I am sure poly will explain more but here is my very basic stab at it. Driver tubes in high fi normally put the audio signal to a spot where it can be used by the output tubes. Usually “driving” the signal to a spot where the outputs are more linear. This looks to be using a transformer to do that job.
I wonder if it will help with the sound floor issue i had with sensitive headphones.
Takes its styling queues from a Cartier Edition Lincoln Continental from the early 90s.
It’s basically a transformer based pre stage, so the source is driving the power tubes directly through the transformer .
The issue with that is going to be the effect on the input impedance, the impedance scales with the square of the windings, so assuming it’s say a 20:1 gain (it would probably have to be more than that) the input impedance is dropped by 400, so a 1MegaOhm input impedance (might be higher than that, I’d have to do math) turns into a 2500 Ohm impedance as far as the source is concerned.
That won’t be an issue for most SS DAC’s, but it might be an issue for sensitive sources, it’s hard to guess without doing the math or simulating it.
New Q series from Kef
My goodness what a looker…
Looks better than the sus unveiled imo. I’m sure the build quality on the sus is a bit better but looks wise, these win.
So many damaged drivers in the future lol
Could be interesting…
It’s funny how these companies need GS to fix/tweak their equipment 
You’d think their engineers would be a bit annoyed?
Noble audio announces FoKus Apollo the worlds first over ears with both a dynamic driver and a planar magnetic one.
Its also a BT headphone.
Tuning the crossover for this sounds like a nightmare, im 90% sure bathys will still be on its own league.
Michael, from the Directors Garage just did a video on these.
Thank you, that was very informative
For the look of it and according to the reviewer the crossover is very well done
But I have a hunch it would weird me out and also gave me enough info to still think the bathys are king to me (specially as a focal enjoyer)
The general vibe is looks better than I tought but id still go 1 driver in 2024
Sorry for doble posting
Does anyone about these?
The d8000 pro (not LE) have been the only planar on my priority list (which has been going slow) so this kind of chnages interest maybe
Maybe someone heard or will hear at canjam?
Same with fostex th1000/1100rp, I dont think those will outperform the d8000 pro but god knows, im very curious about these future releases
The new CFA3-T from Headamp looks really tight. I wonder what the final cost will be if the deluxe version of the regular CFA3 is near $5K.
Personally I think it might be a tad mis-leading to picture it with the Sus-Unveiled but still could be an intersting amplifier to some.
Just the requiring 4 12AX7’s and 4 EL84’s would put me off.
I don’t retube my power amps until I have to, because the thought of replacing 16 tubes makes my wallet cry, but at least that puts out 130W.
8 tubes for 3W just seems unnecessary.
Seems like perfect timing for me. I was thinking of buying my first tube amp to pair with the HD800s and Clear.
FWIW I think the only Focal that works well with tube amps is the Utopia, the Elex and Clear tended to demonstrate a loss of bass control and much less coherent imaging on the amps I tried with them.
Having said that I’m not sure I had anything particularly high end tube amp wise when I had those headphones.
The amp that I prefer Utopia on is my Little Dot 2!
