The first prototype of our new SAT MK2 monitor
30 years later...
Microphase Audio Design introdution at the Salon de la Haute Fidélité - Paris November 2016 - Point Musiques
A bit of history
Microphase introduced minuscule monitors (SAT) in the mid 80s and had quite a following in France, Belgium, Germany and Scandinavia. Later on, passive stereo subwoofers, triphonic systems and all active versions of these speakers were introduced to further acclaim. They were designed to be not only very high quality speakers, but also to capture the interest of interior designers and female clients. They were objects of beauty as well as a melomane dream come true in a tiny package (200x200x150mm).
30 years later, Microphase Audio Design introduces a modernised version of these monitors, aptly named SAT MK2, with vastly improved performance, but still retaining the spirit and the look of the original concept. This is a limited edition of a beautiful object reproducing music in all its splendor.
These speakers are designed for the melomane and the aestetician who don't want their hifi system to dominate their living room.
They will also appeal to the pro market as perfect recording studio monitors, as they are very revealing of all the details and nuances of the music.
What is our secret? Experience and a lifelong love of and exposure to music...
From a very young age, Jean-Marie LIERE, the designer of these speakers, has been exposed to live music, as his maternal grandmother and mum both used to play the piano, then later on at jazz clubs in Paris (Memphis Slim at Les Trois Mailletz comes to mind...), various concert halls in Europe (Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna...) and the Sydney Opera House bien súr!
In 1970, Jean-Marie started to learn electronics at Uni and attending hifi shows and visiting top dealers in Paris like Télé Radio Commercial near the Saint-Lazare station. Interestingly enough, all the music instruments dealers were and still are in that street. Jean-Marie was lucky enough to meet such luminaries as Joseph Léon (Elipson), André Charlin, Pierre Clément, Georges Cabasse, Jacques Mahul of Focal fame, just to name a few.
As his first project, Jean-Marie designed and built a transistorised preamp and a kit valve amplifier from Cibot Radio, and built his first full range speakers out of two 17cm SIARE drivers and the filling of the rather crude cabinets was some old blankets from his mum! The rest, as they say, is history...
Read about Jean-Marie's journey on his blog www.frenchvintagehifi.com
What's next?
These new monitors will be a limited series of a 100 pairs sold online worldwide. We are setting up a number of listening rooms around the World, the first one, if you live in Europe, is chez Point Musiques in the northern countryside of Paris, near Beauvais. Give Jean-Jacques Capello a call for a listening session, it is free! If you are in Australia or New Zealand, contact us and we will organise a listen in Sydney. We are looking for a listening room in Melbourne and hopefully this will be up and running before the end of 2018. Next places will be Japan, then the US of A. Stay tuned!
We have been lucky enough to work with Brad Serhan, one of the most talented Australian designers of small speakers, on an upgrade of our crossovers over the last couple of months. We are very grateful for him giving up some of his precious time to help us getting these speakers to yet another level of performance, and in the process reduce their cost, which will then flow onto the final price to be published shortly.
We also have new measurements below which clearly reflect the utmost performance of these tiny speakers,. Of particular importance, note the linearity of the phase response, a crucial element of the accurate reproduction of instruments' timbres.
The frequency response extends very linearly way past the traditional 20 kHz...
We are currently working on a central active subwoofer and then two separate passive subs which will act as stands for the SATs MK2.
Eventually, we will release a central channel and rear speakers if you are keen to expand your system to a high quality home theater surround system.
We are aiming to have these products all finalised and ready to demonstrate at the StereoNet show in Melbourne, Australia in October 2018.
Microphase introduced minuscule monitors (SAT) in the mid 80s and had quite a following in France, Belgium, Germany and Scandinavia. Later on, passive stereo subwoofers, triphonic systems and all active versions of these speakers were introduced to further acclaim. They were designed to be not only very high quality speakers, but also to capture the interest of interior designers and female clients. They were objects of beauty as well as a melomane dream come true in a tiny package (200x200x150mm).
30 years later, Microphase Audio Design introduces a modernised version of these monitors, aptly named SAT MK2, with vastly improved performance, but still retaining the spirit and the look of the original concept. This is a limited edition of a beautiful object reproducing music in all its splendor.
These speakers are designed for the melomane and the aestetician who don't want their hifi system to dominate their living room.
They will also appeal to the pro market as perfect recording studio monitors, as they are very revealing of all the details and nuances of the music.
What is our secret? Experience and a lifelong love of and exposure to music...
From a very young age, Jean-Marie LIERE, the designer of these speakers, has been exposed to live music, as his maternal grandmother and mum both used to play the piano, then later on at jazz clubs in Paris (Memphis Slim at Les Trois Mailletz comes to mind...), various concert halls in Europe (Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna...) and the Sydney Opera House bien súr!
In 1970, Jean-Marie started to learn electronics at Uni and attending hifi shows and visiting top dealers in Paris like Télé Radio Commercial near the Saint-Lazare station. Interestingly enough, all the music instruments dealers were and still are in that street. Jean-Marie was lucky enough to meet such luminaries as Joseph Léon (Elipson), André Charlin, Pierre Clément, Georges Cabasse, Jacques Mahul of Focal fame, just to name a few.
As his first project, Jean-Marie designed and built a transistorised preamp and a kit valve amplifier from Cibot Radio, and built his first full range speakers out of two 17cm SIARE drivers and the filling of the rather crude cabinets was some old blankets from his mum! The rest, as they say, is history...
Read about Jean-Marie's journey on his blog www.frenchvintagehifi.com
What's next?
These new monitors will be a limited series of a 100 pairs sold online worldwide. We are setting up a number of listening rooms around the World, the first one, if you live in Europe, is chez Point Musiques in the northern countryside of Paris, near Beauvais. Give Jean-Jacques Capello a call for a listening session, it is free! If you are in Australia or New Zealand, contact us and we will organise a listen in Sydney. We are looking for a listening room in Melbourne and hopefully this will be up and running before the end of 2018. Next places will be Japan, then the US of A. Stay tuned!
We have been lucky enough to work with Brad Serhan, one of the most talented Australian designers of small speakers, on an upgrade of our crossovers over the last couple of months. We are very grateful for him giving up some of his precious time to help us getting these speakers to yet another level of performance, and in the process reduce their cost, which will then flow onto the final price to be published shortly.
We also have new measurements below which clearly reflect the utmost performance of these tiny speakers,. Of particular importance, note the linearity of the phase response, a crucial element of the accurate reproduction of instruments' timbres.
The frequency response extends very linearly way past the traditional 20 kHz...
We are currently working on a central active subwoofer and then two separate passive subs which will act as stands for the SATs MK2.
Eventually, we will release a central channel and rear speakers if you are keen to expand your system to a high quality home theater surround system.
We are aiming to have these products all finalised and ready to demonstrate at the StereoNet show in Melbourne, Australia in October 2018.
New crossovers, and the two settings for a proper listening of our new SAT MK2 -
The 1984 version serves as stand for the horizontal setting preferred by recording and radio studios - These are the crossovers of our standard SAT MK2 - Local coils, SCR capacitors
Introducing the newest SAT MK2 SIGNATURE
SAT MK2 Signature crossover showing the Bass section with Mindoro foil coil and cap
This project started as a private experiment. We were building a set of crossovers with the best components we had in stock for our own reference system.
We were not expecting a significant difference with our current production speakers. However, the minute we turned them on, it became obvious that we had achieved another level of performance, with better bass, cleaner midrange and somehow a tad better slew rate.
We are using foil coils in the bass section and Mundorf caps all throughout the crossover, hence the huge different in cost, including more labor to fit these bigger components inside the very limited space available inside the cabinet, without compromising the bass extension.
After discussions with our best mates in the industry and our dealers in Paris, it was decided to put this improved version as a Signature model.
Our cost is significantly higher than our standard model which has been optimised for best value and production cost. We have not passed on the totality of these costs on and are now offering the SAT MK2 Signature for 50% more than the standard model. Eventually, we will provide a kit of upgrade, so one can buy the standard model today and when more funds become available, you will be able to trade-in your original crossovers for the Signature version.
We don't expect a significant difference in measurements, but will endeavour to check this later in 2018, when our testing facility reopens.
Photo courtesy of Edgar Kramer - Soundstage Australia
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SPECIFICATIONS
SAT MK2
3-way monitor, with bi-wiring and time aligned tweeter in a marine grade birch plywood cabinet with a clear polyurethane finish.
The main full range driver has a paper membrane and phase plug specially designed for this speaker by AUDAX in France.
The other drivers are special purpose, sourced from Tymphany and designed by VIFA and PEERLESS.
Dimensions:220x220x180mm
Frequency response: 70Hz - 40KHz +/- 6 dB
Efficiency: 89dB/1W/1m
Phase: +5/- 30 degrees from 20Hz to 40KHz
Impedance: Nominal 4 ohms - Maximum 5 ohms - Minimum 2 ohms
Crossover frequencies: 150Hz/12dB/oct, 4KHz/ 12dB/oct, Linkwitz-Riley phase alignment,
Power handling: 50W - Remember that you would need 100W on an 86dB/1W/1m speaker for the same sound pressure
,We have successfully tested these speakers on BRYSTON B135, vintage BRYSTON 3B, NAD C355BEE, ARTEC 2x50w hybrid, CONCEPTS 7w tube, Pure Audio
3-way monitor, with bi-wiring and time aligned tweeter in a marine grade birch plywood cabinet with a clear polyurethane finish.
The main full range driver has a paper membrane and phase plug specially designed for this speaker by AUDAX in France.
The other drivers are special purpose, sourced from Tymphany and designed by VIFA and PEERLESS.
Dimensions:220x220x180mm
Frequency response: 70Hz - 40KHz +/- 6 dB
Efficiency: 89dB/1W/1m
Phase: +5/- 30 degrees from 20Hz to 40KHz
Impedance: Nominal 4 ohms - Maximum 5 ohms - Minimum 2 ohms
Crossover frequencies: 150Hz/12dB/oct, 4KHz/ 12dB/oct, Linkwitz-Riley phase alignment,
Power handling: 50W - Remember that you would need 100W on an 86dB/1W/1m speaker for the same sound pressure
,We have successfully tested these speakers on BRYSTON B135, vintage BRYSTON 3B, NAD C355BEE, ARTEC 2x50w hybrid, CONCEPTS 7w tube, Pure Audio
SAT MK2 Frequency response - December 2017
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SAT MK2 Impedance and phase - December 2017
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Introducing our new stereo subwoofers
These new passive subwoofers also act as stands for our SAT MK2 and SAT MK2 Signature. They come as standard SWS MK2 or as SWS MK2 Signature with the upgraded crossover components found in the SAT MK2 Signature.
In their standard version, they are priced the same as the SATs. Again they attract a 30% surcharge for the Signature version, rather than 50% as the crossover is a lot simpler than in the SATs. Please note that the SATs are not filtered at the lower frequencies to retain their transparency. The crossover is a 12dB/octave at 150 Hz feeding a proprietary 21cm driver from Audax France. The plinth ensures stability to the whole unit and create a stable and consistent surface to the bottom mounted driver. The proximity of the plinth surface and the driver have other benefits and contributes to the linearity of the response from 40 Hz to 150 HZ +/- 3dB.
Viscoelastic pads from Les Davis Audio are fitted between the subwoofer and the satellite for perfect isolation of the two cabinets.
We will eventually have a powered version of this product. Stay tuned!
TESTIMONIALS
"Gobsmacking that these little speakers could hold their own in a very big room. Truely impressive. Big sound & imaging can come from beautiful and small little boxes. This was fun and rewarding!"
Fredrik U. - after a 3 hour listening session in his 60m2 room
"Au delà des caractéristiques et des techniques mises en œuvre pour aboutir à ce résultat musical surprenant de vérité, ces enceintes avec des dimensions et un espace « ridiculement réduit » proposent de très hautes performances musicales et se comportent comme de « très grandes ».
"Besides the specifications and the technolgies implemented to achieve this surprising musical result, these speakers with their ridiculously small dimensions offer outstanding musical reproduction performance and sound like much bigger ones"
Jean-Jacques Capello - Point Musiques.
What I liked:
· Surprising dynamics
· Stunning detail and micro-detail
· Arresting attack at notes’ leading edge
· Wide sound stage and good image specificity
· Very ‘live’ sounding
Some things that are not quite what I’m used to. This are my biases so purely subjective and meant as constructive comments.
. I’m used to a somewhat softer top end. I found the speakers very sibilant compared to what I’m used to and what I consider neutral.
Both versions, but the Signature less so.
· This in my opinion, affected the tonal qualities towards a “toppy” sound that is, to me, less natural and not as I hear live unamplified instruments.
· This same issue affects the “body” of the midrange frequencies. This is relieved by the use of the subwoofer but I’m talking about the speakers
as standalone products.
· It would seem from my observations above that the upper mids and highs are somewhat forward and the lower mids shelved down.
Edgar Kramer - Editor-in-Chief - SoundStage! Australia - after a two hour listening session in Sydney
"There is a lot to like about both the Microphase SAT MK2 and the recently completed Signature version. They both benefit from a relatively small size which assists with soundstage projection. While unconventional, the 3-way design with the bass driver located at the back of each cabinet combined with careful driver selection has delivered a very musical speaker which easily extract the emotion of a recording in a very satisfying way. For a full range experience a subwoofer works well with the SAT MK2s to deliver the bottom octaves, however they can still hold their own in smaller rooms with carful placement. The Microphase SAT MK2 Signature version builds on what is already a very competent design to deliver further refinement by tightening up the presentation, this tightening delivers a lowering of the noise floor allowing for an increased perceived transparency.
David Allen - Brigadiers Audio - NOTE: David participated in the design of our crossovers
As a semi-professional musician (double bass player and vocalist) and long-time speaker builder, I was keen to hear Jean-Marie's latest creations. After a couple of hours of listening, here are my impressions:
Pro's:
- Diminutive in size but not in presence. Attack, clarity and micro-detail is very excellent, all without feeling clinical, dry or fatiguing.
- Bright, but in a good way; cymbals ring and decay very realistically, and instruments like saxophones bark with their inherent rawness that's heard on-stage but not from the cheap seats.
- Coupled and blended properly with a conservative sub yields a very natural sound, lacking any sense of artificial bloat that some speakers exhibit; in fact, I initially found myself waiting for them to 'jump' out at me, only to realise after a while that I had been anticipating (in vain) for the 'inevitable' hotspots to reveal themselves. The top-end, in particular, I found to be brilliant; yes, it's there in spades, but is exceedingly natural. I didn't find myself hearing the tweeter, which Jean-Marie accredited to the speakers' linear phase response and therefore detail (that he's particularly proud of). After a while, I was only hearing the music, not a well-transduced version of it.
- Notable was that Jean-Marie wasn't augmenting the system with super high-end tweaks; cable was decent but not spectacular (nor eye-wateringly expensive) Monster cable. Amplification to the Microphases was an NAD integrated used as preamp only with a vintage Bryston 3B as power amp. Source was an Oppo Universal Player. The point is: This was nice but, in hi-fi terms, reasonable pedestrian stuff, and the speakers still sounded amazing. Kind of boggles the mind what they might do with an expensive set-up...
Note from M.A.D.: listening on a much more expensive system with Yamaha CD transport, external DAC and 15k$ Gryphon amp was not extraordinaryly different...
- Small size, slight breakaway from the standard box shape (with the large chamfered edges) and interesting looks means less chance of upsetting the spouse.
Caveats?
- The small driver size won't give you access to the upper limits of dynamic range and SPL without some degree of driver compression, but these are about finesse and detail, not shock and awe (although are certainly not incapable of generating decent SPL's in the kind of room they're designed for).
- As always, poor quality recordings are quickly shown for what they are (but high quality versions absolutely shine).
- I didn't get to hear them without low end augmentation, but I'd imagine it's largely essential for the full experience.
Overall, highly desirable indeed.
Paul Sun - Swing In Good Time - after spending 3 hours at our listening room in Sydney
The SAT MK2 speakers give one of the best musical performances I've heard in a long time. They are the most exciting and amazing speakers I've the chance to listen to. They play beautiful and natural music with only 2 very very little boxes. It's absolutely M.A.D! Wonderful and unforgettable speakers that show that less is more :-)))
Hervé Brasebin/AudioNec - after spending 2 hours at our open house on May 27th, 2018 in Warluis
As an audiophile and an architecture student, I’m firstly very sensitive to the sound quality but also to the design. And I admit that the first time I saw the SAT MK2, they completely catched both my eyes and ears. The sounds is really impressive, precise and clear, amazingly considering the super small size. I find the design simple and minimalist, just going straight to the point. Sure they will make my perfect next loudspeakers !
Matthieu Brasebin / Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) - EPFL - Copenhagen - Denmark
Fredrik U. - after a 3 hour listening session in his 60m2 room
"Au delà des caractéristiques et des techniques mises en œuvre pour aboutir à ce résultat musical surprenant de vérité, ces enceintes avec des dimensions et un espace « ridiculement réduit » proposent de très hautes performances musicales et se comportent comme de « très grandes ».
"Besides the specifications and the technolgies implemented to achieve this surprising musical result, these speakers with their ridiculously small dimensions offer outstanding musical reproduction performance and sound like much bigger ones"
Jean-Jacques Capello - Point Musiques.
What I liked:
· Surprising dynamics
· Stunning detail and micro-detail
· Arresting attack at notes’ leading edge
· Wide sound stage and good image specificity
· Very ‘live’ sounding
Some things that are not quite what I’m used to. This are my biases so purely subjective and meant as constructive comments.
. I’m used to a somewhat softer top end. I found the speakers very sibilant compared to what I’m used to and what I consider neutral.
Both versions, but the Signature less so.
· This in my opinion, affected the tonal qualities towards a “toppy” sound that is, to me, less natural and not as I hear live unamplified instruments.
· This same issue affects the “body” of the midrange frequencies. This is relieved by the use of the subwoofer but I’m talking about the speakers
as standalone products.
· It would seem from my observations above that the upper mids and highs are somewhat forward and the lower mids shelved down.
Edgar Kramer - Editor-in-Chief - SoundStage! Australia - after a two hour listening session in Sydney
"There is a lot to like about both the Microphase SAT MK2 and the recently completed Signature version. They both benefit from a relatively small size which assists with soundstage projection. While unconventional, the 3-way design with the bass driver located at the back of each cabinet combined with careful driver selection has delivered a very musical speaker which easily extract the emotion of a recording in a very satisfying way. For a full range experience a subwoofer works well with the SAT MK2s to deliver the bottom octaves, however they can still hold their own in smaller rooms with carful placement. The Microphase SAT MK2 Signature version builds on what is already a very competent design to deliver further refinement by tightening up the presentation, this tightening delivers a lowering of the noise floor allowing for an increased perceived transparency.
David Allen - Brigadiers Audio - NOTE: David participated in the design of our crossovers
As a semi-professional musician (double bass player and vocalist) and long-time speaker builder, I was keen to hear Jean-Marie's latest creations. After a couple of hours of listening, here are my impressions:
Pro's:
- Diminutive in size but not in presence. Attack, clarity and micro-detail is very excellent, all without feeling clinical, dry or fatiguing.
- Bright, but in a good way; cymbals ring and decay very realistically, and instruments like saxophones bark with their inherent rawness that's heard on-stage but not from the cheap seats.
- Coupled and blended properly with a conservative sub yields a very natural sound, lacking any sense of artificial bloat that some speakers exhibit; in fact, I initially found myself waiting for them to 'jump' out at me, only to realise after a while that I had been anticipating (in vain) for the 'inevitable' hotspots to reveal themselves. The top-end, in particular, I found to be brilliant; yes, it's there in spades, but is exceedingly natural. I didn't find myself hearing the tweeter, which Jean-Marie accredited to the speakers' linear phase response and therefore detail (that he's particularly proud of). After a while, I was only hearing the music, not a well-transduced version of it.
- Notable was that Jean-Marie wasn't augmenting the system with super high-end tweaks; cable was decent but not spectacular (nor eye-wateringly expensive) Monster cable. Amplification to the Microphases was an NAD integrated used as preamp only with a vintage Bryston 3B as power amp. Source was an Oppo Universal Player. The point is: This was nice but, in hi-fi terms, reasonable pedestrian stuff, and the speakers still sounded amazing. Kind of boggles the mind what they might do with an expensive set-up...
Note from M.A.D.: listening on a much more expensive system with Yamaha CD transport, external DAC and 15k$ Gryphon amp was not extraordinaryly different...
- Small size, slight breakaway from the standard box shape (with the large chamfered edges) and interesting looks means less chance of upsetting the spouse.
Caveats?
- The small driver size won't give you access to the upper limits of dynamic range and SPL without some degree of driver compression, but these are about finesse and detail, not shock and awe (although are certainly not incapable of generating decent SPL's in the kind of room they're designed for).
- As always, poor quality recordings are quickly shown for what they are (but high quality versions absolutely shine).
- I didn't get to hear them without low end augmentation, but I'd imagine it's largely essential for the full experience.
Overall, highly desirable indeed.
Paul Sun - Swing In Good Time - after spending 3 hours at our listening room in Sydney
The SAT MK2 speakers give one of the best musical performances I've heard in a long time. They are the most exciting and amazing speakers I've the chance to listen to. They play beautiful and natural music with only 2 very very little boxes. It's absolutely M.A.D! Wonderful and unforgettable speakers that show that less is more :-)))
Hervé Brasebin/AudioNec - after spending 2 hours at our open house on May 27th, 2018 in Warluis
As an audiophile and an architecture student, I’m firstly very sensitive to the sound quality but also to the design. And I admit that the first time I saw the SAT MK2, they completely catched both my eyes and ears. The sounds is really impressive, precise and clear, amazingly considering the super small size. I find the design simple and minimalist, just going straight to the point. Sure they will make my perfect next loudspeakers !
Matthieu Brasebin / Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) - EPFL - Copenhagen - Denmark
Where can I listen to these minuscule ultra performance speakers?
At this stage, you can only listen to them in three locations:
FRANCE and the EEC
Point Musiques - 25 rue de l'Eglise - Warluis - FRANCE
Please call Jean-Jacques Capello on +33 (0) 6 26 79 46 84 to make an appointment
or email: jean-jacques.capello@wanadoo.fr
www.pointmusiques.com
We will have an open house with Jean-Marie Lière and Jean-Jacques Capello on Sunday May 27th, 2018, where and when you will be able to listen to our standard and Signature versions of our SATs MK2 side by side. Spaces are limited so please get in touch with Point Musiques to reserve your seat for this unique opportunity to interact with the designer of these spectacular loudspeakers!
French Champagne, canapés and great music curated by Maestro JJ Capello will flow generously throughout the day. Venez nombreux!
We have recently appointed a new listening room in Paris intra-muros
Connectica Musica
17 rue de l'Abbé Grégoire
Paris 75006
By appointment only! Please contact Jacques Bessières on +33(0) 6 82 84 39 27
or email at jb@connecticamusica.audio
FRANCE and the EEC
Point Musiques - 25 rue de l'Eglise - Warluis - FRANCE
Please call Jean-Jacques Capello on +33 (0) 6 26 79 46 84 to make an appointment
or email: jean-jacques.capello@wanadoo.fr
www.pointmusiques.com
We will have an open house with Jean-Marie Lière and Jean-Jacques Capello on Sunday May 27th, 2018, where and when you will be able to listen to our standard and Signature versions of our SATs MK2 side by side. Spaces are limited so please get in touch with Point Musiques to reserve your seat for this unique opportunity to interact with the designer of these spectacular loudspeakers!
French Champagne, canapés and great music curated by Maestro JJ Capello will flow generously throughout the day. Venez nombreux!
We have recently appointed a new listening room in Paris intra-muros
Connectica Musica
17 rue de l'Abbé Grégoire
Paris 75006
By appointment only! Please contact Jacques Bessières on +33(0) 6 82 84 39 27
or email at jb@connecticamusica.audio
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Microphase Audio Design - Sydney - Australia
Please call Jean-Marie LIERE on +61 (0) 40 41 070 42 to make an appointment
or email; info@microphaseaudiodesign.com
www.microphaseaudiodesign.com
WE WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE SYDNEY AUDIO CLUB ON SEPTEMBER 9th, 2.00pm
Creative Centre Dence Park
26 Stanley Rd Epping
2pm til 5pm, doors open at 1pm
26 Stanley Rd Epping
2pm til 5pm, doors open at 1pm
WE WILL BE AT THE INTERNATIONAL HIFI SHOW IN MELBOURNE - 12-14/10/2018
REST OF THE WORLD
Contact us: info@microphaseaudiodesign.com
Contact us: info@microphaseaudiodesign.com
Updated 03/09/2018