Room 4: Ultrasound

A first for Roberto Creazzos redesigned speakers systems, high efficiency (94 to >100 dB) non-horn systems, driven by his peculiar amplifiers and by a JVC-looking, but maybe modified, DVD-A player. Lots of people in the room, a love/hate sound.

Room 5: Bowler/Marel/Morsiani

Carlo Morsiani, is a respected name, and the manufacturer of a turntable/arm system which has a cult following. He was showing this monument to analogue reproduction with Marel electronic products and Bowler speakers. The small room didnt allow for a real soundstage to develop; the sound was dynamic and ear-catching.

Bonus picture of the turntable…

Room 6: Audio Coils

A “reasonable” (in cost and size) system by this small manufacturer, driven by a Sony CD player. The speakers were, maybe, a prototype – interesting, but not in their final incarnation.

Room 7: Studio Progettazione Audio – Imago Electroacoustics C.

A Linn CD player and a Michell Gyrodec were the sources for Studio Progettazione Audios electronic products and Imagos speakers. Studio Progettazione Audio build their products to the customers specs, and go as far as placing her/his name on the product. The system needs to be heard in a more friendly environment.

Room 8: Emgi Audio

RAnother small manufacturer, EMGI Audio builds everything but the source components. Their Choice 2 and Dulciana speakers were driven by their own amplification gear. They provide optimised amp-speakers system on different price levels (the TLC84 amp is dedicated to the speakers named after medieval instruments, the TLC300 to the Choice series); the TLC300 is one of the few 300B based push-pull amps. The preamplifier for the top system was a new product. The outcome was an interesting one, reasonable in size and price.

Room 9: Sotis Audio

This young and interesting manufacturer was showing the already known Horus integrated amplifier, equipped with the AVVT super-300B valve, and the new 96KHz/24bit, valve output DAC. Software was often DVD-Audio. Speakers were a pair of hybrid horn prototypes and small ProAc floorstanders. A pleasant result, dynamic and flowing, wee power and big room notwithstanding.

Room 10+11: Albatron

Albatron, known for their Armonia kit and ready-built products, were demonstrating a reasonably priced and sized system, in an untreated room, using Aliante speakers. There were, of course, some room-related problems, but the outcome was very enjoyable. The modular design CD player they produce is really interesting.

Room12+13: Montagna Elettroacustica

The main attraction in the room of this exhibitor unknown to us were these strange, highly sensitive, totally built in-house (the drivers are manufactured by themselves, even the aluminium domes aren’t OEM).

The dome midrange and tweeter are mounted on an aluminium column which stands on a big box equipped with two 38cm drivers, one of which is a passive radiator. Promising system, if some evident problems in continuity between the ranges are solved.

Room 14: North Star Design – Extreme Audio

North Stars electronic products range, presented at the Top Audio e Video 2002, was driving a pair of new Sigma Acoustic speakers. White Gold cables were used. The sound was mainstream high end, airy and with a great sense of space, transparent and quick. One of the best at the show for those who appreciate this kind of sound.

Fourth floor

Kappa Room: Absolute Sound

In a huge room, lights down, there was part of the high-end crème de la crème: Red Rose Music largest speaker system, Burmester and Accuphase amplification components, Accuphase and Brinkmann source components, some Kondo Labs products, on Music Tools equipment stands. A real audiophile dream showcase, in a different playing field compared to the rest of the show.

Omicron Room:

Because of a technical problem, we dont have any picture of this room, where some great source components (Krell, Spectral) were connected to this new manufacturers amplifiers and speakers. Maybe some setup problems, maybe a lack of the nth degree of fine tuning was limiting the final outcome. er un problema tecnico, mancano le foto di questa saletta, che esponeva un impianto di livello altrettanto alto, con amplificazioni e diffusori dell’espositore pilotate da sorgenti di livello assoluto (Krell e Spectral). L’esito risentiva dei peccati di gioventù o di problemi di setup tipici di molti espositori.

Fourth floor open space: Nadir

Nadir has made a name with AC products and cables, and a range of amplifiers has been recently introduced. Now they were also exhibiting a speaker system, which was looking as a prototype. The room wasn’t, in fact, a room, and it was impossible to get even a generic impression of the sound.

Other things and summing up

There were lots of people around the record selling stands and around the static exhibits of some of the small names in Italian hi-fi; a live and dynamic picture.

This was how the exhibition space at the first floor looked like, in a calm moment on Sunday afternoon. There were stands dedicated to the exhibition and trade of used and vintage hi-fi also. Software news included the first Italian surfacing of Alia Vox SACDs, at the Italian distributors stand. Vinyl was provided, in satisfying quantity, by the well known Italian purveyors Sound and Music, Red Records, Audiomarketing, Sergio Marullo, Galbiati, Audionautes. A good number of audiophiles brought their cartridge in order to have it checked by Italys analogue doctor, Torlai. Even old, low resolution digital was present in many stands. To sum up, a positive result for Stefano Zaini and his team; and a prepared and informed public, composed by not only the same old die-hards, but even by families with small children theres hope