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New Model About the designer, Stephen Balliet
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Announcing the OM1-Quantum Because of our continuing efforts to bring you the best possible audio reproduction, changes in the operation and functioning of the original OM1 have taken place. The new OM1-Quantum is the second collection of upgrades so significant that we felt it warranted a new model designation. 1. The Quantum version incorporates up to twelve Bybee Technologies "Quantum Filter" into the signal path and the power supply. It's too technical to explain how they work here, but the sonic results are a blacker background and a dynamic clarity to the fundamental tones. 2. By replacing the excellent Caddock resistors formerly in the signal path with five times more costly custom made resistors from Vishay an overall increase in transparency and greater dynamics particularly in the extreme bass is realized. So what is a "Naked Vishay" ? The manufacturing process is interrupted immediately after the laser trimming, before the encapsulation of the resister. The resulting lack of dielectric absorption and stray capacitance allows the signal to pass with the least degradation possible. As a result the bandwidth of the circuitry increases tenfold to greater than 20 megahertz. A purely passive filter intentionally attenuates frequencies above 2 megahertz so that there isn't even the possibility of the gain stage slew rate limiting. 3. The "Quantum" series is strongly recommended for use with the DC12 battery supply. The four final stages of power regulation in the OM1-Quantum are optimized for battery operation. The high current pure DC tightens the extreme bass response and eliminates the residual noise and interference that resides on every AC power line. Exotic power cords, filters and conditioners help, but none are as effective as isolated battery power 4. The selector switches are reconfigured for dual monaural operation. NOTE: Unlike the other upgrades this modification alters the functioning of the OM1. The changes below modify the section labeled "Controls" on pages three and four of the manual. The leftmost switch labeled RECORD is now the Left channel input selector. The LISTEN switch is now the Right channel input selector. These labels may not even exist on the faceplate of your preamplifier. The tape outputs follow these switches, but there is no longer a convenient way to monitor off tape while recording. If you use this feature often it might be best to use the original OM1 without the "Quantum" upgrade. The sonic result of this upgrade is a widening of the sound-stage. There is also more body to the individual instruments. A true stereo recording made with a pair of microphones in an actual space will envelope you as never before. |