Top Audio & Video 2004 Milan, Italy

Monday

  Another world premier... If the new Clearaudio Emotion Blue (€880 including tonearm) looks like the new Marantz turntable reported earlier, that is because Clearaudio makes the Marantz unit, but to Marantz's specifications.

 

Ikarus Audio offers various tube amplifiers and Lowther equipped loudspeaker, but that is not what really caught my eye. Seen below is their Handel Trio tube system (€6,300) with preamplifier that employs the General Electric GL-316A/VT-191 tube. The system includes a matching pair of five-watt monoblock amplifiers.

 

What at first appeared to be a flying saucer, perhaps extraterrestrials from Mars, was really the K. Labor (€12,000) turntable. The 12-inch tonearm has its own pod to sit upon.

 

 

Wow, look at this wood craftsmanship in a loving way my friends! This is just one of the many things that separates Italians from the remainder of the world. Absoluta offers OTL tube amplifiers and their Appia loudspeakers (€15,000). This four-way design has a 91dB/W/m sensitive with a frequency response from 30Hz to 25kHz. As for their amplification, they are claiming frequency response goes upwards of 350kHz(!).

 

Audio Note has a few surprises including a new transport, new loudspeakers, new top-of-the-range preamplifier and turntable. Yes, another Enjoy the Music.com world premier. The CDT-Two Two (not a typo, €4,250) supercedes their CDT-Two and offers primarily a better power supply. The new AN-E Sogon (€99,000) is an all silver design from foil capacitors in the outboard crossover, internal wiring, and voice coils. Ticonal driver magnets (titanium, cobalt, nickel, and aluminum) are claimed to be a better material than Alnico. Audio Note's M9 preamplifier features a RIAA correction using inductors and capacitors. Lastly their new TT-3 Reference has not only three 2 HP motors, but also three power supplies as well (one for each motor).

 

And to end this show report appropriately. What is a special color red, designed by Pininfarina, and sounds great? While answering 'Ferrari' would be right, it is not the correct answer. Seen below is the Pininfarina Aliante One monitor loudspeaker. See my review of this racy design by clicking here.