Clowder Co. Sound Design — Dayton, Ohio

The Titan Console

Integrated Stereo Console
New production | Commissioned builds available

Amplifier: Single Ended All Tube Amplifier (9 WpC)
Speakers: Stereo 1 1/8” Silk Dome Tweeters/ 8” Full Range Drivers
Tubes: Western Electric 300B/ NOS 6SN7/ NOS 5U4G
Inputs: RCA (2 Channels)
Power Requirements: 120V/10A AC

Range: 37Hz - 28kHz
Volume: 95dB Avg / 103dB Peak
Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.76% at typical listening levels, 4% at peak rated output (consistent with THD for single-ended amplifier/300B tube capability)
Noise: 108dB SNR

Height: 23 3/4”
Width: 70”
Depth: 20 3/4”

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Why the Titan Exists

The Titan Console was built to bring the band into the room without asking the listener to become an audio engineer. It is a fully matched system (amplifier, speakers, and cabinet) designed as a single instrument rather than a collection of parts.

Our goal was to remove the guesswork and steep learning curve often associated with high-end audio, while preserving the qualities that make great recordings feel physical, dimensional, and alive.

We optimize for a flat, honest presentation similar to what musicians hear before approving a final mix: thick, controlled low end; precise, intelligible mids; and an open, airy high end that carries nuance without glare.

We created the Titan Console as a listening-centered experience, packaged in a home centerpiece. The system is fully analog by design. You can plug in, sit down, and listen. No menus, no apps, no corrective processing, and no auditory fatigue.

 

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System Architecture

Amplification Philosophy

Our amplifiers are designed to be serviceable and adaptable decades from now, not sealed away or disposable. The amplifier was engineered around simplicity, and its signal path is intentionally short. Every additional component introduces opportunities for coloration, noise, and long-term degradation. The expectation is that 50 years from now, the Titan should still perform as intended with standard service and readily available components.

Speaker Integration

The Titan uses full-range drivers paired with silk dome tweeters; the amplifier and speakers were developed together. The amplifier was tuned specifically for the unit’s drivers, and the enclosure geometry was finalized around their response characteristics.

Power & Room Intent

The Titan is designed for fine listening over its whole range (95dB RMS/103dB Peak). Its purpose is to re-create the live experience at levels that are engaging over long sessions, without fatigue or the need for hearing protection.

 

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Construction & Materials

Cabinet Structure

We use high-quality 13-layer veneered plywood for its consistent density and dimensional stability. Structural consistency directly affects enclosure behavior, speaker loading, and long-term reliability.

Finish & Aesthetic Direction

Finishes were selected with a mid-century sensibility in mind. The consoles are rich, warm, and furniture-forward, while remaining flexible enough to integrate into a wide range of architectural contexts. Aesthetic decisions, even in custom builds, are chosen to be seamless with acoustic performance.

Vibration Control

The amplifier assembly is vibration-isolated to extend tube and component life. Components are mechanically secured with locking hardware to prevent loosening, rattle, or electrical faults over long service intervals. Speaker enclosures are sealed, tuned, and ported specifically for the driver. While we can have turntables on the console, we recommended thorough isolation for maximum performance. 

Serviceability & Wear Items

The amplifier is fully serviceable, though routine service should be infrequent. Notable wear items are limited to tubes and the indicator lamp. The lamp functions as an approximate runtime reference: roughly three lamp cycles for the 6SN7 and 5U4G, and five for the 300B under normal use.

 

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Engineering Tradeoffs

We do not optimize for weight or cost.

The Titan weighs close to 200 pounds with its cabinet. Component selection follows a Pareto approach to audible value rather than material efficiency. Each component was selected and tested for its contribution to the system as a whole. The result is a system that is expensive to build, but intentional in every major decision.

The voicing favors a wide range of music — including jazz, blues, rock, reggae, folk, bluegrass, pop, EDM, hip-hop, and R&B — where low-frequency character and spatial coherence matter as much as extension. Because the system is voiced flat, it is difficult to categorize genres it serves poorly.

If there is a genre the Titan does not serve, we have not yet encountered it.

 

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Development Perspective

The Titan Console was approached more like a musical instrument than a piece of furniture. Achieving our final design required extensive testing, iteration, and controlled experimentation.

We chose a single-ended triode because we were willing to give up the power and cost for the reactiveness and presence a single-ended amplifier brings to the music. Single-ended amplifiers have a pair of bloom points where they ramp into “optimal” usage that we were able to control as part of our design, and we used customer interviews to inform that range.

One of the most consequential trade-offs involved the balance between bypass capacitors and coupling capacitors. Early designs emphasized high-cost bypass capacitors, but iterative testing showed greater audible benefit from higher-quality coupling capacitors. This shift produced measurable improvements in clarity, separation, and musical liveliness while improving amplifier longevity over our previous iterations. 

Speaker enclosures were prototyped using adjustable stiffness rods, independent assemblies, bandpass configurations, and multiple driver sets. These experiments informed enclosure geometry, material, construction, and stereo spacing, allowing us to achieve a natural spatial image. In parallel, the power supply was refined for a low noise floor, enabling higher effective speaker sensitivity. The final configuration pairs silk dome tweeters with phase-plug full-range drivers for consistent off-axis response and controlled dispersion.

Tube Selection & Final Voicing

Tube selection was treated as a core design choice. Early prototypes evaluated single-ended architectures for EL34, KT88, 2A3, and 300B output tubes to understand how power delivery, bloom behavior, and low-frequency character interacted with room size and enclosure tuning.

While non-triode-based designs performed well, the 300B architecture offered superior low-frequency character and mid-range presence, particularly in larger or more dynamic spaces. Extensive controlled trials and performance testing were conducted across the preamp and output tube sets, and operating points were tuned to widen bloom regions and maximize tonal balance.

Final tube selection reflects both performance and longevity. The production configuration uses Western Electric 300Bs, NOS Raytheon 6SN7s, and an RCA 5U4G rectifier. Every amplifier is tuned specifically around its set, and each tube was chosen not only for its individual characteristics, but for how it complements the enclosure, drivers, and overall system response.

 

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Listening Context

The Titan is intended for rooms roughly 200–1,400 square feet with 8–12 ft ceilings, depending on layout and acoustic loading. Irregular room shapes and taller ceilings may shift this range.

Near-field listening typically develops around 6–8 feet, with far-field listening extending beyond that, depending on placement and room geometry.

Placement is tolerant but intentional. We recommend avoiding corners and flush wall placement. A minimum of 6 inches of rear clearance is workable; 12 inches is preferred.

 

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Build & Ownership Model

We maintain at most one or two completed units at a time. Most Titans are built to order, with typical lead times of six to 10 weeks depending on volume and customization.

Customizable elements include wood species, finish, control hardware, chassis/faceplate/lettering colors, grille cloth (if used), and indicator stone (amethyst by default). Audio input configurations and isolation can be provided or recommended (record players, preamps, wifi streaming, DACs, bluetooth, DSP, etc.).

We are a small shop. There is no call center and no automated support. When you reach out, you are speaking directly with our in-house team, carrying the same passion for audio as our customer base. Ownership is viewed as a long-term relationship. We will help with tube replacement, service, or simply discussing the right system setup for you.

 

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Availability & Support

Annual production volume varies with demand and capacity. Production is intentionally limited to preserve craftsmanship and personal involvement. Each console is built by artists and engineers; like instruments, no two are identical.

Long-term support is part of the design mandate. The Titan is meant to be maintained, serviced, and enjoyed for many years.

 

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Pricing Context

The Titan Console begins at $22,999 in its base configuration. Customization may adjust final pricing.

This reflects US-based manufacturing, high-quality components, collaboration with local artists, and a business model that prioritizes sustainable labor over mass production.

 

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Evaluation & Next Steps

Most conversations begin with an email or introduction through our website —  [email protected] or https://www.clowderco.com/. Helpful context includes room size, aesthetic considerations, current listening experiences, and what brought you to Clowder Co.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.