplifier was tested for the ability to drive capacitive loads and it was measured to less than 5% overshoot on a ten kilohertz square wave into 5 microFarads.
The damping factor relates to an amplifiers ability to recover its power. It is rated at 1000 at 50 Hz. The out put impedance of the amplifier is rated at .2 Ohms and the input impedance at 20 kOhms. The efficiency of operation of the output stage is 90%, which means that it wastes less than 10% of the total incoming energy.
The quiescent bias current of output stage is rated at 200 milliamp. The amplifier features a driver stage of push-pull complimentary cast-coated topology for maximum bandwidth and linearity.
Absolutely no overall feedback at 20kHz and above.
Although most people wouldn't understand all of these specs it is well noted that an understanding of each one of these performance factors is critical in making an amplifier perform at reproducing music accurately.
This circuit is exemplary in every fashion. It does everything incredibly well. It leaves no stone unturned and no parameter of amplification untouched. Steve's circuit will be combined with much of the technology that Rick Schultz has been using in Virtual Dynamics Audio cables for the past several years.
Rick actually started applying his base technologies in audio equipment, not audio cables, and has been doing so for around ten years.
The abilities that are given in designing a circuit with Virtual Dynamics in mind from the start will make it possible for us to show the credibility and essential need for these technologies to be employed in all audio equipment.
The chassis has been designed, the circuit boards are being made and we are about 60 days away from having the completed product. it will not be until this time that the circuit can be re-measured to show the virtues of our technology, but we expect that even though this is a remarkably performing amplifier that both the sonic attributes and the specifications should dramatically improve. If you are interested in being one of the first to own maybe one of the highest technology amplifiers ever made we hope to be able to offer this amplifier for just under 40,000 dollars US.
Pre-orders available Immediately.
Keep Your Ears tuned,
Rick Schultz
