2016/07/19 created
2021/05/07 updated

The contents of this page were reprinted from the previous homepage of mine, 'Tonochi's Audio Room'. Some parts were edited.

Summary

Gaudi is a home-built audio system which I designed in 1974, when I was a 17-year-old high school sophomore. At that time, I already had a four-year experience as an audiophile, and I considered the ideal audio system based on my experience and knowledge. It was a tri-amplified system using large size woofers and horn-loaded midrange units and tweeters.

As soon as I finished the system design, I began designing and building each component for Gaudi. I planned to complete Gaudi in five years.
However, it was far more difficult to build a high-end system than I had anticipated. I had to learn more about audio technology. My original plan was shattered. Building Gaudi became my lifework.

In September 2015, the midrange amplifier MA-215 Arabesque was completed, and it improved sound quality (SQ) of Gaudi significantly. I've decided to declare my Gaudi system is completed, though it is a bit different from the original system design.
Its SQ is nearly high-end level, but still not satisfactory. I don't think I can improve Gaudi further without changing the system design. So I've started designing Gaudi II (version 2.0).
Until the completion of Gaudi II, I continue to use Gaudi.

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Discussion

Goal of Gaudi

The goal of Gaudi sound is 'living sound'.
It's not easy to describe the sound, so I created another page to explain it. Please click the link below:
[The Goal of Gaudi Sound]

Discussion on Configuration

I recalled how I decided the system's configuration in 1974, and wrote it on the page below:
[Discussion on System Configuration]

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System Design

As a result of the consideration, I decided to build a three-way multi-amplifier system and make amplifiers and loudspeakers specially designed for the system.
First of all, I fixed the spec of the loudspeaker: multi-enclosure speaker system with large woofers, horn midranges and horn tweeters.
Next, I fixed spec of the amplifiers according to the spec of the loudspeakers. I planned to make a total of five amplifiers: a preamp, a channel divider (network), a power amp for the woofers (woofer amp), a power amp for the midranges (midrange amp) and a power amp for the tweeters (tweeter amp).
In addition, I planned to make an analog player.
[read more]

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History of Gaudi

1974

The system design of Gaudi was fixed. It was nameless at that time.
In a multi-amp system, the preamp and power amp are necessarily separated. Until then I only had integrated amps, so I decided to make a preamp and a power amp.
I made the tube power amp MA-201, the very first work under NOBODY brand. Subsequently I made the tube preamp PA-202.
[details]

1976

I made a poly-speaker system using four units of Fostex FE103 per channel.
I bought an FM tuner and a cassette tape deck. Now I was able to make an off-air recording.
[details]

1980

I gave up the preamp PA-202, which was helplessly defective, and made a new tube preamp PA-203.

1982

After finishing my graduation thesis in university, I started making four components in a row: an analog player PS-104, a tweeter amp MA-205, a network CD-206 and loudspeakers SS-307. When I completed SS-307, I was a freshman at a company and just finished the training for the new recruits.
Finally, three-way multi-amplifier system was established, though I couldn't afford horn-loaded midrange and used a full-range driver Fostex FE106 Sigma as the midrange.
[details]

1992

My family moved to a 3-bedroom condominium. Gaudi was installed in the living room.

1999

I made a new tube power amp MA-208, which replaced MA-205. That's because I had been dissatisfied with the sound quality of MA-205.

2001

I abandoned the loudspeaker SS-307 because of its bad looks. Instead, I made SS-309, which inherited the basic design of SS-307 and had far better looks.

2003

I had a house built, which had good acoustics. Gaudi was installed in the living room.
A tube preamp PA-210 Simplicity was completed, which I had been building since 2001. It replaced PA-203.

2004

I made an OP amp based network CD-211 A-NET, which replaced CD-206.

2005

I replaced the midrange amp Sony TA-n330ES with Flying Mole DAD-M100Pro-HT.

2011

Gaudi's basics are still unchanged though many small improvements were made.
[details]

2012-13

SS-309's midrange unit has been replaced with horn-loaded drivers. Gaudi is almost completed. There's only one step to go to achieve the goal I planned in 1974.
[details]

2014

Gaudi reached its 40th anniversary this year. Gaudi will be completed when the power amplifier MA-215 is completed, which I am designing now. Though there are many issues to be solved before I finish the design, I am so eager to complete MA-215 and Gaudi within this year.
[details]

2015

The midrange power amplifier MA-215 Arabesque was completed and it improved sound quality of Gaudi considerably. All the amplifiers in Gaudi are my works now. So I decided the completion of Gaudi. I'll continue to use Gaudi till Gaudi II is in use.
[details]

2016 (Gaudi was completed)

I enjoy music with Gaudi every day. On the other hand, I am analyzing measurements of Gaudi and clarifying its good and bad points. I am going to write the result in this homepage in the near future. And I am going to design Gaudi II based on the analysis.
[details]

 

 

 

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