Two interesting new VFlex speakers from Gemme Audio of Montreal: the single driver Vivace ($4,400 Cdn) and the dual driver Tanto ($5,500
Cdn). Both share the same elegant cabinet, but the Vivace uses a Fostex FF108E full range driver, while the Tanto boasts a 6.5" Silver Flute W17RC38-04 wool filled paper cone bass/midrange and a VIFA Ring Radiator tweeter. Exclusive VFlex technology allows the drivers to reach down to unusually low frequencies - 20Hz for the Vivace and 18Hz for the Tanto. I asked designer Robert Gaboury (left) why he designed two models for the same cabinet and he told me the Fostex-based Vivace was more suitable for low power tube amps, while the Tanto was a better match for high-powered transistor amps. Since I use transistors, Jean-Pierre Boudreau (right), VPO Operations and Sales has agreed to send me a pair of Tantos to review. Not only did the new VFlex speakers look very attractive, a fact that apparently was not lost on another loudspeaker manufacturer at the show, but the sound was quite impressive for speakers of this size and price.
Another interesting new speaker, the Ranger
from Denmark's System Audio made an appearance in the Konnectson Canada room alongside Era, Isotek and Nordost. The stylish speakers, with Sales Manager Frits Dalmose standing alongside for a sense of scale, were making amazing sounds, especially as Bjorn Bengtsson demonstrated the improvements to be gained by moving up the range of Nordost cables. The Ranger is flat from 45Hz to
35kHz, weighs 28 kilos and comes in a cherry ($5,399), maple ($5,399) or white satin ($5,499) finish. The four W1104XL woofers are claimed to outperform all similarly sized drivers due to unique XL technology. Two of them run from 40 to 2200Hz and two from 40Hz to 900Hz only. System Audio is new to the Canadian market and prefers to be known now by the SA tag. I'm sure we'll be hearing more from them, and when they are ready to make a big splash in the
United States, I'll be anxious to bring you a full review. SA makes a full range of speakers but I'm focusing on the Rangers because they are the latest to market and feature the most interesting styling.
Another world premier showing is for the Montreal based Tenor 350M hybrid monoblocks, which will set you back a cool $75,000. The Tenors are an OTL design using directly coupled MOSFET drivers, all the gain being in the tube stage. They were driving Kharma Mini Exquisite speakers ($45,000) in GTT's room, hosted by Bill Parish. Electronics by MBL took the total cost of this system to $183,000 before you add the cables. How was the sound? Far from the bright punchy aggressive sound on offer in many other rooms, this is a room for pure musical pleasure, as it should be at these prices.
Also making good music but at the other end of the scale, the system on show in the Omaha Audio room will run you $5,000. The two-way Omaha speakers are $2,000 including stands, the Omaha Tube CD Player $1,600 and the Omaha OD-300B SET Stereo Integrated Amplifier just $1,400. You even get a 3 year warranty (3 months on the tubes). The products are created, designed and tested in the US, and made in China. I'm impressed. Where's the catch? You can fill a small room with really nice sound, but the amp can only crank out 10 watts per channel so head-bangers need not apply. Pictured here are Ronald Hedrich of Marigo Audio and T.J. Chuang of Omaha Audio.
Another single-manufacturer room comes courtesy of Germany's upscale mbl. The cute 121 Noble Line speakers ($12,990)
were making very nice noises indeed at the end of the dramatic stack of mbl electronics. From top to bottom are the 1531 Nobel Line Integrated CD Player ($8,736), the 5011 Noble Line Preamplifier ($8,720) and the 8006 Basic Line Stereo Power Amplifier ($3,500). Fit and finish are to die for.
Below is a close-up of the famous mbl radial-beam tweeter.
New from Renaissance Audio of Windsor, Ontario is the $25,000 Opus 2 Stereo Power Amplifier. What's special here? This amp features the KR Audio T100 tubes, running for the first time completely balanced in a push-pull triode configuration, and putting out 60 wpc in
Class A. There's no feedback - either local or global. Renaissance claim a lag time of under 150 nanoseconds (blazingly fast) and a maximum phase error below 0.25 degrees at 22kHz. The Opus 2 uses a microprocessor to perform DC Auto-biasing hundreds of times per minute to get the best out of these big KR tubes. The amp features menu-driven setup, and you can see from this picture it is mighty proud of those KR tubes.
From even closer to my hometown (Toronto) here is Eli Gershman's inexpensive new Sonogram speaker. With a sensitivity of 89dB/W/m and a frequency response from 28Hz to 20kHz, this uncharacteristically conventional looking loudspeaker for Gershman Acoustics. It clearly has the sonic goods and should do very well for its price tag of $2,500. A triangular structure is still there, but it's on the inside this time. An 8" fiberglass woofer, custom made in the US covers the low end, a Morel dome serves the midrange and a Vifa double-chamber tweeter takes it from there. This is the Sonogram's first appearance. For those with deeper pockets Gershman's Black Swans are just the ticket at 12 times the
price. Ofra Gershman will be very happy to sell you a pair.
North Acoustics are showing their $6,995 Metro Ribbon Hybrid Loudspeakers, designed specifically for small to medium size rooms. North make their own ribbons and claim remarkably wide and high dispersion for a ribbon driver. The A.R.T. ribbon driver contains over 12 lbs of magnetic material, with all the magnetic strength concentrated on a narrow gap to drive a 20 square-inch ribbon diaphragm which is less than 0.002" thick. A 7" SEAS woofer takes care of the low frequencies down to 39Hz.
Designer George Short has reason to be proud of the Metro and also the more conventional Kitty Kat Revelator, a small box speaker designed for near-wall positioning. Kitty Kat features, as you may have guessed, a custom version of the Scan Speak Revelator 5.5" woofer while the tweeter is an in-house design using a full Faraday Sleeve ($2,499 to $2,999 depending on finish).
The Norvinz room was full of interesting hardware. Here is the new Merrill-Scillia Research MS2 turntable [$10,000], designed by George Merrill, baby brother to the $24,000 MS21. That's a Triplanar Arm ($4,000) and Ortofon Jubilee cartridge ($2,000). You can bang the chassis with your fist while playing an LP without any effect!
Opera Audio Consonance Cyber 211 Monoblocs ($5,500 the pair and 16 wpc) are driving the RL Acoustique Lamhorn 1.8 single driver horn speakers ($8,500). Pictured right to left are Vinh Vu (President), Norm Ginsburg (Marketing Director) and Robert Lamarre, President of RL Acoustique (St Bruno, Quebec).
A newcomer to watch is Teo Audio. Here Taras Kowalcyzszyn (Mr. Smith if you prefer) is showing prototypes of new speakers
that come from the film production world. They promise to be surprisingly musical, and with a five-figure price to match!
Click Here For Part 3
High-Performance Audio Reviews
