Since 2013, Alta Audio has been consistently producing a series of home audio loudspeakers that have evolved in its approach, combining advanced technology with very particular aesthetics that are now unmistakably typical of the NY-state brand. The new Aphrodite, announced earlier in 2024, is touted as the culmination of that history, focused on creating memorable stereo and multichannel listening environments.
"Aphrodite is the ultimate statement of Alta Audio's approach to a no-compromise speaker," says Levy, which is also Alta Audio's founder and CEO. "From the ground up, Aphrodite represents a new level of product design for Alta Audio, with newly designed elements that add up to a musical speaker that is equally at home in a multichannel A/V system."
Aphrodite has a suggested retail price of $50,000/pair with a 15% up-charge for pantone colors other than the super high-gloss black onyx finish. The design includes a custom-designed four-way driver complement, featuring one titanium former 10" woofer in a base enclosure with Alta Audio's patented XTL bass tuning. On the top dipole section we find one hex cone 8 3/4" titanium former lower midrange; two hex cone 6" upper midrange drivers; and one amorphous core transformer, high output ribbon tweeter.
As mentioned, the top section of the Aphrodite design uses a true Dipole/D’Appolito ("Dipolito") driver layout with an open-back design, and the crossover was created specifically for this driver configuration, which are arranged to optimize the response of the ribbon tweeter. The dipole MTM drivers are expanded with the midbass to enhance the design's linear response.
In addition, the Aphrodite speaker updates the patented XTL or Extended Transmission Line design from previous Michael Levy's speakers. The original XTL technology, which applies the cabinet internal geometry to tune the frequency response, has now evolved to the XTL II hybrid transmission line, a ported enclosure design that Michael Levy says greatly increases power handling, lowers distortion, and extends bass frequencies.
This new design is an evolution of Alta Audio's previous Titanium Hestia speakers, also part of its Reference Series, where Levy experimented with the titanium voice coil formers in the low frequency drivers with an XTL enclosure. In this earlier design, an MTM section in the top section used two 7-inch midrange drivers below and one 6-inch midrange above the ribbon tweeter. For the Aphrodite design, Alta Audio also mentions its DampHard construction that "eliminates resonances while remaining lossless to maximize the dynamic range."
"Aphrodite is only the beginning of what promises to be an event-filled year for Alta Audio," adds Levy.
Preview and AXPONA
On Tuesday, April 9, Cinetec, Chicagoland’s premier audio video dealer, is sponsoring a special pre-AXPONA event to debut and demo the new Aphrodite. Also on site will be a special sneak preview of Alta Audio's upcoming Athena center channel speaker, bringing the company's trademark approach to home theater systems.
Michael Levy will join Eric Lee, Cinetec Founder and Presiden at the demonstration between 5 and 9:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza Chicago SW - Burr Ridge hotel.
Nexus Audio Technologies, which distributes Alta Audio in North America, will coordinate the Alta Audio demonstrations at AXPONA (April 12-14). The demos in room 476 will present the new Aphrodite speakers and the Athena center channel.
www.nexusaudiotech.comwww.altaspeakers.com
