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Aesthetix Rhea - IO-IO Signature

Hello,

is someone out there, who did listen to the Rhea and the IO in the same System ?
I would like to know the differences, I heard, the Rhea is very close to the IO ( or even IO Sign. ).

I listened some time ago to a few phono units in a private System ( Pass XONO, Manley Steelhead, Klyne 7PX3.5, Aesthetix Rhea ) and the Rhea was fine.

What I would like to know, specially from IO Owners who listened to the Rhea:
Is the IO way ahead or not ?
Honest anwer is preferred, I know the price difference of the IO and Rhea, but they are made from the same designer.

another question:
Is the difference between IO and IO Sign. huge ?

Thanks for reading
thomasheisig
11 responses Add your response
jphii
485 posts
 
I've got no clue, but i need to know one thing. Where did you get that lamp in your system? I've been looking for something like that for a long time.

Joe
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Thomas,
I believe Albert Porter is intimately familiar with both of these units. He owns the IO and has demoed the Rhea.

He's currently in Europe doing several shows. His shedule is posted here somewhere, perhaps you could arrange to run into him. If not, you may have to wait a couple of weeks until he gets home. I don't know if he has the time to keep up with A'gon threads as much as he normally does.

Regards,
Doug
lapaix
45 posts
 
Hello Jphii,

The lamp is called "Tizio," and it's made by Artemide. You can get it at the Museum of Modrn Art design shop among many other places, including Artemide dealers. There are many knock-offs. Get the original!
jphii
485 posts
 
Thanks Lapaix, I really like it!

Joe
thomasheisig OP
568 posts
 
Hi Joe,

Lapaix gave you the right info. It's a good one, it holds always the balance and is a timeless classic, there is a seperate stand for it available, too.
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
Sorry for getting off topic but how do you like your ZYX? And, what would you compare it to in another brand? Nice system, BTW.
thomasheisig OP
568 posts
 
Well, the Zyx 1000's main difference to my former Benz and Lyra:
Good as they were, after some listening I started to rate my records a la "good sounding"," bad sounding" etc.
With the Zyx this stopped, the music is always the priority and I don't think about the quality of my records.
I think, it is a good cartridge.
gundam91
506 posts
 
Sorry to be off topic. I've got a Tizio lamp too. I added a base to it, so it becomes a floorstanding. The light now "hangs" over my turntable. Any modern furniture store will most likely carry it. Another place online is called "Design within Reach". If you have an Architect friend, they can get one for you with a designer discount.

FrankC
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Thomas, I'm glad to see you're still considering an Aesthetix phono stage for your system. I've not listened to the Aesthetix Rhea in my own system in direct comparison to my Aesthetix Io Signature, so I'm going to pass on trying to offer any specific thoughts regarding your first question.

As to your second, I posed this same question to Jim White, the designer of Aesthetix, when I was purchasing my Io. His reply to me as to what he heard was very direct:
The Signature provides the following benefits:

.. Greater resolution
.. More neutral presentation
.. Improved high frequency extension and detail
.. Greater top to bottom coherency
.. Better bass definition

Adding the second supply improves the sound in the following ways:

.. Added space
.. Improved macro dynamics
.. Improved micro dynamics
.. Blacker backround
.. Greater ease to the sound, less strained

Hope this helps some in your pursuit of your ultimate answer.
.
mem916's avatar
mem916
19 posts
 
I have an IO Sig in my system now (single power-supply) and auditioned Rhea for a couple of days last spring. The IO sig is in another league. I have followed Albert Porter's advice and replaced the 12ax7's with selected low-noise telefunkens. However even with the stock tubes I would say that there is a huge difference between the two. The sense of space and ease that the IO provides is really something. I am running it through a CAT ultimate (also re-tubed with vintage mullard and telefunkens).
thomasheisig OP
568 posts
 
@all

Thanks for your kind information.
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