STONES
SOUND STUDIO
ARTISAN™
Speakers and Kit's
Peerless
Super High Definition Speakers
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PEERLESS SPEAKER
SYSTEMS
HISTORY
VERSION V 1 to V 23
Designed By
Russell Storey Stones Sound Studio
Welcome
to our new range of professionally engineered and locally built
speaker systems. To save on cost we have made these premium
speakers available in kit form for easy construction. Boxes come
completely assembled for you to insert drivers and construct
crossovers. Every aspect of the cabinet design has been
customised to suit our Peerless drivers precisely, with port and
box volume tailored to maximise the performance of the HDS and
XLS range of premium speakers. A new improved tweeter for the
range has been specifically developed, in conjunction with
Peerless Denmark and Russell Storey our audio consultant, to
closely match the HDS series of mid-woofers, the uniquely
specialised counter-sunk tweeter and cabinet combinations.
Cabinet design and matching development has been achieved using
the latest in computer analysis software and with the building
experience of Stones Sound Studio, specialists in premium,
exotic, custom speaker design. All cabinets are precision
manufactured by the latest computer controlled techniques from
medium density custom wood (MDF) with a choice of genuine wood
veneers and Australian hardwood decorative trim panels. The
Peerless HDS range of drivers and XLS range of subwoofers offer
incredible performance and value for money. When correctly
matched to our custom designed cabinets and precision crossovers
with premium quality components the result is a finished speaker
unit that rivals the best audio available in the world. You will
find our new range of speakers beautiful in appearance and
performance giving exceptional sound quality to music and
fantastic dynamics and realism to digital DVD home theatre. |
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![The Best Of Both Worlds](star1.jpg) |
![Genuine Australian Wood Veneers](_tn_Ribbon1.jpg) |
PREMIUM QUALITY AUSTRALIAN MADE CABINETS
GENUINE AUSTRALIAN WOOD VENEERS OR BLACK VINYL
DEVELOPED EXCLUSIVELY FOR WES COMPONENTS
PROFESSIONALY DESIGNED AND OPTIMISED
CABINET DESIGN & FINISH IS PREMIUM GRADE A
EXCELLENT AUDIO PHYLE QUALITY REPRODUCTION
EXCEPTIONAL REALISM FOR MUSIC AND MOVIES
NEW TECHNOLOGY DRIVERS FOR DIGITAL AUDIO
SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPED CUSTOM HDS TWEETER
WORLD LEADING PEERLESS DRIVERS FROM DENMARK
ONLY PREMIUM QUALITY COMPONENTS USED THROUGHOUT
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![The best for the Best!](_tn_Star3.jpg)
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![All speakers are available separately](artisan_5.jpg) |
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DESIGN NOTES
Designed By Russell Storey of Stones Sound Studio
Welcome to our new series of audiophile home theatre speakers.
HDS & XLS are special high-end, high definition speaker systems for both
the home theatre and music reproduction. Usually you have a
speaker system where you are relaxing to your music collection in HiFi
stereo. But this has now changed, with the introduction of DVD,
multi-channel surround sound is here to stay! Extra demands are put on
speakers as they now have to be optimised for both precision music
listening as well as the dynamics of DVD home theatre action with its
special effects and sound tracks. As often requested, WES Components has
introduced a premium level solution. Incorporating our new and
impressive Peerless range of drivers, and thanks to the design
experience of Stones Sound Studio, we have a very impressive and capable
range of speakers, all at a reasonable WES Components price.
Premium Cabinet Design and Manufacture
![An example of the HDS150 cabinet with holes for other drivers like VIFA](_tn_hds150_boxonly.jpg) The
latest in speaker analysis and design software is used to accurately
establish correct box tuning to suit specific driver specification (also
measured by
SSS). Various prototypes were then tested and improved upon until
the desired sound was achieved. Months of work and many years of
experience combine to produce a well balanced sounding speaker system.
Premium audio quality demands only the best and we also understand that
your room and life style today wants minimal visual impact. So we have
developed cabinets that are both attractive and functional yet optimized
for the best possible performance, considering cost. The attention to
detail, build quality and professional finish of these cabinets is very
impressive. Available in an economical black vinyl option or very
handsome, genuine wood veneers.
Peerless of Denmark
Peerless has been making drivers in Denmark for
leading speaker manufacturers, providing cutting edge premium
quality units, since the 1930's. This new series of speaker
units is a culmination of their many years of experience and the
best driver materials & accurate manufacturing techniques. Below
are some examples of the modern technology incorporated. |
![Jump to the DANISH site](Peerless_Logo.gif) |
![New Tweeter Design](810653_ProMo.jpg) |
NEW
Peerless HDS tweeter
Our new HDS Peerless tweeter is a 1" treated
cloth soft dome unit, developed by Stones Sound Studio in
conjunction with Peerless of Denmark. This brand new tweeter was
specifically redesigned and adapted to our new HDS series of
speaker boxes, and features a wider, smoother sound dispersion
with the alloy flat face plate, giving better, flat, off-axis
response, excellent dynamic range and an improved natural sound.
Micro low level detail is achieved with a pure copper voice
coil, a low inductance motor system, conical felt damped
internal cavity chamber and the use of high density reversed
Double-Magnets which produces maximum flux density yet lowers
the stray magnet field for shielding. The voice coil now uses a
new, extremely low viscosity ferro-fluid which aids in keeping
the tweeters heat dissipation temperature down, reducing
compression and increasing the dynamic program range and maximum
power of the unit. The efficiency and detail of this newly
developed tweeter outperforms units many times its cost and
being specifically matched to our new speakers gives us an
amazingly high performance audiophile sound at incredible value.
HDS 810653 |
HDS
Peerless High Definition Sound of Mid-Woofers
The
design achievement of this new driver series is an impressively ample
and articulate sound from compact units. Advanced build technology with
an aerodynamic, ridged cast aluminium frame holding an oversized, high
flux magnet, a low compression, rear ventilated, Nomex spider, SBR
rubber surround and a 5 layer polymer laminate cone, double bound to a
high power, quad wound, voice coil that has over an inch of travel in an
improved, distortion reducing magnet system using aluminium shorting
rings (and a phase plug for the HDS455s). Dramatic improvements in
dynamics, efficiency, detail, maximum dB output, and long term
reliability from such compact drivers, that sound and also look like
they are very high performance.
XLS
Peerless Subwoofers
Peerless
have pushed the Sub-Woofer to new performance extremes with the
Xtra-Long-Stroke
Series of drivers, specifically designed for very high performance
and long endurance at high SPL. All aspects in design and construction
of this series is for reproducing extra clean, tight, deep bass. Self
induced distortion and varying impedance with exertion is virtually
eliminated by the new aluminium shorting ring and spacer motor system,
comprising a 50mm diam' 4 layer voice coil in a double stacked magnet
for high efficiency and a very high power rating. The fibre composite
cone is molded from wood-free pulp comprising a blend of nomex, kevlar
and glass fibre bonded by polymers to give an ultra-stiff yet relatively
light cone that is fast and will stay stable even under extreme load.
Aerodynamic, ridged, alloy basket. Extra wide, SBR rubber surround.
Vented Dust cap and open voice coil for reduced compression, and almost
2 inch of exertion protected by soft mechanical clipping. This driver
series is powerful, efficient & robust, yet produces fantastic,
distortion free bass that will satisfy the audio connoisseur to the
Sound-Off champion.
NEW
Peerless 8" XLS Sub-woofer
The XLS range of Sub-woofers has pushed the envelope
further for the performance digital demands of DVD theatre with the XLS
12" Sub giving phenomenal performance from such a small enclosure.
However, it was also necessary to design a more compact unit to suit
smaller establishments. To this end Stones have developed a new Cast
chassis
8" version of XLS driver to again achieve audiophile performance at
a reasonable cost. The new XLS800 subwoofer will out perform most 10"
subs of twice the volume with clean, articulate, deep bass.
NEW
STONES SOUND STUDIO Upgraded Subwoofer Amplifier STONES S200W-V2
After testing many internal sub-woofer
amplifiers from makers all over the globe, we decided to perfect our
own. The new S200W amplifier from WES Components has been developed
by STONES SOUND STUDIO after considerable testing and modifications to
achieve very stable performance in the low frequency domain down to the
sub-sonic 5Hz. Special Video audio filters at 24db/Oct
we developed so that the subwoofer unit can be adjusted to suit
both music and home-theater bass and also allowing in conjunction with
the freq ,level, phase controls some adjustment for room
resonant modes. Again we have achieved this while
maintaining excellent value for money. To get this level of performance
usually costs considerably more. Essential for the XLS800 and highly
recommended for the XLS1000 sub-woofers this excellent subwoofer
amplifier can be used with any subwoofer speakers .
Premium
Component Crossovers
Components used in the HDS & XLS range are all premium
quality for best audio performance. A new range of inductor coils and
capacitors was imported by WES Components to achieve the best sonic
performance at a reasonable price. The Solen range of capacitors, for
example, was developed in France for the European Space Agency! Only air
coils are used, because of their sonic performance. Gold connectors and
OFC cabling, all combine to maintain a very high level of sonic purity.
Sound
Signature Matched For Home Theatre
To best reproduce the DVD home theatre audio experience,
it is recommended by most installers that all speakers be identical.
This is to achieve a seamless transition of sound from one speaker to
the other without any obvious change in tone. You can accomplish this by
using a combination of all HDS250 speakers (HDS255c as centers).
However, it can also be achieved by the use a combination of different
speakers in this range, due to the close sonic resemblances of each HDS
speaker. eg. For a most impressive setup, use the HDS455 as mains, the
HDS255c as your center and the conveniently compact HDS150 or HDS250 as
surround speakers. The choice of XLS800 or XLS1000 depends on room size
and potential listening volume.
Passive Radiator V's Ported Sub Woofers
The XLS1000 uses one 12"
Active driver and one
12" Passive radiator.
This is a "Drone Cone" that utilises the
low frequency energy within the box, similar to a port but with some
distinct advantages in that it improves performance and specifications.
The XLS1000 dual cone design achieves superior audiophile sound with
lower than normally achievable frequency response at very high SPL if
required. This impressively clean and deep sound is without the air
breathing distortion normally associated with an over exerted vented
enclosure used at such low frequencies and high potential volume levels.
To reduce turbulence in our XLS800, with the single 8" XLS driver, we
use tapered internal bracing and large, dual 65mm ports that are also
flanged for reduced turbulence distortion.
Curved Edge Design
Where
possible or practical, edges in the box are tapered. This includes the
speaker grills, internal bracing and the port edges. When a sound wave
from a loudspeaker reaches an edge of a speaker cabinet, for example, it
creates a new source of sound that appears to emanate from there,
referred to as "Edge Diffraction". Rounding off corners will reduce this
diffraction distortion. It is also a prime example of the attention to
detail the designer has gone to achieve the best results possible.
Acoustically Aligned Coaxial Array [& Tweeter Flare
System]
If
you look at the HDS250 and HDS455, you will observe the tweeter is
COUNTERSUNK into the box with a mid-woofer above and below. As a result
of this alignment, the sound from the tweeter leaves the box and reaches
your ears at the same time as the mid-woofers sounds. This eliminates
the usual midrange delay, reducing "Lobbing"
(sound interaction
between drivers) and achieving a near perfect transient response. This
physical alignment, the unique front face tweeter flaring and the
precision crossover phase alignment, all work together to give many
transient improvements, particularly at the obstreperous crossover
frequency point. The focus and realism of each performance will surpass
what standard flat baffle speakers can normally reproduce, and all with
consummate accuracy. Horizontal and vertical off-axis response is also
improved, producing a greater "sweet-spot" and giving a wider, deeper 3D
sound stage perception, reducing the fallacious effect of where you are
in the theatre. Everywhere is the best seat in the house!
Bi-Wire
& Bi-Amp Compatible
Dual binding posts on all HDS models for the option of
connecting signals to the tweeter and mid-woofers separately. This
allows use of multiple amplifiers with active crossovers or, a more
controversial tweak, you can bi-wire from a single amp. It is claimed
that this will improve tweeter response and efficiency. The gold binding
posts are shorted as default for normal twin cables. We do highly
recommend though, the use of transcendent quality OFC cables for
connection as direct improvements will result.
SSS
recommends our WES Code OFC348 cable as the best value for money. We use
this cable for internal wiring on all HDS models.
![Jump To DST.dk](_tn_dst_logo_9.jpg)
Some computer measured testimonials; |
![The measured frequency responce of our HDS250 speaker system - The proof is in the eating!](_tn_r250ks_freq.jpg)
F graph of our HDS250
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![Low stress on the amplifier with correct crossover designs](_tn_r250ks_imp.jpg)
Impedance graph HDS250
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![Custom designed SUB AMP to WES specifications](_tn_xls800_spl_new_(2).jpg)
SPL of the 8" Subwoofer
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Click for close-up
views |
![crossover1212](_tn_all7.jpg)
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![artisan_413](_tn_PC031585.jpg)
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![artisan_4131](_tn_r250_Pair.jpg)
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![xls800_cutout112](_tn_xls_hds_philips_flip.jpg)
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SPEAKER MODELS AND UPGRADES
HISTORY The HDS
with laminated are no Longer Avaliable and have been
upgraded
5" Two Way - Two Driver Mini-Monitors |
HDS150 Not available
> upgraded to Artisan R150-V23 2011 |
5" Two Way - Three Driver Mini-Monitors |
HDS250 Not available
> upgraded to Artisan R250-V23 2011 |
5" Two Way - Three Driver Centre Speaker |
HDS255c Not available
> upgraded to Artisan R250C-V23 2011 |
6.5" Two Way - Three Driver Flagship Monitors |
HDS455 Not available
> upgraded to Artisan R455-V23 2011 |
8" Single Driver Subwoofer |
XLS800 Not
available > upgraded to Artisan R800-V23
2011 |
12" Dual Speaker Subwoofer |
XLS1000 Not available > upgraded to Artisan R1000-V23
2011 |
Crossovers require construction |
Crossovers All Crossovers > upgraded
to Artisan V23 Series circuits & components |
Speakers need to be inserted into the boxes |
Construction |
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