Consonance Amplifiers
We stock more Consonance models than any other dealer or distributor in the world.
Special praise for exceptional sales of an exceptional product....... (from April 2007 Distributor Newsletter)
Praise
In
2006, Consonance achieve huge success worldwide not only excellent
local promoting but also annual sale, thank all distributors for
your great efforts last year. Here we would like to praise 4 of
distributors, they are Osborn
loudspeaker in Australia,
Werner-musica in Spain
and
Hifi Guiden
in Norway
for
their more than 7 years stable co-operation as well as their constant
effort of annual sales increasing. Aluim Audio in Britain, for
their excellent promoting in 2005 and 2006. They got us two "
Best of the year award " in HIFI+ and the well received model
CD120 linear was also benefit from their original idea; Move to
2007, with the many new products to be released, Opera audio will
try our best to support all distributors getting your own success
in both profit and local reputation.
Osborn
Loudspeakers are proud sole distributors of Opera Audio Consonance
high end audio equipment. Please take time to browse the range
and company information below. Osborn Loudspeakers uses Consonance
equipment within its reference system and its Home Theatre System.
Prices are Recommended Retail in Australian Dollars and apply
to Australia only and include GST.
| Valve Preamplifiers. | |
| Often asked question - Single ended or Push pull? This review pretty well matches my opinions...............> |
The diference is the
same as between solid state and push pull valve (providing it
is an exceptional valve amp. Then it doesn't matter how good
the solid state amp is). It depends on what you want to achieve. http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/opera300b_e.html |
|
Two channel tube preamplifier with amazing performance for the price, and way better than competitive solid state design. Remote volume. |
  $1890 |
The smaller brother to the awesome R1.1, however
it does have remote volume for a small loss of sonics, but a
big improvement in convenience. |
 $1900 |
Two channel tube preamplifier with excellent performance midway between excellent T1 and spectacular R1.1 an R1.3 |
|
Two channel tube preamplifier with awesome performance, competative with the very best. |
 $2750 |
R1.3
Transformer Passive Attenuator Line Stage A quite astonishing passive transformer pre amp with 6db of gain. This pre amp achieves what other normal passive pre amps set out to achieve, but failed. A perfect match with the Cyber range of mono blocks. |
| Integrated Valve Amps | |
|
A very special little amp with a performance that shames similar priced solid state amps. |
|
Very impressive across entire range with a rich, powerful and natural sound that makes solid state amps sound unlistenable. 40 W/ch. but sounds like 80. |
 $2250 |
A smooth rich and detailed integrated amplifier running 300B tubes, in pure Class A to give a surprisingly powerful 22 w/ch. |
.jpg) $2250 |
Cyber 100 Signature Integrated Amplifier Signature version of M100+ in new style casing. Extremely impressive little powerhouse. |
 $3200 |
Reference
5.5 Integrated Amplifier This is a top class 300B amp which I have specially ordered with the stunning, but expensive TJ 300B tubes as used in the Flagship Cyber 300B PSE. The R5.5 is a Reference version of the great little M100S+ which weighs an impressive 20 Kg, where this beast weighs 30 Kg showing the improvement in the power supplies. Originally bought in as a special order for a very good customer, but he was so knocked out by it, I decided to stock it and get myself one. |
| Integrated Solid State Amp | with Linear CD Player. AM/FM & USB |
 $2270* |
Ping - 3 in one - 100w/c Integrated withCD & Tuner Ideal entry to high end,
affordable stereo with cool running Class A 100 w/ch integrated
amplifier, with Linear CD Player, and AM/FM Radio, and USB input
to play from a computer or MP3. |
| Integrated Valve Amp with | Headphone amp &USB input |
 $1390 |
Cyber 10 Integrated Amplifier/ Headphone & USB A very versatile Single Ended Integrated Amplifier, and Head Phone Amplifier, with USB input, and a Linear DAC |
|
Stereo Valve Amp |
|
 $2290 |
Cyber 880 100 w/c stereo valve amplifier All new 2 channel stereo valve amplifier with
with easy to use bias adjustment from knob on front, using built
in meter. |
| Monoblock Valve Amps | |
|
Awesome performance. 75 W/ch Monoblocks. Lightning fast and dynamic, but with a rich and natural sound. |
 $3390 |
Reference version of M800SE. 78 W/ch. Powerful, dynamic, sweet and detailed. $9000 in Europe and worth twice that. Unbelievable, unbeatable performance. (New Review) |
|
They have a seamless and powerful delivery which makes a mockery of their rated 36 watts. Pure Class A Single Ended. Awesome new review of the Cyber 211 by Enjoy the music. |
| Integrated Hybrid Amps | Solid state power amp. Valve preamp section. |
 $1350 |
a120 Hybrid Integrated (Tube Pre) (New Review) 2 Channel 90W/ch Stereo version of C1 but with tube pre amp for more natural, sweeter sound. (See super Special on Special page) |
 $1800 |
Reference 150 Linear Hybrid Integrated
(Tube Pre) TheReference 150 Linear is a cool running, Class A design hybrid amplifier with a simpler volume control system. It can deliver 120 power output per channel with an even more reliable performance. |
 $3200 |
*Solid State flagship (New Review) Forbidden City - Calaf 200W/ch Hybrid Integrated. No compromise design. A powerhouse to compete with (And beat them) the big names in solid state amplification in every area but the price. |
|
DAC with USB |
|
 $640 |
DAC
16 - Digital and USB Input Finally, high quality sound can be obtained from a Computer or integrated music systems. |
| CD Players | |
 $1220 |
CD120
24/192 CD Player (New
Review) 24/192 Khz CD player. Solid State output. Awesome performance. |
 $990 |
The new CD120 Linear (New Review) The spectacular new CD120 Linear 16 bit with no digital filtering. |
 $2150 (Gold tube $75 extra) |
R
2.2CD Mk.2 24/192 CD Players Superb build quality and a sound unsurpassed by the competition at 4 times the price. Now with analogue remote volume. |
|
$1950 (Gold tube $75 extra) |
R
2.2 CD Linear The new and hightly regarded non oversampling, and no digital filtering player, receiving rave reviews around the world from reviewers and customers alike. |
 $2500* |
Droplet
CD3 Reference CD Player (Mini Droplet) State of the art 24/768, capable of processing signals as high as 768 kHz, for the ultimate in clarity and resolution. All solid state design. *Solid State flagship |
 $2950* $3200* with volume *(Gold tubes $150 extra) |
Droplet CD5.0 Reference CD Player - New Review and awards. Superb 24bit 192kHz up-sampling top loading CD-playerFull-balanced 6H30 tube output and top-loading design. Wood, graphite and ceramic sandwich chassis construction. Special made super-clock employed for further lower Jitter. |
| Analogue | Phono Stages and Turntables |
 $350 to $1,300 |
2 awesome tube phono stage for the best quality
turntables |
 $1,770 with
ST100 |
Droplet
LP3.1 Turntable System Droplet LP3.1 is designed to offers most of the Liu+ST100 combo's qualities in a cheaper, smaller and more pleasing entry- level compact package. |
 $3200 with
ST600$2400 with ST100 |
Forbidden City - "Liu" Turntable The Forbidden City- Liu is
a Beijing fashioned, more cost effective version of the award
winning Droplet LP5.0 turntable, equipped with Consonance |
 |
3 Turntables (Stunning new review) The awesom LP5 (pictured) LP 2 LP 6 turntable - Rega arm combination |
| Power Cables | |
 $190 each |
Stunning power lead that easily outperforms the competition at 5 times the price |
| Line Conditioners | |
 $250 each  $160 each |
|
| iPOD Docking Station | |
|
$170 each
|
Connects an iPOD to your computer and Hi Fi System |
|
A Large range of Triode and Single Ended designs are also available to order - see Consonance's web site for details. If you are interested in any non stocked models, please contact Osborn Loudspeakers. |
|
Do
yourself a favor and have a listen to these. If you
are a tube type person, you will be stunned. If you are a solid
state person, you will be converted, as I was.
Distributor's
comments:
The Consonance range are constructed in Beijing, China. China
makes a lot of amplifiers, some good, most bad. A
lot of them look beautiful, but the designers have little idea
of what they are doing. I have heard a lot of
Chinese amplifiers on my systems, and they have ranged from poor
to reasonable, but until now never great. My distributor
in Canada showed me a baby tube amplifier that he was testing.
It was the bottom of the range, the M99, a 25 w/ch
integrated push pull design. I heard it played on
my Titan loudspeakers and was so impressed that I ordered the
40 watt/ch version and, getting carried away, the 75 watt/ch Mono
Blocks and Preamplifier. (Never having heard them). As
soon as they arrived and I heard them, I immediately arranged
to be the Australian Distributor.
I have never had any interest in being a Distributor, or selling
electronics. It just isn't what I do, but when a product
as good as the Audio Aero or the Consonance comes along, there
is no choice.
Company Background:
"Simple,
Human"
Like other Hi-End manufacturers, Opera Audio specializes in the
development and research of tube audio amplifiers. The goal of
realizing the beauty of music since the establishment of the company
six years ago has not been changed.
"Simple, Human" refers to revealing as much as possible the original spirit and artistic content of music. To fill a static, cold machine with solid cultural content and artistic energy, until the greatest visual and musical satisfaction is reached.
Through the six years of business development, Opera Audio understands how difficult it is to build up a recognized brand name. Technology is only one of the means; it must be used creatively. To enable the perfect marriage of workmanship and musical arts, we learn from the past and continue to challenge the perfection level. To achieve this goal, we will continue to perfect our products like we always do. By injecting more cultural and human factor into the products, it increases both practicality and outlook, bringing more spiritual satisfaction and enjoyment to the users. We will continue to improve our interpretation of music and feelings. Through our products to pass on the musical beauty to every music lovers.
Located in Beijing, Opera Audio has become one of the leading tube audio amplifier manufacturers in China. Through our overseas distributors and positive reviews, we are gaining international recognition . The Consonance range of amplifiers has been well received since launching in the Chinese and international markets. With the goal of delivering good music as our number one priority, tasteful appearance and reasonable selling price remain the key success factor in surviving the tough competition in the Hi-End market nowadays.¡¡
About the vacuum
tubes used by Consonance amps
Opera Audio has been manufacturing tube amplifiers for six years
now. Throughout the six years the choice and application of tube
has gradually become their own principal and style. Keen followers
of Opera Audio will notice that, the power tubes used are mostly
EL34, 6L6/KT66 and 300B. Although the tube brand names has changed
from time to time but the type used are still the same. It is
the sound delivered by the power tubes that becomes the first
principle of Opera Audio's choice of vacuum tubes. EL34, 6L6/KT66
and 300B belongs to the high efficiency types with lively and
detail sound, good transparency in high frequency. There is no
need to say more of the 300B. The EL34 and 6L6/KT66 are famous
due to their availability with different brand names, neutral
sounding, good consistency and reliability. Therefore they are
used by many manufacturers and consequently easier for users to
enjoy tube rolling to suit their different taste. All in all this
adds fun into the ownership of tube amplifiers.
The driver tube used by Opera Audio are largely 6SN7 (6N8P/6H8C) and Shuguang 6N8P is used in several models. The reason being there is a large stock of Shuguang 6N8P and comparing with import 6SN7 the quality is very close and it has very good reliability. The reliability factor is also the second principle of Opera Audio's choice of vacuum tubes. The use of Sovtek 6922 as pre-amplification is due to its smooth sounding characteristic with excellent transparency (also used by Audio Research and Sonic Frontiers). The tube used in Opera Audio's pre-amplifier like the T1 and QM-3 are US military JAN Philips 5814A (T99 uses Sovtek 6922) and this has a lot to do with circuit design. The pre-amplifier uses different improved SRPP circuit without global negative feedback but localized negative feedback, giving very good linearity and transient response. Opera Audio chooses 5814A (ECC82/12AU7) for its musicality and neutrality. 5814A are also more suitable for open loop circuit application.
In short, the sound of Opera Audio's tube amplifiers is neutral and natural with the driving stage as simple as possible. (The less driving stage the purer the sound and reduces the chance of colored sound). Whatever tubes that meets the above requirement will be considered, but ultimately the application will depend on power, internal impedance, and musical quality and circuit adaptation considerations.
In manufacturing application, all tubes are tested by Opera Audio's computer controlled vacuum tubes curve tracer, Sofia by Audiomatica of Italy.This effectively improves the quality of tube matching, reliability and life span of the tubes used by Opera Audio. On the other hand, except that model with self bias like the M500 and J500SE, all fixed bias tube amplifiers features power monitoring with adjustment capability. This enables the users to actively participate in the monitoring of the power tubes and this will extend the reliability of the power tubes. This is also the other major difference Opera Audio has in addition to the sound preference with other tube manufacturers. It is the same reason that all products sold will be back up by one-year standard warranty with 90 days warranty on vacuum tubes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About single-ended
amplifiers
Single-ended class A amplifiers belongs to an elite family of
tube amplifiers. Nowadays, famous Hi-End manufacturers like Jadis,
Audio Note, Cary...etc, all have their top model based on 300B
single-ended amplifiers. The most famous vintage single-ended
amplifier belongs to Western Electric's WE 91A, which was used
for theatre and public PA application. They began in 1935 using
a single 300B (early models were using 300A) with two 6C6 pentode
and an input transformer to accept balanced input. Since the 300B
has very good linearity, coupled with the simple class A single-ended
circuit, the harmonic distortion generated at the rated output
is relatively small. Usually at the maximum output, the total
harmonic distortion is less than 5% , and they are mainly second
harmonics. Matching with greater than 90dB speakers it generates
a rich musical sound and transparency. This is especially true
when playing vocals and small chamber classical music.
Before 1946 most theatre amplifiers made in the US were using triode as the power tube. Standard frequency response was 80Hz to 10KHz and the output power ranging from 10 to 16W. driving horn speakers. In the late 60s, the development of single end class A amplifier originated from Japan and since then, the popularity of using it with high efficiency speakers increased. The tube used were mainly directly heated triode 300B, 2A3 and 845. Among them 300B has the best sound. This quickly spread to Europe and then the whole world, with this type of amplifier being regarded as an all time classic.
The top models in Opera Audio's amplifier line up, the M500, M500S, J500SE and J400 are all based on the 300B single-ended class A design.
Nowadays single-ended class A amplifiers are everywhere. Speaker sensitivity can now be easily made greater than 90dB, and with the improvement of components quality. The most important reason is the incredible sound reproduction. Single-ended amplifier's circuit is very simple. For a power amplifier, usually there is a voltage amplification stage, driver stage and power amplification stage. The use of only one driver tube and one power tube in a single-ended amplifier (like the M500) is even more simple. The change in sound is almost due entirely to the power tube and the output transformer. Single-ended amplifier can also use two power tubes in parallel to increase the output power (like the M500S and J400). In that case the output power is doubled and the output impedance is reduced by half. The driving voltage is the same but the distortion is a bit more than using only one power tube. Up to a certain degree, better linearity of the power tube and high quality of the output transformer has the most important effect on the sound of single-ended amplifiers.
Due to
the output transformer, a single-ended amplifiers always has a
large amount of DC flowing through it, in order to avoid distortion
caused by magnetic saturation of the iron core, there should be
air gap in the iron core. To obtain a good low frequency response,
the size of the iron core also needs to be increased. Usually
the size of a well designed output transformer of a single end
amplifier, is physically 3 to 4 times bigger than a similar output
transformer designed for push pull. Due to this reason, the cost
of single end output transformer is therefore greater. The single-ended
output transformers used by Opera Audio use high grade silicon
steel and excellent design to enable good low frequency response.
At the same time they are optimized for high frequency distortion
and sound characteristic. A special fixation frame is used
and the whole assembly is dipped into a special wax to maintain
a
constant air gap which is vital for a good output transformer.
