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The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 8
Refined Audio The speakers are designed to tilt back with footers only at the front corners. The bottom of the cabinet becomes the opening for the interior horn. With no crossover for the driver, Cube Audio speakers can be driven with low-powered tube amps, providing high-quality sound for this niche market. Also shown here was the First Watt SIT-4 amp from the hand of Nelson Pass, a limited production model priced at $5k. Using Static Induction Transistors (SIT) provides a simple single-ended Class A circuit without negative feedback that sounds very much like triode tubes. It also has a damping factor of five, which is common for low-powered tube amps.
Big band jazz was playing on the TW Acoustic Ravel GT turntable (a popular item at the show). It was equipped with an Audio Creative 12" Groovemaster III tonearm ($2500) equipped with a Koetsu Rosewood Signature cartridge ($5k). The tonearm on the left was a Schroeder Reference (about $9k, depending on options). A Pass Labs XP-27 phono preamp ($12k) and XP-32 line stage ($18,375) were also in service. Other equipment included a Metronome DCS ($31k) and a Jena Labs Sequoia Sapling 2 power conditioner ($8k).
Linn Products
The silver equipment rack was the new EXR-1515-5V system from HRS (Harmonic Resolution Systems ($9,595). Linn was using their digital front end when I passed through.
Antal Audio Group,
Electrocompaniet, And Triangle Speakers
The blue line of lights made the room memorable as I write this more than four weeks after the show. Electrocompaniet. The sound was quite good too. Electrocompaniet has been out of the US market for some years, so it is nice to see their well-made gear back again. They are celebrating their 50th year this year.
The Soulines Kubrick DCX turntable had a rather unique look about it with the kidney-shaped motor and speed control module. It was highly recommended by Art Dudley back in 2017.
The wood finish on the Triangle speaker was almost as good as the Sonus Faber and even more dramatic with its contrasting grain, but the integration of the drivers was rather distracting. The surrounds of the drivers with the black sections were a lot less blingy than shiny chrome would have been. The arc base was an interesting solution for achieving a wide-spread set of spikes to make the tall speaker more stable. I noticed that the three woofers had intentional uneven folds in the surrounds, something I've seen only one other time on an exceptionally good midrange driver. Note the Nordost speaker cable in use here and the elegant finish on the Electrocompaniet. There were three different monoblocks listed on the Electrocompaniet price sheet: AW180 (250 Watts) at $11.2k, AW400 (400 Watts) at $15.2k, and the AW 800m Nemo 2 (800 Watts) at $45k, so you see they have a wide range of prices. Their ECI 6 DX Mk II integrated amp has 120 Wpc, DAC, streaming, and network control for $7500, which should be an interesting item.
SB Acoustics
The geometry of the baffle of this speaker was certainly unusual.
A Bluesound streamer was the source for a Benchmark DAC3 HGC with headphone and volume control and the Benchmark AHB2 amp directly below it. It made for a compact system that fits nicely on what looked like a contemporary metal and glass end table.
Madisound
The gentleman above was hard-core with a three-day pass.
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