Blumenstein Ultra Fi

Hi All,

I've been away from the forums here for too long, but have been meaning to post an endorsement of Clark and his team. I ordered a b-stock set of the mini/max 2.1 system from Blumenstein over New Years 14/15. I've had them for months and have yet to find any defect that would qualify them as b-stock in my eyes - it's a testament to the amount of care and quality that are but into these products. Clark was extraordinary helpful throughout the process, and was even good humored about my over anxious requests for status updates.

Finally, the sound. I have a number of friends that run pretty nice home systems (both new and vintage gear) primarily for vinyl enjoyment - they are all drooling over what's happening to sound in my living room (even though my system still has some (glaring) holes in it). They fill up my main listening area (20'x30') effortlessly with warm, but precise sound. With a good bourbon and closed eyes, I can find myself propped right in front of the stage totally immersed.

So a big thanks to Clark - best wishes for continued success! Can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeve next.
 
Blumenstein Break-in?

I should receive my 2.2 Mini/Max system this week and I don't remember reading anything about speaker break-in for these or other Blumenstein speakers.

Any information from you bottleheaders out there or maybe some info from Clark on what to expect for changes to the speakers during any break-in period?
 
There used to be something on their site about break in.  It was like 200 or 300 hours.  And somewhere in these 43 pages I described my method. 

The short description is on page 17, response 249.  It doesn't mention that I put several blankets or quilts on top of them, they were on their side and playing louder than I would normally listen.

I broke them in for over 400 hours.
 
Thanks, Grainger.
I should have done some simple research and would have discovered the obvious.  Sometimes I feel I have a life outside the internet and get lazy and just ask.  I appreciate your response.

I have put about 50 - 70 hours on my recently purchased mini-max 2.2 system.  I'm driving them with my new Paramounts from a sumbissive, using a Cambridge Audio CD player or the EROS for vinyl via an Ortofon OM40 (4mv).  I also drive these with an S.E.X. 2.1 with great sound.

By now these speakers are sounding very good.  I have been using headphones for a long time and still use my dual pair of 1970s Bose 901s.  Most people FLAME the 901s but they are very good at fillling up any space with clean, clear music.  But without the proper room they should probably be saved for background music.  The imaging I have rediscoverd with these new speakers is capturing me and keeping me up later than I should at night.  The spouse thought I was crazy at first (they were quite harsh at start) but commented last night that she was hearing more of the music.  I'll take that as the compliment it was meant to be.

Thanks Clark and the gang for the great job and fine product.  I'll post some pictures later and update the break-in progress.
 
Here is the key, I wired one speaker in phase and the other out of phase.  That is, reversed + and - on one speaker.  Then faced them to each other.  This limits the sound coming out, making it more comfortable for anyone within ear shot.
 
IMO the Fix will deal with the small bit of shout that remains after break in. I had a Fix on the Orca mains in my HT, but not on the center speaker. We noticed that the dialogue seemed a little shouty in comparison to the music. One channel of a second Fix was put in line with the center channel and the dialogue is now more natural.
 
Doc B.
After running the 2.2 mini/max for two long days over the weekend the initial harshness (shout?) has disappeared and these are really coming into their own.  Since the unboxing they have improved +100%.
I will be running these through their paces with a wide variety of music to sample their response.
I don't think I will need The Fix but it's good to know you have a product just for the rude, shouting speaker.
Besides, I have run out of space (for now): 
 

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Completely off topic, but arent those 901s ALL series 1?... I thought the series 2 had a white cloth completely wrapped around the middle part and the 1s were with wood like you have.. anyway, nice set you have... :)
 
No.
The original Series was not marked Series 1 because it was the first one and they weren't looking at putting out another "series".  The Series 2 came out shortly afterwards with very minor changes (marketing strategy?).
Bose  offered a choice of cabinets at the time and I chose the Walnut Facing cabinet when I bought the first pair and then was able to match the cabinet style with the Series 2 a couple of years later.  They stopped offering the Walnut Facing cabinet in a later series, I don't know which one.
The Series 1 and 2 had nearly identical graphic equalizers and either one can be used to drive both Series.
 
You might be able to drive the stacked 901s off of the Paramounts if you set them to 4 Ohms and don't use the equalizers. 

They will have a lot of midrange.  Bwa, Ha, Ha, Ha ! ! !
 
Grainger
They are wired for 4 ohms now and I've run them off the S.E.X. 2.1 prior to finishing the Paramounts.
They are not very sensitive speakers and they max-out the S.E.X 2W/ch.
They are thin without the equalizer.  After over 3 decades of listening to the 901s with their equalizer I can tell in an instant when it is not connected.  The equalizer is a must with these.

Mid-Range:  Isn't that where we live, in the mid-range?
BTW, the effective surface area of the nine 4.5 " drivers is about the same as a 13" woofer.  The bass is smooth and articulate (same for the treble) due to the 4.5" driver's relative quick response.
However, your evil laughter is appropriate and this would not satisfy a Bass Head nor imaging junkie.
 
Ok thank you.. i understand now.. didnt know bose offered a choice of cloth or walnut in the series 1 and 2...  the series 3 was where they changed the original look and both the 3 and 4 can be used with either equalizer as well.. the main difference was the power handling of the 4 where they started to claim the "unlimited power under non commercial applications" moniker...  interesting..  again, thank you for the clarity....  and yes absolutely!!.. my 4s back in the day, would sound like a tin can with the equalizer off... quite a shocking difference when the equalizer is engaged again... had DANG fun times with those in the day.... (1980s).. ok  sorry , back on topic again.....
 
I have about 45 hours on my min/max 2.2. The shouteyness (is that a word?), is getting to be much less prevalent and the bass is really coming along nicely as the surrounds loosen up.
The last 2 months have been a tremendous change in my system. The addition of an analog source has made more difference (positive), than anything else I have done. Then the Elrog 300b tubes are simply marvelious. I have read that the Reduction has a narrow sound stage and that's what I hear.
Does the Eros have a wider sound stage?

655b508449a0e8074749fef9b4d0cd38.jpg
 
Awesome to see everyone's adventures with their speakers.  As a quick note, please know that we are always around for setup advice.  Photos help.  for instance - Pat, I bet that if you toe those Orcas in a little bit more and pull them 4 more inches out into the room you will hear the soundstage improve a little bit.  I also have the Eros and Seduction but not the Reduction.  I know that the Reduction is based on the Seduction, so I can't comment on the Reduction but I can tell you that the Eros was a substantial improvement over the Seduction. So great to see you enjoying Analog :)  I like it all of course...

Big news!


We just relaunched the Bottlehead Bases on the website.  You can find them in our online store under "Accessories." 

http://www.blumensteinaudio.com/amplifierbases/

We have substantially upgraded the design and only slightly raised the pricing on them.  New *standard* features include 3/4 inch construction, upgraded vibration damping feet, and better ventilation via custom drilled wooden bottom plates.  As our product design process tends to go, we are very customer driven.  These were all custom requests that had been ordered at one time or another by various clients, and we decided to put all these upgrades together into a nicer overall standard offering.  We feel that the Bottlehead amps deserve this kind of luxurious treatment. 

Also, to cut down on confusion, It is also a flat rate for each base - So the Beepree is the same cost as the Crack.  I know this seems counterintuitive, but the wood cost to us for a larger or a smaller base is not such a big deal as the labor.  (though the birch vs. bamboo does add up a bit.)  The labor also does not vary significantly between a BeePree and a Crack, so hence the flat rate.  Just specify in the notes field which BH model you are trying to fit, if you are choosing Bamboo, then let us know Natural, Two Tone, or Caramelized, and you are good.  Simple.

We are also entertaining custom base orders in solid woods.  These orders are to be set up through email and the prices will vary quite widely depending upon the wood species.  We built bases for Debra K back in August and really enjoyed the process so we are deciding to offer these solid bases as well.

That's it for now!  We are adding some basic setup advice as well for basic and advanced setups.  The Bottlehead amps will go under the advanced section which is still in the process of being written.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer (or winter if you are one of our clients in the Southern Hemisphere). 

-Clark

 
I have 2 paramours, a seduction, a crack and a foreplay III.  do you have base for these?  if so, what is the cost?  Thanks.
 
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