T+A is a German high-end audio equipment manufacturer known for producing premium quality amplifiers, speakers, and digital audio players.

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In the Autumn of 2008, T+A launched the original Caruso, quickly gaining a reputation for its unique design and high-quality construction. Its successor, the Caruso Blu, maintained this legacy with modern updates. The latest iteration of the Caruso represents a significant evolution in both aesthetics and technology, completely redesigned yet maintaining its distinctive heritage. 

Incorporating seven integrated speaker systems, the Caruso offers exceptional sound quality. It features three power amplifiers, delivering 100 watts continuously to the subwoofer and 50 watts to each of the mid/high range units, meticulously paired with the speaker components. Precision is further enhanced by an advanced digital signal processor managing a refined active crossover network. This setup allows the Caruso to adapt its output to provide superior audio quality, regardless of its physical placement.

Despite its compact size, the Caruso delivers an astounding audio experience, a feat largely attributed to the strategic use of aluminum subassemblies, a design approach T+A refers to as the Aluminum Framework. This innovative use of materials not only enhances the sound but also underlines the Caruso’s cutting-edge engineering ethos, ensuring it lives up to its cult status among audiophiles.

Caruso


  
OCTAVE Audio, based in Karlsbad, Germany, is poised to showcase two major additions to their high-end amplifier range at the upcoming High End 2024 show in Munich, scheduled for April 9-12, 2024. The event is set to feature the debut of the MRE 220 SE and the Jubilee Mono Ultimate, both of which represent significant advancements in the realm of audio technology.

### MRE 220 SE: Technical Precision and Customization

The MRE 220 SE mono power amplifiers are the latest in OCTAVE's MRE series, which has been renowned in the audiophile community since its introduction in 1994. These amplifiers deliver a robust 220W peak per channel using KT120 tubes, known for their strong performance characteristics. The core of the MRE 220 SE's design is its advanced octave pentode circuitry, which has been refined over decades to improve bandwidth and resolution, ensuring stable sound reproduction across various speaker loads.

A standout feature of the MRE 220 SE is its adjustable damping factor, enabling precise tuning of the amplifier’s feedback mechanism to optimize performance with different speakers. This capability is crucial for achieving the best possible sound quality and adaptability to different acoustic environments.

### Jubilee Mono Ultimate: Engineering Beyond Limits

The Jubilee Mono Ultimate is positioned as the flagship model in OCTAVE’s portfolio, incorporating an array of advanced technologies. This model uses eight KT170 output tubes, pushing out an impressive 440W per channel. The Jubilee Mono Ultimate significantly expands the power bandwidth to an ultra-wide range of 10 Hz to 100 kHz, enhancing the audio depth and clarity across all frequencies.

This model features a revolutionary output transformer and a robust triple mains transformer power supply system, designed to minimize distortion while enhancing the bass response. These features ensure that the amplifier can deliver both the power and finesse needed to authentically replicate the dynamic range of live performances in a domestic setting.

### Craftsmanship and Aesthetic Integration

Both the MRE 220 SE and the Jubilee Mono Ultimate underscore OCTAVE’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship. Every unit is meticulously handcrafted in Germany, with all critical components such as the power and audio transformers being designed and produced in-house. This not only ensures optimal performance but also maintains the high-quality standards that OCTAVE is known for. Furthermore, the Jubilee Mono Ultimate offers customizable options for its front panel, allowing for personalization to suit individual tastes and interiors.

As OCTAVE Audio prepares to present these sophisticated models at High End 2024, the anticipation within the audiophile community is palpable. These amplifiers are not merely about sound enhancement—they represent a blend of technical innovation and aesthetic craftsmanship that aims to transform how music is experienced in a home environment. The MRE 220 SE and Jubilee Mono Ultimate are poised to set new benchmarks in the audio industry, offering a glimpse into the future of high-fidelity sound systems.

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Join OCTAVE Audio at High End 2024 for the launch of their new MRE 220 SE and Jubilee Mono Ultimate amplifiers

Octave is an audio brand that offers high-quality audio products.

Octave

MRE 220 SE

Jubilee Mono Ultimate


This May, Apertura Audio takes center stage at the Munich High End Show with the unveiling of their latest masterpiece, the Enigma mkII loudspeaker. Celebrating 40 years of acoustic innovation, Apertura Audio introduces this model as the epitome of their commitment to exceptional sound and sophisticated design.

The Enigma mkII stands out for its elegant proportions and a heavily braced, asymmetrical cabinet that enhances audio fidelity. This innovative design integrates sophisticated damping, expertly selected and matched drivers, and a unique crossover topology. Such detailed craftsmanship ensures that the Enigma mkII delivers precise dimensions, explicit rhythms, and dynamic expressions, inviting listeners to delve deeper into the nuances of musical performances.

**Technical Mastery and Artistic Design**

The Enigma mkII is equipped with dual 22 cm mid-woofers developed by SEAS in Norway and modified extensively at Apertura's facility to enhance motor function and mechanical damping. The highlight is its professional-grade 15x145 mm ribbon tweeter—one of the largest available—ensuring expansive sound delivery with exceptional clarity.

Its advanced crossover system is divided into two independent circuit boards for low-pass and high-pass sections, using high-end audio components from Jantzen, Denmark. The speaker also features Apertura's proprietary "DRIM" structure with triple attenuation slopes, optimizing sound across various frequencies.

The design cleverly merges a bass-reflex system with an acoustic line, incorporating a vent tube located beneath the speaker. This complex load allows for a detailed and rich bass response, complemented by the speaker's unique shape that includes two curved sides of different lengths and non-parallel front and back panels.

**Join Apertura Audio in Munich**

Apertura Audio invites all audiophiles and music lovers to experience the Enigma mkII first-hand at the Munich High End Show, Room F204 - A4.2. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience this outstanding speaker in a new and popular finish: American Walnut high gloss, adding to its visual appeal.

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Apertura Audio Showcases Enigma mkII at Munich High End Show 2024

Apertura Audio

Apertura Audio introduces the Enigma mkII at Munich High End Show 2024, an epitome of high-fidelity sound with a stylish American Walnut high gloss finish


## Introduction to Acoustic Metrics

### Why Acoustic Metrics Matter

Sound is more than just what we hear; it's a wave that behaves in specific ways in different environments. To better understand and control how sound behaves in a space—be it a home theater, recording studio, or an open-office layout—we use acoustic metrics. These metrics provide us with a quantitative means of assessing and improving a room's acoustical properties.

### Brief Overview of NRC and STC

Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) and Sound Transmission Class (STC) are two of the most commonly used acoustic metrics. NRC tells us how well a material absorbs sound, thereby reducing echo and reverberation. STC, on the other hand, measures how effectively a material can block sound from traveling from one space to another. Both metrics are crucial for anyone interested in acoustics, from audiophiles to architects.

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## Exploring NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient)

### What is NRC?

NRC, or Noise Reduction Coefficient, is a number between 0 and 1 that represents the fraction of sound energy absorbed by a material. A score close to 1 indicates that the material is very effective at absorbing sound, while a score near 0 means it reflects most of the sound hitting it.

### How to Interpret NRC Ratings

NRC ratings are often found on products like acoustic panels, carpets, and ceiling tiles. A material with an NRC rating of 0.75, for example, would absorb 75% of sound energy and reflect the remaining 25%. In spaces where clear, detailed sound is essential—such as recording studios or home theaters—an NRC rating closer to 1 is generally desired.

### Practical Applications of NRC

Understanding NRC is essential when you are looking to control sound within a space. In recording studios, materials with high NRC ratings are used to reduce ambient noise and improve recording quality. In home theaters, NRC-rated panels can significantly enhance the viewer's experience by cutting down on distracting echoes and reverberations. Even in noisy industrial settings, NRC can play a role in creating a more acoustically pleasant environment.

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## The Importance of STC (Sound Transmission Class)

### What is STC?

Sound Transmission Class (STC) is a metric that measures a material's ability to block sound from traveling through it. Unlike NRC, which focuses on absorption within a single space, STC helps us understand how soundproof a material is between two distinct spaces.

### Factors Affecting STC Ratings

Several factors can affect a material's STC rating, including its density, thickness, and how it's installed. Generally, materials like concrete and brick have high STC ratings, making them excellent for soundproofing. However, even a high-STC material can underperform if it's installed poorly, such as with gaps or cracks that allow sound to seep through.

### STC in Real-world Scenarios

In residential buildings, understanding STC can help you create a quieter and more private living environment by choosing walls, floors, and doors with higher STC ratings. In commercial settings, like offices or hospitals, STC-rated partitions can greatly enhance privacy and reduce noise pollution.

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## NRC vs STC - Knowing When to Use Which

### Different Goals, Different Metrics

While both NRC and STC are instrumental in shaping a room's acoustic properties, they serve different purposes. NRC is used for improving sound quality within a room by minimizing echo and reverberation. STC is used for isolating rooms from each other, ensuring that sound doesn't leak from one space to another. Knowing which metric to focus on is crucial for effective acoustic treatment.

### Complementary but Not Interchangeable

It's important to note that a material with a high NRC rating won't necessarily have a high STC rating, and vice versa. For example, foam panels may have excellent sound absorption properties but may not be effective in soundproofing between rooms.

### Case Examples

-   **Home Theater**: You'd likely be concerned with both NRC (to improve sound quality within the room) and STC (to prevent sound leakage into other parts of the home).
-   **Recording Studio**: NRC would be critical here to capture clean recordings, but STC would also be important to ensure external noises don't contaminate the recording.

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## Measuring and Evaluating Acoustic Metrics

### Tools of the Trade

Sound level meters, room analysis software, and specialized microphones can be used to measure and analyze acoustic metrics. These tools can provide a quantitative evaluation that can guide you in choosing the right materials.

### DIY vs Professional Analysis

Simple mobile apps can give you a basic understanding of a room's acoustics, but for critical applications like studios or professional theaters, you may need to consult with acoustics professionals for a more detailed evaluation.

### Understanding the Numbers

-   **NRC**: Generally, an NRC rating of 0.6 or higher is considered good for most indoor environments.
-   **STC**: An STC rating of 50 or higher is considered excellent for blocking out most everyday noises.

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## Practical Applications and Recommendations

### Tailoring to Your Needs

Your specific needs will dictate whether you should prioritize NRC, STC, or both. Are you trying to improve the acoustics of an open office, or are you more concerned with soundproofing an in-home cinema?

### Material Selection

-   For high NRC: Look for specialized acoustic panels, fabrics, and foams.
-   For high STC: Consider denser materials like mass-loaded vinyl, drywall, or even specialized acoustic doors.

### When to Consult an Expert

If you're dealing with complex acoustic challenges or need specialized solutions, it might be wise to consult an acoustics professional for a more in-depth analysis and tailored solutions.

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Introducing Acoustic Metrics: NRC , STC

Explore the essential acoustic metrics NRC and STC, learn their differences and applications, and discover how to measure and optimize them for better sound quality and isolation.

Caruso

by T+A

Features

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Join OCTAVE Audio at High End 2024 for the launch of their new MRE 220 SE and Jubilee Mono Ultimate amplifiers

Apertura Audio Showcases Enigma mkII at Munich High End Show 2024

Introducing Acoustic Metrics: NRC , STC