Bezalel

Why

We read an article about a brand new chemical process created by our driver manufacturer that was receiving rave reviews from the Japanese Market. It was developed for the Japanese market as they are the highest end market in the world. The process is so delicate, normally half of the drivers are disposed of because they do not meet the standard required for distribution. When we read this, we had to find out for ourselves if they were really that much better than the normal drivers they produced. (We have been using their drivers for years and the normal ones are better than any we tried through the years) As we have been a good customer, they sold us a pair of the MAOP 11s.

What is MAOP

The MAOP series sits at the top of the Markaudio range and is aimed at audiophiles seeking the ultimate in full range speaker drivers. Due to the complex manufacturing and testing processes used to build these drivers, they are produced in small quantities. These drivers are popular in Asia, and hence when they are available, very few find their way this far West.

The MAOP (Magnetic Arc Oxidisation Process or Plasma Electrolytic Oxidisation) is done at extremely high temperature in a flux bath that is prone to differential temperatures (hot/cold spots) which can warp the cones. The process is 10 times the cost of normal cone production, at least half are scrapped as it does render cones unusable if they are warped even slightly. The MAOP process involves a chemical conversion where the cone material is converted into its crystalline oxide. The crystal grows both outward into the substrate and outward. As such the new coating is not a deposited coating it is part of the original structure which gives excellent adhesion. The large crystal structure provides excellent stiffness and resistance to damage. The crystalline structure also encapsulates microscopic voids. It is supposed that it is the blend of microscopic voids and stiff structure that lend the cone the audio properties of both the metal cone and the paper cone, accuracy and a listen all day quality.

After construction, each driver is individually measured in the anechoic chamber at the Markaudio factory and pair matched based on that data to within, 0.5% tolerance. Each pair is supplied with individual electrical and acoustic measurements.

How

After proper break-in we installed them with our ARIA engine and it just took 15 seconds to know that the reports were TRUE. MarkAudio has agreed to supply us the drivers, as supply allows. As far as we know, we are the only ones in the American market. After extensive listening, and gathering feedback from local vans, our president decided to choose the name Bezalel to accurately describe (as close as possible in words) the experience of listening.

When

These speakers will be available, but in limited quantity. As each pair is hand made in the mountains of North Carolina, a lead time of a couple of weeks is necessary. Of course, the availability of the MAOP drivers is the biggest factor. We will take orders and fill them as we can. We will keep customers apprised of the time line.

Our path to Bezalel

For several years we pursued building a tower around one of our ARIA engines.  We loved the different qualities and nuances of each sized MarkAudio driver and wanted to incorporate them all into the final experience and presentation.  They did exactly that and we assumed there was not much conflict between them, as the total was much better than the individuals.   Customer feedback was great.

We were invited to demonstrate the speakers in a studio in Nashville almost a year ago.  Our curiosity to know how they would perform in a pro-audio environment sent us to the studio.  The Diva Six performed well and we received constructive advice about criteria needed by engineers.   Although the Diva Six was great for listening, it was found wanting in the bass register.  (We were encouraged with the statement that our Divas were the first time a speaker had shown the potential to be a single source monitor, full range single driver, something the pro audio world thought would never happen.)

The towers we built incorporated the Diva 8 inch driver and the lows were excellent.  This challenged us to take the eight and install it with it’s own engine to see how it performed.  This was an eye opener for us, for it was amazing.  We had never tried the eight inch by itself, for the six and four inch drivers were so awesome from mid bass on up, we assumed the eights would not touch that performance.  We were wrong.  The eights are also full range drivers and are debatably the best stand alone configuration of the Diva family. (The MAOP driver is not available in an eight inch offering)

The next phase was combining the different sized drivers together, but with each having its own ARIA engine.  The results are game changing for the audio enthusiast.  The amount of information presented cannot be described with words, only experience adequately provides the understanding.

This results in an entirely new way to approach the speaker universe.  You can start with the four inch Diva and be happy.  If you want to up the experience, add the six inch Diva without having to discard the four.  If then you want more, add the 3.5 inch Diva for the high frequencies that tweeters live in, but get them with the warmth and gentleness the ARIA engine provides.  The final piece is we have done left and right subs with the ARIA engine, and bass is as accurate, responsive, and real as if you were live.  (Depending on the size of your room, you will find the Diva 8s will give you accurate musical bass instead of a sub, and combined with the MAOP off axis, offers a high end experience un-paralleled in audio for under 100K.  With the addition of physical manipulation of the separate drivers, a unique approach to adjusting the sound stage for individual tastes, a first!! )

Then we found out about the development of the MAOP series of drivers.  As they were destined for the Japanese market, we didn’t expect to have access.  However, since we have been loyal customers of Mark Audio, we were allowed to purchase.  These drivers have taken the Diva designed system to another level.  So much so, we felt we needed another line to offer them.  Thus, Bezalel was born.  Due to the extremely limited availability, and the unparalleled performance, the price has to reflect those conditions.  Our original mission statement is “to make high end audio affordable to the common man”.  May that always be a reminder for us.

We believe there is no more transparent, accurate, and realistic speaker in the market.  That is why we have registered our trademark as  “Organic Audio^®” .