Having surfed in the last few days on Dutch websites, it would appear that Stage Accompany, the Dutch factory responsible for the fantastic SA 8520 to SA 8535 planar tweeters (and other great gear) is undergoing bankrupcy proceedings (that's what announcements of public auction sales suggested). If that was true, it would be really sad unless they intend to re-establish themselves under a different name.
SA's website is silent about that. Does someone know more, perhaps some SA dealers or Dutch friends out there?
Chris.
SA's website is silent about that. Does someone know more, perhaps some SA dealers or Dutch friends out there?
Chris.
SA is as dead as a doornail this time.
....and you just missed a very nice auction if i may say so.
=> http://www.fdrauctions.com/auction/...5DAB22925FC95&act=subcat&did=17&cid=2&scid=15
....and you just missed a very nice auction if i may say so.
=> http://www.fdrauctions.com/auction/...5DAB22925FC95&act=subcat&did=17&cid=2&scid=15
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Sad, sad...🙁🙁🙁
Yes, this is the auction (or one of those) I had seen but my Dutch skills and the distance were an obstacle. In fact, I have been interested for a couple of years in a pair of 5ohms SA8526 (for its supposed better efficiency than the 13ohms neodym version SA8535). I already have the 8535 but real sensitivity without horn is rather around 95dB or so, I think, and I need more😀.
If you have (or somebody else) a tip on a source for these speakers now... Perhaps some gear will reappear massively on Dutch websites such as Marktplaats etc.
Chris.
Yes, this is the auction (or one of those) I had seen but my Dutch skills and the distance were an obstacle. In fact, I have been interested for a couple of years in a pair of 5ohms SA8526 (for its supposed better efficiency than the 13ohms neodym version SA8535). I already have the 8535 but real sensitivity without horn is rather around 95dB or so, I think, and I need more😀.
If you have (or somebody else) a tip on a source for these speakers now... Perhaps some gear will reappear massively on Dutch websites such as Marktplaats etc.
Chris.
Yeah a shame, it is/was a great tweeter, albeit with some minor flaws...
Otoh probably the cleanest tweeter I have ever heard - of course GIGO means that unless you put really clean in, and you heard them you'd not know just how clean they are/were.
The polar response thing was not so great (it is intended for pro arrays) and there were some minor cavity resonances - and you had to absolutely keep ferrous metal quite some distance away from the front or you would be buying new diaphragms...
I was a "dealer" for them at one time...
Too bad they were not sensitive to "outside input"...
_-_-bear
Otoh probably the cleanest tweeter I have ever heard - of course GIGO means that unless you put really clean in, and you heard them you'd not know just how clean they are/were.
The polar response thing was not so great (it is intended for pro arrays) and there were some minor cavity resonances - and you had to absolutely keep ferrous metal quite some distance away from the front or you would be buying new diaphragms...
I was a "dealer" for them at one time...
Too bad they were not sensitive to "outside input"...
_-_-bear
There is another Dutch company called Alcons, founded by former SA people. AFAIK they also make planar tweeters of some sort.
Regards
Charles
Regards
Charles
I have found this types from alconsaudio here:
alcons audio - evolutionary audio solutions ®
1) "RBN 401"
http://www.diereferenz.de/files/image/Alcons_CR1_pro_ribbon.jpg
2) "RBN 601"
http://www.alconsaudio.com/site/images/technology/rbn601_260.jpg
3) "RBN 1801" and other magnetostatics
Alcons Audios' RBN1801 Pro Ribbon Technology
Magnetostatic
Which company is the successor from Stage Accompany (perhaps Alcon Audio)? the website is still present:
http://www.stageaccompany.com/en/sales/docs/Retail Pricelist 2006 RCD EUR.pdf
http://www.stageaccompany.com/en/products/ribboncd.php
Where I get service, maintenance and parts for the SA8535 like this one?
http://mail.nientje.nl/rene/forsale/SA8520-25-26-35-1.jpg
http://mail.nientje.nl/rene/forsale/SA8520-25-26-35-2.jpg
Which same quality and character alternatives there are from Alcons and where I can order it (I don't find price lists)?
There are different outfits from the SA8535. Where I get the same outfit of SA8535 from Alcone like this:
http://usht.ru/upload/pages/stage accompany m57 ribbon reference studio monitor.jpg
thank you very much for your advices.
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Hello Andreas,
Talking about the SA 8526, can you give an estimate of the sensitivity according to your experience (not from the figures published)? I have the SA8535 and although it is the ultimate version (neodym magnet etc.) I think it has less sensitivity than the 8526 partly because of its 13ohm impedance. I use the SA8535 without horn and I need more.
As regards spares, you may try your chance with René who is running the SA Vintage website; he's gathering a lot of spares and secondhand now and perhaps he might help. Tiefbassuebertrag also refers to some of René's on-line postings.
Chris.
Talking about the SA 8526, can you give an estimate of the sensitivity according to your experience (not from the figures published)? I have the SA8535 and although it is the ultimate version (neodym magnet etc.) I think it has less sensitivity than the 8526 partly because of its 13ohm impedance. I use the SA8535 without horn and I need more.
As regards spares, you may try your chance with René who is running the SA Vintage website; he's gathering a lot of spares and secondhand now and perhaps he might help. Tiefbassuebertrag also refers to some of René's on-line postings.
Chris.
Hi Chris
I was not aware of the SA vintage website -- I have previously been in contact with Rene van de laan -- guess I should have bought spares then.
I have not currently a guestimate of the sensitivity -- however I will try to measure it relative to a pair of jbl 2118 when the speakers gets finished in a month or 2.
Regards
Andreas
I was not aware of the SA vintage website -- I have previously been in contact with Rene van de laan -- guess I should have bought spares then.
I have not currently a guestimate of the sensitivity -- however I will try to measure it relative to a pair of jbl 2118 when the speakers gets finished in a month or 2.
Regards
Andreas
Here's the link.
SA-Vintage
BTW, it's not Van der Laan, but another René (can't remember his name now).
Chris.
SA-Vintage
BTW, it's not Van der Laan, but another René (can't remember his name now).
Chris.
have a look at this AES preprint -- the sensitivity of the preceding models as well as the 8526 is presented.
www.stageaccompany.com/download/files/aes8535.pdf
www.stageaccompany.com/download/files/aes8535.pdf
Yes, I do know this paper but I never understood how sensitivity is measured (peak? average? with horn / waveguide at 3kHz?); besides, it is not always clear whether the sensitivity is referenced to the impedance; for instance, take the SA8526, it's a 5 ohms speaker but the sensitivity is given for 2,83V (which is 1W at 8 ohms or almost 2W at 5 ohms) therefore one should deduce almost 3dB from the value given. This is all "paper work", hence my question about practical experience.
For me/my sound taste, they're still among the *very very* best tweeters I've heard but I prefer to check the sensitivity announced.
Hello,
I'm René Schrauwen (aka Webbie) the owner of sa-vintage.com.
If anyone has questions about SA equipment I will glad to help.
(If Chris is still looking for a set SA 8526's, I have one set for sale. I have also diagramphs for all ribbon drivers, used and new)
Greetz Webbie...
I'm René Schrauwen (aka Webbie) the owner of sa-vintage.com.
If anyone has questions about SA equipment I will glad to help.
(If Chris is still looking for a set SA 8526's, I have one set for sale. I have also diagramphs for all ribbon drivers, used and new)
Greetz Webbie...
Hi René
I will contact you offline for repair kits for sa 8526 -- I have a feeling that could come in handy -- just in case..
Regards
Andreas
I will contact you offline for repair kits for sa 8526 -- I have a feeling that could come in handy -- just in case..
Regards
Andreas
Hello Elac310,
I you like is have also a set or two of rare SA 8535 diagrams (folies) with a lower impedance.
They measure around the 5.2 Ohm DC.
These folies comes from the lab of Stage Accompany.
So you can swap your 13-Om folies with the 5-Ohm version.
You don't have to buy SA 8526's then.
Greetz Webbie...
I you like is have also a set or two of rare SA 8535 diagrams (folies) with a lower impedance.
They measure around the 5.2 Ohm DC.
These folies comes from the lab of Stage Accompany.
So you can swap your 13-Om folies with the 5-Ohm version.
You don't have to buy SA 8526's then.
Greetz Webbie...
Great news. I am also happy, that there is a download aera for SA product documentations.
Where now are the formerly developer(s) of the famous SA ribbon drivers?
And which currently model from which brand could be an appropriate successor of the SA8535?
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Hello TiefBass....
One of the former developers of the SA ribbon drivers, Philip de Haan, works at Alcons as developer.
Ben Kok works now as an accoustic engineer, he designs studio rooms and halls where the accoustics are important.
I presume that the Alcons ribbons are good alternatives for the SA 8535.
Unfortunally the Alcons ribbons are not sold seperatly.
On the other hand, SA isn't death yet, some people of SA are starting to build the SA 8535 (and folies) and woofers again.
Also complete enclosures.
After New Year I post the details.
Greetz Webbie...
One of the former developers of the SA ribbon drivers, Philip de Haan, works at Alcons as developer.
Ben Kok works now as an accoustic engineer, he designs studio rooms and halls where the accoustics are important.
I presume that the Alcons ribbons are good alternatives for the SA 8535.
Unfortunally the Alcons ribbons are not sold seperatly.
On the other hand, SA isn't death yet, some people of SA are starting to build the SA 8535 (and folies) and woofers again.
Also complete enclosures.
After New Year I post the details.
Greetz Webbie...
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