Wilson Benesch by Tri-Cell

Turntables

The Wilson Benesch Turntable
The Wilson Benesch turntable is a suspended sub-chassis design, the main structural component of which is carbon fiber. Seven springs are involved in the suspension which is capable of being finely adjusted in order to control precisely each degree of movement.

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The main structural component of the Wilson Benesch sub-chassis is carbon fiber; a remarkable material that is ideal for audio structures as it can attain a modulus of stiffness five times that of steel, yet is half the weight of aluminum.

The drive train, also of critical importance is treated with the same attention to detail. The quartz referenced power supply for instance features an electronic clutch mechanism which operates on switch on and during the speed change cycle to minimize loading on the suspension system and belt. The motor used is a high quality hysteresis type chosen for it's performance rather than price and is fitted to the plinth via it's own complex suspension system designed to minimize the transmission of spurious energy either from the motor or from the environment to the platter. The power supply unit also provides a raw DC supply to the plinth to power the Stage One head amplifier.

The plinths are crafted from a variety of solid hard woods which form an attractive contrast to the black anodized aluminum top plate, back plate and power supply. Arm boards and platters are similarly anodized to provide a scratch resistant life long product. It is for this reason that glass was chosen as the most suitable material for the lid which is of 5mm laminated construction

Circle
The Circle is a high quality product. Simple, solid and highly functional.

The principle design objectives are achieved with maximum economy through the application of advanced materials technology and innovative unique solutions to physical problems that have been accepted by all competing designs to date.

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The innovative ideas incorporated in the Circle design provide this capability whilst being very simple to set up and maintain. This engineering challenge is the principle achievement of the Wilson Benesch Circle. Moreover, by avoiding the use of springs, the Circle is very predictable and will remain stable over a prolonged period of use. Isolation is achieved by a combination of various materials and structural concepts all of which require no set up or adjustment by the end user as the work has been accomplished in the design. The record set up time is in fact less than five minutes from opening the box!

A range of metals, polymers and advanced composite uni-directional carbon fiber rods have been exploited. This combination has provided for a level of precision, isolation and ergonomic ease that has been previously unattainable at this price point. High performance carbon fiber struts link large turned structures machined in house on CNC centers to exacting tolerances. Typical tolerances can be measured that are more usually found on turntables costing several times that of the circle.

Like Wilson Benesch Turntable, tool steel and phosphor Bronze is used to create the plain bearing. The multi material platter could not be incorporated but we have been able to incorporate polycarbonate at a thickness more often seen on turntables costing several times the price of the Circle. Similarly the high performance Papst motor and power supply has been substituted for the conventional Airpax design.

Tonearms

Wilson Benesch Tonearms are mechanically simple and are a dream to adjust. They require no service or bearing adjustment. Each one sounds and performs exactly the same as the next one. The temperature or humidity will have no effect on its function. With a careful owner it will function in definitely. Should it be necessary to service this can be achieved at relatively low cost and you can be sure that Wilson Benesch will continue to support you and your investment tomorrow and into the future. In the global arena of analogue Wilson Benesch is second to none.

ACT Two

In the ACT Two, Advanced Composite Technology is used to create the lightest, stiffest, most highly damped tube on the market and is almost 15% lower in mass than the ACT 0.5. The ACT Two provides all the technically proven virtues of the ACT 0.5 but in a more refined package.

Wilson Benesch Ltd was the first company in the world to produce a fully moulded single component, arm tube. Torsionally it is typically ten times stiffer than conventional arm tubes. It is three times stiffer in bending and an order of magnitude better at damping audio frequencies. Carbon fibre is unquestionably ideal for this function. The structure is formed from two contra rotating helixes of pure carbon fibre, much the same as some of the most effective natural structures which have benefited from millions of years of design refinements.

The shape of the beam is also quite natural as it has been determined precisely by its function and physical limits, rather than by the crudities of a manufacturing process as in the case of metals or ceramics. As a result material use is exact and exists only where it is required. It should be noted that this is quite different to the mass produced straight carbon fibre tubes being used in other designs.

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The performance of the carbon beam is matched by the equally effective and equally unique Kinematic bearing. The combined function of the bearing and counterbalance provides the ideal mechanism for a tonearm movement. The benefits of this technology for the end user are significant. All aspects of reproduction are improved as the cartridge is provided with the opportunity for the first time to do its job without being heavily influenced by the function of the system designed to support it. .

ACT 0.5

From its carbon fibre composite construction to the unique Kinematic bearing system, every aspect of the radical ACT 0.5 tonearm has been designed to extract the maximum amount of information from the groove of the vinyl disc.

Beyond the stunning good looks and impressive technical specification is a sonic capability that will enhance the performance of any turntable. The ACT 0.5 is a fitting tribute to the analogue medium.

Cartridges

The Wilson Benesch cartridge range is distinctly different from all other cartridges in the world. Whilst conventional materials technology can be seen as the norm, in the Wilson Benesch range the principle structures are all manufactured from solid carbon fiber.

The Matrix, the Hybrid and the Carbon use a Swiss generator. The ultimate cartridge, the Analog has a generator sourced from Japan.

Here's how they line up:

Physical

Technical Feature: MATRIX HYBRID CARBON ANALOG

Stylus tip type: Nude elliptic diamond Nude elliptic diamond Nude elliptic diamond Nude elliptic diamond

Stylus tip radius: 7.6 / 17.7 micro mm 7.6 / 17.7 micro mm 7.6 / 17.7 micro mm

Cantilever: Solid Boron Solid Boron Solid Boron Boron bar and alloy pipe

Magnet technology: Rare Earth, samarium - cobalt

Coil former: Pure Iron Pure Iron Pure sapphire

Coil: Copper Copper Copper

Body: Solid woven carbon fiber Solid woven carbon fiber Solid woven carbon fiber

Thread: 2.5 mm 2.4 mm 2.5 mm

V.T.A: 20 degrees 20 degrees 20 degrees 25 degrees unloaded, 15 - 20 degrees with a load of 1.6g

Tracking force: 1.4 - 1.8 gms

Weight: 6 g 8 g 8 g 4.2 g

Electrical

Output voltages: Low 0.58mV High 1.58mV Low 0.58mV High 1.58mV Low 0.58mV 0.35 mV at 1 kHz, 5cm / sec

Coil impedance: 25 Ohms 25 Ohms 25 Ohms

Frequency response: 10 - 50 Khz 10 - 50 kHz 10 - 50 Khz �3 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz

Channel balance: Better than 0.5 dB Better than 0.5 dB Better than 0.5 dB Less than 1 dB at 1 kHz

Channel separation: Better than 25 dB at 1 kHz

DC resistance: 10 Ohms

Recommended load impedance: Less than 20 Ohm for a step up transformer

Dynamics

Dynamic comp: 15 uM / mN 15 uM / mN 15 uM / mN

System matching parameters

Resistive load: 10 - 47 K Ohms 10 - 47 K Ohms 10 - 47 K Ohms

Tracking force: 1.8 - 2.0 g 1.8 - 2.0 g 1.8 - 2.0 g

Arm V.T.A: Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal

Every cartridge is backed up with a 1 year manufacturing defects warranty and re-tipping service that will enable cost effective servicing.

Head Amplifier

The Wilson Benesch Stage One head amplifier has been designed with one aim in mind; namely the most perfect coupling of the delicate low level signal from a precision moving coil pickup cartridge to a modern, line level control preamplifier.

The Stage One has been configured to function at its maximum performance level with the ACT Two tonearm and cartridges.

Placing the low level input close to the tonearm base, ensures that there will be minimal information loss and reduced interference from external effects. Moreover the close attention paid to total screening of the system guarantees that external relatively small signals will not become part of the musical signal. Eliminating numerous junctions and terminals commonly accepted with the standard tonearm output cable with plugs and sockets further ensures that there will be minimal loss of signal through the hard wired semi-balanced high quality pure silver / Teflon configuration.

The unit may be factory installed on Wilson Benesch turntables or easily retrofitted. Once in place, the complete player delivers a low noise output at line level, nominally 1 volt and fully RIAA equalized, making it compatible with other line sources including CD.

The fully enclosed system does not imply that the system is not user friendly. Adjustment is simply achieved via two small D.I.L. type switch blocks that are accessible in the base board. A swivel cover encloses the aperture to provide maximum R.F. protection. The switches take account of both cartridge output and for resistance and capacitance loading.

As one would expect from Wilson Benesch the system is unique not only in terms of its details but also in terms of fundamentally new engineering. Coupled with the proximate location to the tonearm, this development achieves a remarkable improvement in all aspects of signal communication and as a corollary sound quality, easily surpassing the best external preamplifier and equalizer combinations.

The dynamic capabilities of the complete system provides an authority and precision only associated with the best direct cut recordings. The low noise input stage is a pure Class A SE [single ended] amplifier with no loop feedback and a classic, low order distortion spectrum, typically pure second harmonic at 0.01%, -80dB. The Stage One is immune to overload and its resistance to EMC is also very high. The power FET used is actually capable of 100w rms and has superb small signal dynamics. Provision is also made for auto muting in the event of power loss via a simple circuit that has no effect on the signal during normal use.

A transparent, vanishing low distortion RIAA equalizer compliments the elegant amplifier, It exploits the benefits of the very latest technology in high precision monolithic op amps. They perform their task without sonic flaw at the designed signal levels and possess a powerful output drive capability, even comfortable with taxing 10k ohm input load line preamps. Rated at 1 volt, it will deliver over 9 volts output with wholly negligible distortion. In the central equalized range the RIAA accuracy is typically +/-0.2dB.

Low noise regulated power supplies feed the equalizer which also has an inherently powerful rejection of power supply noise.

Cascaded from the regulators are ultra-low noise, high current Gyrator filters to serve the Class A input amplifier. Power line noise is typically better than -136dBV, [0.000,000,02V] Providing a gain of 20 dB [x10] the SE input stages are switched through 1k, 100 ohms and 10 ohm input resistances and 0.01, 0.047, 0.1uF of capacitance. A 10dB gain reduction at constant sound quality is achieved using the feedback loop of the equalizer, this adjustment compatible for higher output cartridges.

Specifications:

Type: Short path, integrated into Wilson Benesch turntables. Class A SE input stage using Power Fet.

Output: Maximum output better than 9 V RMS unloaded.

Rated output level: 1 Volt.

Gain: 60 dB nominal 70 dB factory option.

Rated sensitivity: (for 0.5 V output) 450 uV IHF (60 dB) 150 uV IHF (70 dB) factory option.

Input overload: At 450 uV setting, for 500 uV IHF input, better than 25 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, for the equalizer section.

Input matching: 1 kOhm- 0.01 uF, 100 Ohms - 0.047 uF, 10 Ohms -0.1 uF

Input: Class A SE Power Fet.

RIAA equalizer: Precision monolithic type.

Power supply: Double filtering to input stage, low noise to dc regulation to equalizer stage.

Main supply: From Wilson Benesch electronic motor supply.

CE and EMC: Intrinsically safe, low voltage design, low susceptibility to EMC within normal limits. Power supply harmonics well below conductive standards. Incorporated within existing turntable system in screened metal enclosure. Mild RF filtering at inputs. High RF linearity at input stage.

Loudspeakers

The Act 1 Loudspeaker

The award winning ACT One derives its name from the Advanced Composite Technology panels which are used so effectively in this high performance loudspeaker. The distinctive form is both functional and attractive and incorporates the very latest technology and the very finest materials.

Specs

The overall design is very pleasing to view from any angle. The carbon fibers that form the large curved side panels compliment the wood grain. Engineering components like the ten millimeter thick steel plate at the base of the cabinet are carefully considered in how they function aesthetically and other aspects of the design have been re-evaluated and addressed in order to achieve optimum performance both sonically and visually.

The ACT One Loudspeaker incorporates the very latest driver technology which also incorporate carbon fiber filaments. These high performance drivers exhibit a very wide bandwidth and power handling capability which enables a much simpler crossover. The minimalist P.C.B. free crossover design uses only one air core inductor on each driver. A single selected capacitor is used to tailor the requirements of the modified silk dome tweeter. All components are hard wired with solid pure silver wire which is built into the eighty millimeter thick spine, away from the internal environment of the enclosure. The ten millimeter thick C.N.C. machined black anodized alloy driver mounting plate, solid copper alloy, gold plated terminals and fourteen millimeter diameter austenitic steel spikes are all quite uniquely Wilson Benesch.

Act 2

The A.C.T. Two loudspeaker is a logical development from the classic A.C.T. One and the flagship Bishop design. The distinctive form has stood the test of time and is now being emulated by many other companies. Functional and attractive it incorporates materials technology that sets it apart from every other loudspeaker on the market.

Specs
With the addition of the Wilson Benesch Tactic(r) drive unit the A.C.T. Two has now evolved into a very sophisticated loudspeaker that can stand comparison with systems many times the price.

The distinctive form has stood the test of time and is now being emulated by many other companies. Functional and attractive it incorporates materials technology that sets it apart from every other loudspeaker on the market. With the addition of the Wilson Benesch Tactic(r) drive unit the A.C.T. Two has now evolved into a very sophisticated loudspeaker that can stand comparison with systems many times the price.

Curved forms have always been used in both natural and man made structures and are an important design parameter in terms of the effective strength of materials. In 1975 D.A. Barrow presented a paper to the Audio Engineering Society entitled "Sound output from loudspeaker cabinet walls". His investigations indicated that structures with curved surfaces were extremely rigid in terms of both expansion and compression waves, offering the potential of very low colouration structures. Although A.C.T. panels are extremely expensive they offer unique and very significant advantages over all other materials used to date.

The Bishop

The Wilson Benesch flagship. It was developed in tandem with the highly innovative Wilson Benesch multi role moving coil drive unit, the Tactic. The low frequency in each channel is delivered via eight Isobaric Tactic drive units.

They offer seamless integration with the Tactic mid range drive unit housed in its own enclosure. Uniquely, it can be said that all the components are designed, manufactured built or specified by Wilson Benesch. The Bishop was developed with two discrete isolated enclosures for the low frequency, mid range and high frequency systems. This immediately reduces corruption from cross communication.

A two box system also provides other advantages in terms of manufacturing and installation. Curved pre stressed Advanced Composite Technology panels are key structural components in both cabinets. An organic moulded carbon fibre "Mitre" component has been developed to facilitate low defraction and negligible resonance from this critical part of the structure. The form and angle of rake eliminates the potential for ceiling to box top interactions. The whole system is mounted on a substantial foot system which also houses the adjustable crossover system whilst providing a high degree of stability.

All components are manufactured in house with the exception of the tweeter which is specified to Wilson Benesch specifications and mounted in a simple but very effective damping ring on the alloy MDF composite baffle structure. It provides clearly defined information from 5kHz to 20 kHz via a single inductor capacitor 1st order crossover network. Its position has been derived from trials which focused upon phase coherence. The Mid range unit is driven well within its prescribed specification and are controlled by a bandpass filter.

All low frequency information being devoted exclusively to the Isobaric Tactic(r) system. Significantly low frequency energy is provided by drivers that are almost identical to the mid range systems. This dictates that integration and phase coherence will be virtually guaranteed. To further overcome the enormous challenge of low frequency reproduction these units have been mounted in a clamshell composite configuration which we call the Isobaric Tactic(r). By exploiting the principles of the Isobaric loading the volume required by the low frequency driver array, (Eight in each channel) has been minimised despite this advantage it is still five times greater than that of the A.C.T. One Loudspeaker low frequency enclosure. This has been achieved by extending both height and depth but not width. This important detail maintains the slim forward facing profile which is crucial for imaging and transparency. Moreover, the exterior has been extended without accepting the compromise of the flat surface.

Low frequency production is extended down to 30Hz without the use of the ported enclosure loading which is compromised from the outset due to the highly resonant characteristics of the port output which is of course is always 180 degrees out of phase. This delay is eliminated in the infinite baffle arrangement. The speed of the attack and decay are the main benefactors as a result of this approach.

The Tactic Multi role drive unit was developed to match the performance of the Advanced carbon fiber enclosure, pioneered by Wilson Benesch. The Isobaric Tactic low frequency drive unit axiomatically integrates with the mid range Tactic, achieving a level of integration that is an industry standard. The advanced design features of the Tactic are the outcome a prolonged research and development programme. The result is quite unique, and is entirely manufactured by Wilson Benesch.

� For more information: email: Vince Scalzitti �