SIgnals and Peak Part Ways

November 21st, 2007

Our efforts over the last four years to establish the Peak Consult brand have been passionate and purposeful. I believe that – although expensive – they deliver more than their asking price suggests in performance, workmanship, and heirloom quality. However: Recent developments between our companies have created a situation that recommends the immediate dissolution of our partnership.

So it is with some sadness that I must announce: Signals-SuperFi, LLC will no longer be representing Peak Consult International in the USA and Canada.

Inquiries may be sent to Peak Consult directly:

EMAIL: mail@peak-consult.dk
WEB: www.peak-consult.dk

Yours Truly,

Chris Sommovigo

Stereovox Price Increases

October 25th, 2007

In recent weeks we have had to introduce price increases to Stereovox products. At work here are two forces which made the increase necessary:

1. The increase in price to materials. We have been doing our best to absorb the increase in our base price for the metals and materials we use, and our prices have remained constant for several years even though our materials costs have gone up every consecutive year. We have reached a point where we can no longer afford to absorb the increase in materials costs.

2. Related to reason #1, our costs of production have increased substantially due to the military demand on the processes we use to make our cables. Our cables are made by a specialized military contractor here in the USA and, as you might imagine, demand by the US military has increased considerably since our country became involved in policing Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact - it is not only an increase in the cost of our processes that has challenged us, but there has also been a substantial increase in production time due to the demands of the military on our contractor. That said - we would not consider getting these cables made elsewhere as our contractor is able to achieve extreme precision, and is also holder of key patented processes that we utilize in our cables.

I feel strongly that Stereovox cables are still of a supreme value in terms of their build quality, their materials and processes, and their performance. They are typically compared to cables costing many times their price, quite justifiably - and have often been observed to excel beyond much more expensive competition. We have always tried to keep our prices for Stereovox cables as low as possible, and we continue our efforts in that regard. In this respect it may seem that the price of our cables has jumped significantly, but it is not unjustifiably - we have simply needed to react to the increases in our production costs that have mounted chronically over the last three to four years.

Thanks for your understanding.

Best regards,

Chris Sommovigo

DIABLO in STEREOPHILE

May 23rd, 2007

Recently, Michael Fremer of Stereophile review El Diablo from Peak Consult - the first mainstream print review of this flagship loudspeaker from our dear friends from Denmark. Conclusion? Killer loudspeaker for the well-heeled perfectionist!

See here: PEAK DIABLO REVIEW

InCognito-X in Taiwan Review

May 15th, 2007

Mr. David Lo from Jeffu, Peak Consult’s distributor in Taiwan, has provided us with the english-language translation of this review from Audio Art magazine:

Peak Consult InCognito X

Reviewed by: Martin Liu in Audio Art

Intro:
The InCognito X is the 10 years anniversary special edition by Peak Consult, who was funded in 1996, which started as a consultation for audiophile persons who couldn’t find what they were looking for among all the speakers in the jungle. It is meant to create the best speakers both in sound as well as design.

Best Sound Even With Low Wattage:
When Peak Consult made the InCognito X, they concentrated on keeping an extreme linear frequency response in its design. In order to prove the truth to its statement, I connected to DA&T A-15 amplifier even with entry-level Cambridge Audio Azur 640C V2 pre-amplifier to reverberate the speakers. After all, InCognito X surprises me with every aspect of hearing sensitivities of sound and quality. For example, whether I listen to violin, guitar, or piano, the density of sound is rather dainty but not to be bored with that seemingly I was in a real world environment to its sound. (P.S. The best score can be found on page 222 to the “Bar Chart”)

The Magic of 2-Way Speaker:
The InCognito X is truly to its design that taking the place of two-way speaker as possible in the world. While with DA&T A-50 amplifier was still being connected, I switched to Accuphase DP-800 and DC-801 combination; the overall sound soon becomes much more sophisticated to the next level.

While I was listening to InCognito X for a couple of days, I intuitively thought about another pair of two-way speaker I reviewed the other day, Wilson Audio Duette. Both price tags are definitely over what people’s expectation but surely the new era in perception of two-way speakers could have presented. Although, it may be true that both InCognito X and Wilson Audio Duette could not re-produce below 25HZ of low frequency, but I have enjoyed and satisfied their overall performance.

Speaker that can Listen to Rock n’ Roll:
InCognito X proves to have the superb sound quality due to its sound density and solid response in accurate sound throughout the listening environment. I soon thought about ATC speaker because both InCognito X and ATC can execute the heaviest sound, but ATC is more like being centered in sound performance and Peak Consult is truly to its sound originality. When listening to Orchestra, I found the sound performed by InCognito X to be tremendously well balanced in sound dynamic. The overall contrast is excellent with the inner detail, shimmering high, and luxurious mid, but also deep and tightened bass performance.

Being such advantage, InCognito X is the most suitable and optimized for Rock n’ Roll music in my point of view. In Taiwan, there aren’t many audiophile who listen to Rock n’ Roll in these days anymore because it is the type of music that needed to be tuned by a good system and speaker, if not, could possibly make you feel uncomfortable, noisy, and perhaps being bored with instantly.

Forget about your Traditional Perception:
May be you felt the appearance of InCognito X looked very ordinary or it is way over priced to its value for a two-way speaker; however, my suggestion is that please forget about your traditional perception, but listen to it. You will then find out eventually why Peak Consult can outperform any other manufacturer with their know-how and decent experience that made InCognito X for the culmination of the company’s award winning speaker.

Peak InCognito-X Review

May 7th, 2007

While we typically seek to submit our products for review in formal magazines with professional reviewers in the hopes of validating them for you, the consumer - it’s also nice when we see that one of you has done us the honor of reviewing our products. In reality, this is every bit as valuable to potential clients as any formal review. So I’d like to call your attention to just such a consumer-generated review, posted on the popular audio trading web: Audiogon

INCOGNITO-X REVIEW

It’s also quite nice to note that he’s using Stereovox reference, an obvious favorite in these parts. =)

StereoMojo’s BEST SOUND AT CES Award!

May 4th, 2007

You know - I missed this one, but it’s definitely worth noting:

StereoMojo.com awarded our Continuum, German Physiks, Stereovox, Boulder Electronics room “BEST SOUND AT CES” - articulating the experience thusly:

If I told you that Mr. Armstrong was “in the room”, it would be no big deal. Lots of systems can achieve that illusion. No, what I was hearing was much more than that – I was witnessing genius. Louis was telling the story in a way that was compelling and ravishing. Spellbinding. His phrasing and articulation was astounding. Moving. Engrossing. I forgot that I was listening to a turntable, speakers or any other contraption. I forgot my aching feet and lack of sleep. I forgot I was at CES. I was only hearing the mastery of a great artist delivering a great song. I was transfixed.

Like I said, I’ve never heard anything like it, not at CES, not at Rocky Mountain Fest, because it was much more than just “hearing”. It was a sensory odyssey.

A sensory odyssey.

I really like that phrase.

STEVE HOFFMAN + CONTINUUM = VINYL HEAVEN!

April 27th, 2007

ATLANTA, GA April 27 2005 Warner Brothers records with Rhino/Reprise recently announced that they have hired Steve Hoffman, one of the world’s most revered mastering engineers, to undertake the most ambitious vinyl reissue program of any major label in recent history. Steve will be mastering with cutter Kevin Gray at Kevin’s AcousTech Mastering and records will be pressed on 180 gram virgin vinyl at RTI - all are being cut in true analog from original Warner Brothers/Reprise stereo master mixes - some of which have been untouched for 35 years.

Steve Hoffman shares, “The old “EQ Cutting Masters” had compromises built in to the sound of the tapes. In the old days the tapes were routinely EQ’d, compressed and sometimes filtered to make it easy for needles to track the groove. When I bypass those tapes the original untouched master mixes reveal a whole new scene; detailed, beautiful sounding dynamic music appears and we can cut this directly onto a phonograph record.”

At Mr. Hoffman’s request, Signals-SuperFi, LLC, in concert with Continuum Audio Labs of Australia, will provide a Criterion turntable and Copperhead tonearm for test-pressing evaluation. Asked why he chose Continuum for the job, Steve remarked, “I heard the Continuum Criterion turntable with the special Copperhead tonearm at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show and was impressed by the resolving sound. This system will be perfect for my evaluation of the Rhino/WB/Reprise vinyl 180 gram test pressings from RTI.”

“We’re terribly excited about the project,” confides Chris Sommovigo, owner of Signals-SuperFi and distributor of Continuum’s record players in North America. “The fact that Warner Bros./Reprise/Rhino is showing this much commitment to the vinyl format - to not just cut and release LPs from the old EQ Masters but to hire Steve to re-master the albums entirely - is really fantastic news for vinyl lovers. Continuum’s analog gear will give Steve the kind of tool that no mastering engineer has had at his disposal before, and Steve will - in turn - be delivering some of the best vinyl ever set onto a turntable.”

About Steve Hoffman
STEVE HOFFMAN - Award-winning Recording, Mastering and Restoration Engineer - Has compiled, mastered and released over 1,000 record albums and compact discs to critical acclaim.

He has remastered over 500 Audiophile quality Compact Discs and LP’s working with such artists as: The Eagles, The Doors, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Cream, The Cars, Blondie, Jim Croce, Linda Ronstadt, Jethro Tull, The Doobie Brothers, Jackson Browne, Steve Miller Band, Elton John, Van Halen, Bonnie Raitt, Al Green, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Art Pepper, Rod Stewart, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Wes Montgomery and many, many, others. Visit www.SteveHoffman.tv for more information about Steve Hoffman’s activities.

About Continuum Audio Labs:

Continuum Audio Labs, PTY of Melbourne, Australia is a specialty engineering company dedicated to developing the finest in analog components via a peer-reviewed system of R&D populated by experts from diverse fields, and by utilizing supercomputers with Finite Element Analysis and Reshaping programs to analyze and refine the mechanics of LP information retrieval. Their award-winning Caliburn system has ignited the imagination of many a music lover and competitor alike. For information about these genre-redefining products, please visit: www.continuumaudiolabs.com

About Signals-SuperFi, LLC
Based in Atlanta, GA, USA Signals-SuperFi was founded in 2005 with a focus on introducing and distributing high-end, luxury audio gear throughout North America and worldwide. Signals-SuperFi, LLC is privately held with worldwide headquarters in Atlanta, GA. The company and its employees are committed to offering products that create the most emotionally engaging musical experiences. For more information, visit www.Signals-SuperFi.com

Signals SuperFi, LLC
828 Ralph McGill Blvd.
Studio W3
Atlanta, GA 30306
USA

HEADQUARTERS
(678) 528 8077 administration
(678) 884 1167 facsimile

TONE vs. PRINCESS FLOORSTANDER

April 10th, 2007

It was January somethingth, CES 2007 - last day. We had been showing the Peak Consult “El Diablo” loudspeaker all week with the Continuum Criterion driving the tunes through a David Berning preamplifier and amp. Stereovox reference cables, of course. We had been passively displaying the Peak “Princess Floorstander” with no intention to demo for two reasons: 1) the room was fairly big (500 square feet with 12 foot ceilings) and 2) the speakers were not at all broken in. At all.

Well, last day at CES being what it typically is with much slower traffic and everyone anticipating the loathesome and onerous packing-up-and-shipping-out routine soon to come, we decided to plug in the Princess Floorstanders for a quick listen. As the first few bars sang through the speakers the only other sound that could be heard was the rattling of teeth on the floor with all the jaws dropping. Not too much earlier, Jeff Dorgay of TONE Audio Magazine had been visiting the room. I called his cell: “Jeff - you’ve got to come back and hear something.” Whatever he was doing, I implored him to stop and return to our little lemonade stand.

He asked if we would let him review the speakers - indeed, if we would ship this very pair to him directly from the show. Ah, um … sure! Why not? If this is what they sounded like fresh out of the box, then I had every confidence in the world that they would only get better. And so it goes …

Now it’s April, four months post show, and Jeff has finally put pen to paper (or whatever the electronic variant of that phrase might be), and shared his experience of the Princess Floorstander in the latest issue of TONE Audio Magazine. It’s not a webzine, per se, but rather a PDF download.

“In a small room with great gear, I would stack the Princesses up against anything I’ve ever heard.”

So … point your navigator to: TONE AUDIO ISSUE #9

… and be sure you check out the rest of the issues and the rest of the site. You’ll be glad you did!

REVIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

March 1st, 2007

REVIEWER'S CHOICE

It’s not often that Soundstage! awards the Reviewer’s Choice to a cable line. In fact, there are only six entries in their Reviewer’s Choice pantheon for interconnects and loudspeaker cables. It makes us proud to see that our Studio line of cables has been thusly recognized to be among the world’s finest, as reviewer Tim Shea notes in his column:

“Overall, the Stereovox Colibri-R interconnects and Firebird speaker cables are the best I’ve had in my system and reasonably priced to boot.”

Please read the entire article at:

SOUNDSTAGE REVIEW

STEREOPHILE REVIEW ONLINE

February 26th, 2007

Stereophile has now posted their March review of Stereovox’s SEI-600ii and LSP-600c on their website. Just click this: STEREOVOX in STEREOPHILE