The sound of Augspurger® is still massive – but the famed speakers are getting more and more manageable for compact spaces. At NAMM, Augspurger® Monitors, of Pembroke, MA will announce the launch of their new Duo 8 System, which they are referring to as the first true “Mini-Main” in the Augspurger® line. It features the footprint of a midfield — so the free standing, fully active system can allow a much wider range of control rooms to be an Augspurger® environment.According to the company, there is no tradeoff in sonic performance, precision or power in the smaller format speakers as compared to the larger Augspurgers®. It’s dimensions are just 16-inches wide by 17-inches deep, at a starting price of $15,000/pair.This debut follows the introduction of the Augspurger® 12.3 DSP in July, 2014.The first Augspurger® Duo 8 system, including S12 subs, will be on display at the Pro Audio Distribution booth # 6411 at the NAMM show, Jan 22 through 25 in Anaheim.Here are more details, as provided by Augspurger®:Augspurger® Duo 8 System:The Duo 8 is a small-format main studio monitor built around Augspurger’s® newly-deigned smaller maple horn with it’s pure beryllium diaphragm, along with dual ferrite magneted eight-inch low/mid drivers. The horn offers extremely efficient response and smoothness for accurate, natural and pleasing high frequency without the limits associated with dome or ribbon tweeters.The Duo 8 system is powered by Augspurger® DSP-3/2000 three-way DSP-controlled D-Class power amps with a total of 2000 watts and supplies power for the optional Augspurger® S12 single 12” subwoofer. The system can be purchased with or without subs depending on room size and SPL desired. Amplifiers are rear-mounted in to the main cabinets and include software to allow the user or qualified tuning specialist to adjust EQ, phase and crossover to the room and engineer’s preference. The amps have extremely fast transient response, low distortion and extreme detail. With the factory tuning the speaker will perform to mastering-level accuracy, while delivering the high SPL output suited for today’s production requirements; characteristics heretofore afforded by the larger Duo 12 or Duo 15 systems.Duo 8 boasts flat response from 30hz to 20Khz without the sub, and extends down to 20hz when coupled with either S12, S212, S18 or S218 subwoofers.The system is capable of 118db SPL.The Duo 8 system pictured is shown with optional Vintage Flametop maple baffle; standard finishes are Matte Black or Matte Silver.In short, Augspurger’s® Duo 8 system is a Mini-Main that packs big speaker power, precision and performance into a smaller package for midfield or main-monitor applications. Pricing starts at $15,000 per pair.Dimensions are 26”H x 16” W x 17” Deep.Augspurger® will be at NAMM Booth 6411 in Hall A, for more information or to schedule a demo contact Drew Townson. Drew@augspurger.com

The Legion of Boom – a.k.a. the vaunted defense for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks – was just in town. During their stay in New York City, a visit to Quad Recording Studios’ newly renovated Studio Q1 would have been most appropriate.That’s because things most definitely go “boom” in this Midtown facility’s flagship production studio, which was recently redesigned to make additional space for its high-end clientele. And while they were at it, Quad partners Ricky Hosn and Alessio Casalini have made one of New York City’s loudest rooms even louder.[caption id="attachment_407" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Bigger, badder, LOUDER — the upgraded Q1.[/caption]Making SpaceFeedback was positive when Q1 launched in 2011, but not overwhelmingly so. The control room provided world-class acoustics, a strong Augspurger® sound system, and attracted artists including Mary J. Blige, A$AP Rocky, Wale, NeYo, Sara Bareilles, Travis Scott and Elle Varner among others. But at just 320 square feet, its original design proved to be too compact for star artists and producers that required room for their entourage — or simply to stretch out on the couch.For the next phase, Quad recruited noted studio designer John Storyk (Electric Lady, Jungle City) of Walters-Storyk Design Group. The remit: maximize available real estate, then pump up precision and power while he was at it.“The concept behind Q1 is building a studio with the producer in mind,” Hosn says. “Everything here is within arm’s reach. It’s a large format room, but the same time one person can run the ship with an easy workflow.”Between the Avid ICON control surface (which remains), the gear-packed producer’s desk in the back (which doesn’t), and frequent clients like 6’7” rapper J. Cole, there simply wasn’t sufficient square footage for work to get comfortably done. Following the update, however Q1 now has breathing room, due to some major tweaks. First off, Storyk oversaw a one-foot pushback of the rear wall, followed by the installation of a custom Storyk back wall diffusor. In addition, the contents of the old producer’s desk were split off into two new custom Storyk-designed racks on either side of the ICON. The result: creation of the much need legroom in the back area, as well as allowing for the addition of a couch, providing a “chill” factor that didn’t previously exist in the room.“It seems like it would be easy, but we had to rewire about five miles of cable,” notes Casalini. “We were pleasantly surprised it hit no problems whatsoever, but that’s because the wiring was done right the first time – that makes it a lot easier. Everything is on DL’s, so the hardest part is tearing down the soffits and getting everything out. These cables are heavy, and when you have 10 snakes together and you’re trying to pull each one individually, that’s the tedious part!”Awesome Augspurger®One listen to the room’s recharged Augspurger® system confirms that the work was worth it.The sound in Q1 is extremely powerful, while remaining clean and clear across the frequency spectrum. The bass is huge, but it doesn’t muffle the mids and highs. In a way that can only be experienced in the loudest and most accurate world-class rooms, Q1 is a full body ride – it’s a thrilling way to experience music, whether the source is a rough mix or finished track.“This Augspurger® system is a joint effort between John Storyk and Dave Malekpour of Professional Audio Design – any time you can have the speaker installer and the studio designer work hand-in-hand, it definitely enhances the studio quality,” Hosn says. “When you change something in the room, you’re changing the sound in there too – so if we were ever going to change the speakers, this would have been the right time.”Upgrades to the Augspurgers® were performed by Malekpour’s team at Professional Audio Design, taking advantage of the latest amp, tweeter and subwoofer advances available.“The system we originally installed at Quad Q1 included the GA215V dual 15” vertical mains, powered by Bryston 14B SST for the 15’ mid frequency drivers and Bryston 4B SST for the High Frequency Horn,” Malekpour explains. “That system was controlled by a BSS OmniDrive FDS-366T stereo 3-way DSP based speaker management system, providing system equalization and crossovers, and the subs were a Yorkville powered sub.“The system upgrades include new 4” Beryllium Diaphragms specially built for us by TruExtent, and fitted to our high output compression driver,” he continues. “The sub system installed is a pair of Augspurger® GA118S single 18” subs which are fitted with our proprietary 18” driver capable of 20-200hz, 97 db sensitivity, power handling of up to 2000 watts and almost 3” excursion.  The cabinet is front ported and optimized to perform flat down to 24hz.”Meanwhile, system power is provided by a pair of Augspurger® DSP-3/2500 – 3 channel Pulse Width Modulation amps with 2500 total watts: 1000 watts to the sub, 1000 watts to mids and 500 watts to the  high frequency horn. “This amp has some amazing specifications with .02% THD (total harmonic distortion) from 1 watt to 1 Kilowatt,” says Malekpour, “and one of the fastest transient responses in any amp I have tested.  It also has no fans, runs very cool and needs standard 120v AC.Quad’s Q1 Augspurger® system is designed to provide high output with detail and accuracy, and can be tuned with the onboard DSP via USB, allowing adjustment of the curve to complement the room’s performance.“The DSP is very high resolution and designed for the ability to align timing of drivers, phase, equalization and limiters if you want to protect the system,” Malekpour adds. “The equalization provides up to 16 FIR filters per band if needed, though usually we only need to use three or four filters per band. The EQ can be designed for bandwidth, Q, center frequency, gain and slope.”“Personally I feel my brain shaking when the volume is turned up!” Hosn laughs. “This system brings the excitement of a live show. It’s like being in a club.” Evolution/EssentialWord is getting around. Sessions at the new Q1 have included Natalie Imbruglia, Hilary Duff, Trey Songz and NeYo.Battling it out in NYC’s still heavily competitive world-class recording scene, Quad has rarely been one to sit still. Evolution is a constant here on the 10th floor of 723 7th Avenue, with plenty more action on the way.There is a highly stylish new luxury hotel-style lounge affixed to Q1, which takes full advantage of Quads uniquely inspiring view of Times Square. Meanwhile, a third studio, Q3 – is also in the works and should be on line in the next month or so.According to Ricky Hosn, the reason to keep reformulating an ambitious Manhattan facility is simple. “The people that don’t aren’t in business anymore,” he says. “You have to be observant of the trends, and always be on top of changes in the ways that producers and artists prefer to work.”— David Weiss