Good afternoon everyone. One of the most common questions we are receiving about the new Crimson 275 is about its weight. Although Bob Carver has many interests and looks at every possible part of the circuit that might affect sound or reliability, personally, I think he has an affinity for unique power supplies but he also pays close attention to the output stage which is one of the main determining factors of a unit’s performance.
For some time now, Bob has been working on a novel approach to manufacturing an output transformer. All transformers suffer from magnetostriction. Transformer noise is caused by a phenomenon which causes a piece of magnetic sheet steel to extend itself when magnetized. When the magnetization is taken away, it goes back to its original condition. This phenomenon is scientifically referred to as magnetostriction.
All quality transformers use a special steel alloy to minimize this effect. Bob has come up with an alloy that along with its magnetic nature, and his proprietary winding technique, has increased the efficiency giving us two options: we can increase the power by using a larger version of this new design and the amplifier will retail for $3500 and have 150 W per channel. Or, the path we chose, use a smaller lighter version that still provides up to 90 W per channel and allows us to keep the price close to the target of $2500. With that in mind, it leaves an opportunity open to bring out 150 W mono-blocks at a reasonable price.
When we made the decision to make KT 120s standard, it brought the price to $2750. So now you have an idea about the history and details of this innovation but there’s a dark side to my post.
The transformers are specially made for us here in the United States. When we built our first 100 units, Jordon Gerber-- physicist and partner, who participates in the build and helped design the unit, is also in charge of production at “our” factory-- an independent, high-quality assembler who builds our loudspeaker (100 solder joints in each tower!) and he ordered enough extra transformers to do an additional 20 units figuring that would hold us. Well, everything sold out quickly, so Jordon ordered another 20 transformers. This created a two-week waiting list.
Well now, with the sales exceeding our most optimistic estimates, he placed an even larger order of output transformers but now the manufacturer tells us the transformer division is heavily committed to (probably) larger companies and they are quoting a four to five week wait which means orders placed today may not ship for 5 to 6 weeks. Any orders placed during the waiting period will receive the special promotional price we’ve been advertising of $2500 but you must have an order in.
Here’s Bob Carver experimenting with the winding in case you thought that was hyperbole.
Peace and Harmony to all,
Frank Malitz CEO
The Bob Carver Co.