Top Audio & Video 2003 Milan, Italy

Thursday Part 3

 

  Heil's A.M.T. Syrinx loudspeaker (€3,537) features a ribbon for upper frequencies and a 6-inch composite driver for midrange and bass duties. Frequency response is from/ 40Hz to 23kHz and presents a lowish 4-ohm load.

 

Not one to miss the home theater gravy train is Pathos with their Cinama X (€6,900) multi-channel 5.1 integrated unit. While it does not any built-in digital decoding, there are multiple inputs that use tubes for pre-amplification and solid-state for main amplification. It is bridgeable for two channels. "And did we tell you the name of the game, boy? We call it Riding the Gravy Train." -- Pink Floyd.

 

Pearl loudspeakers, made in Italy of course, had their new four-way, five driver, dual cabinet design. The Theatrum's (€13,000) top cabinet has all drivers in a floating design while the bottom cabinet houses a 20cm driver. Overall frequency response is from 25Hz to 25kHz with a 89dB/W/m at 8 ohms.

 

Proving that audio equipment can get excited is Cantina Srerimentale Audio with their Acus pre-amplifier with four inputs and two pairs of outputs. Note the extended volume knob that begs the question "Is that the your volume knob or are you happy to see me?"

 

Made of solid aluminum is the extremely rigid, low resonance Omicron Group model Stargate (€1,300 per pair). This stand if fully modular and you can add longer bars or make changes for both height and width.

 

This is a world premiere of the new Nagra Haute Parler loudspeaker (approximately €20,000) that employs a very large, external crossover that alone weighs around 20kg! This Italian built (by SAP) unit features a 1-inch tweeter, two 4-inch composite cone midrange, and two 8-inch woofers in a bass reflex wood cabinet. It has a 92dB/W/m at 4-ohm load with a frequency response from 35Hz to 25kHz.

 

Vinyl almost as far as the eye could see, Sound And Music had many new LPs from audiophile labels including Tacet, RCA Victor, Decca, Verve, Analogue Productions, Classic Records... Well you get the point. Enjoy the music :)

 

Forget the "Got Milk" saying, we are music lovers so... Got Tubes? Nightingale sure does with many units having the same quantity of tubes as pistons in a Ferrari 575. That's twelve for those of you not familiar with this relatively new masterpiece from Maranello Italy.

 

Click here for Friday's coverage.