SW1X Performance System

SW1X Audio Design® Performance System

SW1X Audio Design Performance System is a guideline and an indicator of the quality of sound our customers can expect from the SW1X Audio Design™ product they are looking at. The goal is to help you in your search for the highest level of sound quality for your money.

Very few products on the market can be considered to be truly without compromise. Many manufacturers design their products based the consumer focused, features driven criteria, do not recognise the significance of components and material quality and are more concerned with profit making rather than the quality of sound. Contrary to that, the product range of SW1X Audio Design™ is built around the concept of a Functional Design.

The SW1X Performance System is created to demonstrate that increases in price correspond with improvements in sound quality.

The ultimate objective is to allow our customers and distributors to select and build systems of superior sound quality and longer lasting value. Every product offered under SW1X Audio Design brand maximizes musical pleasure money can buy at any given price level. Therefore, all our products are graded according to performance, which defines what SQ to expect at any corresponding price level.

The SW1X Performance System is built upon our philosophical approach to Audio Design, which is based on 3 main factors:

1. Elegance of Circuit Design,

2. Quality of Materials & Components

3. Degree of Harmonic Matching

These are the performance pillars of our audio systems, more can be read below.

SW1X Performance Levels

The SW1X Audio Design Performance Levels are essentially derived from the elegance & sophistication of the circuit design & its power supplies. The sophistication of circuit design increases each level to include more power supplies and tubes. As a result, the holography and sound stage grows larger and the dynamics increase with each performance level. The size of the chassis also increases as we move performance 3 onwards where space allows the components to breathe – i.e. to reduce EMI (electro-magnetic interference) and increase heat dissipation.

Our Performance Level 1 and 2 are the entry into the world of valve amplification where one can experience the distinctive SW1X Audio Design organic sound character and ‘human’ quality at its foundational level.

Performance Level 3 and 4 introduce upgraded circuit designs to employ the likes of EL84 and 6V6 power valves. The circuit designs employ more power supplies, more transformers and more chokes. The tube output stages employ signal output transformer as standard starting with the Balanced versions.

Performance Level 5 and 6 are no-expense-barred, zero compromise designs, with circuitry allowing for even more, larger valves and reducing transistors as much as we can in the equipment. The circuit designs have increased usage of signal transformers. This brings about the magical realism one seeks from highest performance audio equipment. The level 5 and 6 (dubbed X) are our top-of-the-line, flagship products, achieving the most analogue sound reproduction possible to date. They are the next best alternative to a live performance – whether it is to reproduce voices with their charm and authenticity or to bring the grandiose of live orchestra into your listening room.

Version Grading

The SW1X Audio Design™ products are offered on 6 performance levels. Starting from Performance Level 3, we have one or more of the following versions

Signature

Classic

Special

Balanced

While the performance levels indicate the level of circuit design, the versions represent a refinement in body, texture and colour. The versions allow one to have more choice in order to achieve optimum synergy between one’s existing audio system. If the system is in need of more transparency, our Special version can further improve on that aspect. If one needs richer textures and more colour in harmonics, then the Classic and Signature versions can provide significant improvements.

Generally, all versions can be summarized according to their

a) The type of Core in Output Transformers
b) Conductor material in Output Transformers, i.e, amount of Silver & Copper in the windings
c) More hardwired circuit boards

Product Version Quality Grading

Balanced < Special < Classic < Signature

Balanced = Non-compromise circuit design version with a more sophisticated tube output stage & tube power supply design. Employing specially selected materials & components quality and power tubes in the output stage, the Balanced topology is inductively loaded, inductively de-coupled (signal output transformer, OPT).

All products employing Signal output transformers are by default Balanced which have both true Balanced and Single Ended output signal. We offer some level 2 and level 3 products in Balanced version but all Level 4, 5 and X products are Balanced by design.

Special Version= Finest Materials & Components charged Balanced versions with power tube output stage & all copper wound signal (OPT) output transformers

Classic Version = A mix of Finest & Exotic materials & components charged Balanced versions with power tube output stage & partial silver wound signal (OPT) output transformers

Signature Version = limited production versions with no expense spared Exotic Materials & Components, maxed-all-out Balanced versions & all silver wound signal (OPT) output transformers.

Key differences across all signal output transformer (OPTs) equipped versions of SW1X products:

Balanced : all Copper wound, orient grain M6 EI Core OPTs
Special : all Copper wound Super HiB DC Core OPTs
Classic : Copper/Silver Windings, Super HiB DC Core OPTs
Signature : Silver/Silver Windings, Super HiB DC Core OPTs

Materials & Components Quality Grading

Basic < Specially Selected < Finest < Exotic

Specially Selected = A harmonically matched choice of great sounding, out of production, expensive Materials & Components.

Finest = Best available & out of production Materials & Components that yields the best possible sonic results:

Deliberate employment of Black Gate capacitors, Super HiB Double C cores, specially annealed copper and/or fine silver conductors, 1W & 2W AN and AB resistors

Exotic = No expense spared Materials & Components, most of them out productions or available in limited quantities.

“Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.” – Unknown

In essence, SW1X Audio Design® Performance Level/Version is an indicator of the quality of sound our customers can expect from the SW1X Audio Design® product they are looking at.