Diapason-Italia Speakers

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Here's a quick pic of the new arrivals.
 

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Wow - didn't you get the 25th anniversary walnut stand? great speakers i have the Karis 3 on a second system with Synthesis Shine Integrated Tube Amp, always wanted to upgrade to the Adamantes but wouldn't know if my 12x10 room would fit? what are your thoughts?
 
I do have the Diapason stands with canaletto walnut accentuating steel. I heard their tiny Micras fill a room larger than 12x10 with incredibly musical sound. So it is rather a paradox. The Adamantes are in a niche (small but costly monitors) that many audiophiles would shrink from. They would want more low frequency extension at the price point. But for a Karis 3 owner with a small room, the Adamantes would be overkill. You already have the look and umph to fill that room at high volume with the Diapasonès signature, no filter sound, very natural sound.
 
BayStBroker said:
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Here's a quick pic of the new arrivals.
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Could you please tell me how's the synergy between the hegel and the Adamantes III?

Reason i am asking is i am inching closer to buying a diapason for the living room ; i can't decide between the Astera and the Adamantes III ; the only thing about the Astera is these are usually high on a 77cm stand, but for the Adamantes i have an option of going for the shorter 25th anniversary stand ; lots of plus and minuses with the Adamantes i can switch to my favourite 40 Watt Intergrated Amp; i do not know if its possible with the Astera since those like power, The Astera (pictured) surely will look good with the hegel h160 that i have in a very nice "scandinavian" way ; but i doubt the black version is the canaletto walnut cabinet but rather Medium Density Fibreboard applied with automotive paint - any diapason guru's here?

(Astera, in Matte Black)

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I get the sense that the Hegel integrated products mate very well with most speakers. With my Adamantes I note very muscular base control. This is significant since limited low-end frequency is a feature of these monitors. I am taking delivery next week of a Rogue Audio Cronos Magnum tube integrated. I plan to swap the Hegel with the Rogue intermittently in order to better appreciate the tube vs solid state trade-offs (and mostly to have fun with the music).
 
BayStBroker said:
I get the sense that the Hegel integrated products mate very well with most speakers. With my Adamantes I note very muscular base control. This is significant since limited low-end frequency is a feature of these monitors. I am taking delivery next week of a Rogue Audio Cronos Magnum tube integrated. I plan to swap the Hegel with the Rogue intermittently in order to better appreciate the tube vs solid state trade-offs (and mostly to have fun with the music).
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BayStBroker,
I do not want to discourage you, but i owned a rogue cronus magnum and i thought it was vastly over-rated, it was superbly built but lacked the magic of tube amplifier and i found it extremely unmusical.

I would suggest any MasterSound (even the Dueventi S.E Class A 20 Watts) which has a wonderful synergy with Diapason and is enough to drive the adamantes to very good levels or the Synthesis Audio Flame (Class A 20 Watts) as well or Shine (Class AB 40 Watts) - you will be so very pleased!

I tried to make the cronus work for about 2 years until i gave up, compared to it the Hegel is very much musical and played
all music well ; as it is a warm solid state amplifier, perhaps though the Astera is a better match given its sway for solid state.
Only thing about Hegel is its power chord sensitive so use a good snake chord.
 
I'm representing Diapason in Sweden, where I have Adamantes III and Asterra on permanent demonstration.

These speakers are moderately easy to drive. I believe they do benefit from tube amplification to get the real magic out of them. Mastersound makes a natural match, where Diapason and Mastersound have been partners for many years during shows, events etc. One step up would be the Trafomatic EOS integrated, which delivers enough power to drive both speakers without strain or limitations. I honestly believe that both models deserves an amp on a higher level than the Hegel H80. If you prefer SS, I would recommend Densen, Gato or Parasound. The Astera and Adamantes will benefit greatly from high quality electronics.

Hope that helps.
 
I plan to begin next week to drive my Diapasons with an "All-American" Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum. I rather hope it will be akin to American Phil Hill driving the Ferrari 246 in 1960 to victory at Monza.

Joking aside, I'm relatively new to spending real money on high-end audio. The Diapasons are a breed above the amplification I've chosen. But that's because I'm not sure what I want long term and the Rogue, like my Hegel, is well regarded in absolute terms and praised to high heaven for its value for money. (Thanks goodarcher for your divergent opinion on the Rogue; I've only heard praise elsewhere.)
 
Hyperion said:
I'm representing Diapason in Sweden, where I have Adamantes III and Asterra on permanent demonstration.

These speakers are moderately easy to drive. I believe they do benefit from tube amplification to get the real magic out of them. Mastersound makes a natural match, where Diapason and Mastersound have been partners for many years during shows, events etc. One step up would be the Trafomatic EOS integrated, which delivers enough power to drive both speakers without strain or limitations. I honestly believe that both models deserves an amp on a higher level than the Hegel H80. If you prefer SS, I would recommend Densen, Gato or Parasound. The Astera and Adamantes will benefit greatly from high quality electronics.

Hope that helps.
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Dear Perfect Sense,
Which out of the Diapason Speakers is best suited for something on the higher mid-end of solid state like the new Hegel H160?
On paper, adamantes looks like a poor match and astera specified to handle solid state better? Really need a good match with my Hegel H160:)

In RMAF - The H160 could drive the Magico S3 with ease, but i do not know the voicing on the astera..
hope you can contribute.

Or is the Astera as well a Tube Only Feed like the rest of the Diapasons.
 
BayStBroker said:
I plan to begin next week to drive my Diapasons with an "All-American" Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum. I rather hope it will be akin to American Phil Hill driving the Ferrari 246 in 1960 to victory at Monza.

Joking aside, I'm relatively new to spending real money on high-end audio. The Diapasons are a breed above the amplification I've chosen. But that's because I'm not sure what I want long term and the Rogue, like my Hegel, is well regarded in absolute terms and praised to high heaven for its value for money. (Thanks goodarcher for your divergent opinion on the Rogue; I've only heard praise elsewhere.)
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Dear BayStBroker,
Do enjoy the journey, thats what it is about i guess :)
i fell for the huge praises that preceded the cronus like everyone else ; but ended up very
disappointed but that might not be the case for you; if i am not mistaken i think the Dueventi SE from
Master Sound costs the same as the Cronus Magnum, Just' Saying.

All the Best.
 
BayStBroker said:
Were you running the Rogue with the KT120s?
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This maybe the dividing factor, no - i was running the KT90 (back then it was an upgrade, back then to the regular cronus)
but i was running very expensive rca backplate preamp tubes - the biggest improvement i got was by using the DH LABS RedWave Power Cord and RCA 5814 Blackplate in the driver section...did also change the fuse from HiFi Tuning
- but that made little difference.

Also please try and avoid pure silver cables as it causes too much sibilance, after trying a multitude of cables i found that warmer cables sounded best and dynamic cables sounded worst.

I hope the KT120 really changes the game for you.
 
I would say the Adamantes III, the Micra or Karis depending on room size and budget. The Astera deserves a higher grade amplifier imho. Power is one thing, quality and characteristics another. As a sidenote regarding Magico vs. Diapason, these are speakers on opposite sides of the spectrum. I've heard Adamantes and Astera performing beautifully with both medium- to high power tube amplification as well as solid state. Diapason used Parasound monos driving the Astera in their own demo room last year when I visited them in Italy. The best result I've had is with the new Ypsilon Phaethon integrated amplifier which is nothing less of an amazing achievement.

thegoodarcher said:
Dear Perfect Sense,
Which out of the Diapason Speakers is best suited for something on the higher mid-end of solid state like the new Hegel H160?
On paper, adamantes looks like a poor match and astera specified to handle solid state better? Really need a good match with my Hegel H160:)

In RMAF - The H160 could drive the Magico S3 with ease, but i do not know the voicing on the astera..
hope you can contribute.

Or is the Astera as well a Tube Only Feed like the rest of the Diapasons.
Click to expand...
 
Hyperion said:
I would say the Adamantes III, the Micra or Karis depending on room size and budget. The Astera deserves a higher grade amplifier imho. Power is one thing, quality and characteristics another. As a sidenote regarding Magico vs. Diapason, these are speakers on opposite sides of the spectrum. I've heard Adamantes and Astera performing beautifully with both medium- to high power tube amplification as well as solid state. Diapason used Parasound monos driving the Astera in their own demo room last year when I visited them in Italy. The best result I've had is with the new Ypsilon Phaethon integrated amplifier which is nothing less of an amazing achievement.
Click to expand...

This is good to know and thank you very much room is probably 13x12 after some initial knocking around currently its 12 by 10 other room is 13 by 14 (3rd room) - being naive; The Astera looks more suited to solid state and the adamants so far away from that on the based on the fact that it is highly efficient, but based on what you recommend do you think the H160 or reasonably priced solid state can deliver some magic with the Adamantes? without sounding too bright or loose?

I frankly, love the hegel sound - it always punches above its weight.

Ypsilon wow - i know those are great.
 
I've borrowed a pair of Adamantes III 25th speakers yesterday from local distributor for home testing. Still trying to find best placemet in my listening room. Quite good match with my digital setup (Aurender streamer + Lyngdorf amps). Thats all for now.
Stay tuned.
(Unfortunately, as a new member, I am not able to post images..)


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