Sunday, December 15th, 2014: Annual Christmas Meeting hosted at Quintessence Audio in Morton Grove
Our thanks to Mick Survance, owner of Quintessence Audio, for hosting our December meeting at his store in Morton Grove. He had on hand some of the most interesting high-end products for us to listen to. Featured were the flagship Sonus Faber Aida speakers driven by Audio Research electronics and the T+A Elektroakustik Criterion TCD110S speakers and T+A electronics from Germany. There were analog, digital, and computer audio sources. Pro Musica Audio's information is:
5701 Dempster Street
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 966-4434
5701 Dempster Street
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 966-4434
EQUIPMENT
Sonus Faber Aida speakers
Sonus Faber describes the Aida as "...a blend of tradition and innovation. A synthesis that expresses beauty."
The Aida is a 3.5 way floor speaker, in the shape of a “lyre”, divided into separate tuned chambers. It takes advantage of sound field shaper technology, a new optimised system for the decoupling of speaker/floor “Z.V.T.” (Zero Vibration Transmission) “Bow Spring”, a new dual kinetic-thermal conversion system for the removal of residual vibrations “T.M.D.” (Tuned Mass Damper) as well as para-aperiodic tuning system “Stealth Reflex”.
What reviewers are saying about the Sonus Faber Aida speakers:
"...the Aidas present a tonal accuracy and contrast that, by far, are the most natural and convincing I’ve ever witnessed...the Aidas do the seemingly impossible, providing a seamless soundstage that never sounds like a woofer, tweeter, and midrange in a cabinet (even though their complement of drivers has crossover points at 55, 180, 250, and 3,000Hz)...They have provided one of the most enjoyable musical experiences of my career.":
Jeff Gorbay reviewed the Sonus Faber Aidas in TONEAudio 2013”
“…Sonus Faber from Italy builds sonic sculptures, not loudspeakers. Aida’s elegancy, however, is not an end in itself but, also from an acoustical viewpoint, the perfect form. Never before has a loudspeaker blended power and ease, beauty and tone in such an accomplished manner"Lincoln Malte Ruhnke, Audiophile 1/2012
"...the depth, space and air these speakers throw at you is pretty amazing. Each CD’s recorded space was faithful to my ear and instruments’ timbre rang true.”
Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia July 20, 2012
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The Audio Research GS150 and Reference 75 tube amplifiers were used to power the Sonus Faber Aida speaker system. |
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T+A Elektroakustik electronics were used to power the T+A Elektroakustik TCD 110S speaker system. |
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T+A Elektroakustic TCD 110S speaker system
The TCD 110 S is the flagship of the new CRITERION series. It features two special bass drivers, two mid-range units in the D’Appolito arrangement, and a completely new kind of super-quality dome tweeter with waveguide (sound director). "If you’re looking for a reference-level speaker that sounds fantastic and offers almost impossible value for money, you need to listen to these. Highly recommended." Aron Garrecht, Sound Stage!, December 2013 |
