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With 50 Watt per channel from Shanling EL34 Push Pull Monoblock Amplifiers the Prometheus works fine as actual Disco PA System for my summer night garden parties. No kidding - they have seen duty as that several times!!!! The Dipole nature makes them less annoying to the Neighbors than normal PA systems, MaxxBass works well to give the impression of "big Bass" Bottom End for such "club nights", without adding a Subwoofer. The Prometheus manages to sound even a little more coherent than the Tannoy’s and handles large scale dynamics with an equal ease and impact and throws a wide and deep soundstage. Compared to the Beauhorn B2.2 Revelation package which I had at hand during the same time (pictured below next to Prometheus) and which retails for about € 6,000 the Prometheus manages a much wider bandwidth, even lower levels of coloration and much more explosive dynamics. My own (commercial) Speakers, the 3D Sonics Transparence Dipoles using modified Supravox Drivers and a much wider acrylic baffle share many of the attributes of the Prometheus, comparison is a matter of "swings & roundabouts". The Prometheus manages a larger maximum output. For example "Smack my Bitch Up" or "Firestarter" by Prodigy at mad grinning levels (aka Mach 2 on Spinal Tap) bottoms out the Drivers in the transparence, Prometheus keeps going. On the other hand the Transparence offers a smidgen more detail and naturalness. I find it hard to choose between the two dipoles to say which is better suited to my tastes; both are exceptional. If you like your Music lifelike, with great emotional involvement and with few limitations on SPL etc the Prometheus should be on the top of your list, especially in terms of value for money. Oh yes, I also had some of the Bastanis cables send my way. They work very well and still have their place in my system in several positions, highly recommended as well. Prometheus was tested with the following ancillaries: Amplifiers: DIY HiFisupply "Billie" (forerunner of the Lady Day Plus Kit, largely identical) 300B Single Ended Kit Amplifier, rebuild and redesigned to my own design, using WE 437A drivers, WE 274A Rectifier & TJ Mesh Anode 300B DIY HiFisupply "Joplin" Kit Amplifier (45 Push-Pull) Shanling SP-80 (EL34 Push-Pull) Preamplifier: Music First Audio - Passive Magnetic Preamplifier (Transformer based attenuator), first original prototype Sources: Acoustic Solid "Solid One" Turntable with a variety of Arms and Cartridges, custom Phonostage with S&B 600 Ohm LCR RIAA Module and S&B TX-103 MC Stepup. Pioneer DV-505 DV-Player, heavily C37 influenced mechanical modifications, AudioCom Superclock clock upgrade, LC Audio ZAP-Filter analog stage Shanling CD T-100 Tube CD-Player Shanling SCD T-200 Tube SACD Player Speakers at hand for comparisons: Tannoy Monitor Red 15 in Corner York Enclosures build to Tannoy Plans Beauhorn B2.2 Revelation 3D Sonics Transparence (Acrylic Baffle Dipole speaker)
Bastanis Showroom Author: Thorsten I got the Prometheus originally as Review project for ETM, due to my increased professional involvement in High End Audio I had to stop writing press reviews to avoid (any appearance of) conflicts of interest. My previous setup (prior to Prometheus, Beauhorn and Transparence) is detailed here: I build the Prometheus largely according to instruction, using the PRONOMEN Shelf from Ikea which had almost exactly the right dimensions, except it was too thick. I could only route out so much of a rounded over part on the main driver cutout. This seemed insufficient, the sound retained a slightly pinched and nasal quality, so I reverted to front mounting the driver. I think with a normal thickness baffle the rear mounting is preferable however. I decided to shrink the Subwoofer in size and apply some added EQ to compensate the reduced LF output. This does reduce the dynamic range, but I found the results extremely satisfactory as is with reduced maximum LF output. The whole Prometheus system can play easily on the same level of quality AND quantity as the Corner Horn loaded 15" Tannoy Coaxial speaker I used prior to switching to more living room friendly speakers to please my wife.... Sensitivity is high enough to manage large scale classical music (eg. The Ravel version of Mussorsky’s "Pictures at an exhibition") with around 5 Watt from a Type 45 Push Pull Amplifier, the around 7-10 Watt from a 300B SE Amplifier are ample. |
