Gran Galà dell'Alta Fedeltà Padova 2011-Revenge

(2011127)

Dear audio friends,

this year there was in February the second edition of the Gran Galà dell'Alta Fedeltà in Padova while in November there was already the third edition (2011 the revenge edition!), because the organization (the italian label Fonè, i.e. Giulio Cesare Ricci) decided to shift it from February to November. Here you can find a short report only of some of the systems presented.


Mrs Fonè near her limited-edition Japan-pressed vinyls.



Attilio Caccamo of Tektron-Italia is the new italian distributor of the KR tubes.


Audio Selection had a lot of Furutech and Mundorf parts.




Lumen-White turntable and speakers (more than 100kE to buy both) with Ayon CD player and amplifier on a Taoc stand.


HiFi 4 Music is the new distributor of Shun Mook products. The Nagra phono preamp was “enhanced” by a Shun Mook record clam (visible back and sold at 2850 Euro) and by a Shun-Mook diamond feet (in front, sold at 690 Euro the set of three). The set of 3 mpingo discs costs 290 Euro. Hurry up!


The expensive Lumen-White Mystere turntable has the plate suspended on air by a large compressor.




The expensive MSB – VAC – Tidal system was sounding good, but the total price was also very high.


The VAC preamp and power amp was used to amplify “liquid” music converted by the top DAC from the MSB.


Diapason speakers driven by a full Luxman chain powered by Faber's Cables power cords.




The Burmester system used FA speakers and Scheu turntable.


The Scheu turntable used a Koetsu cartidge.




Pass electronics and ProAC speakers with a ribbon tweeter.


Classic Tannoy concentric speaker with Mc Intosh electronics.




Studer tape player or Playback SACD player with Lamm LL2 and ML1.1 were driving the new Avalon Trascendent.


Pierre Boulduc (Audiophile Sound editor) was very happy to listen master tapes in the Acustica Applicata room.


Lamm ML 1.1 monoblock.


Naim sources and Klimo amps.




Cantico speakers with all Nagra electronics.


Nagra tape, DAC, preamp and solid state amp (60+60W).




Accuphase electronics and Ars Aures speakers for a fast but pleasant sound.


The sicilian-made Ars Aures Midi Sensorial.



The Cessaro speaker and Zanden electronics won easily my best of the show award, but, please, don't tell me the total cost!


A close view of the Cessaro Affascinante speaker, costing 50kE...


The Zanden preamp, integrated CD player, external DAC and 300B power amp are fantastic, even if the set up was not very good.



Of course I have bought even some food for my soul... I thanks in particular the guys from Codaex (Milano) for their suggestions.


Visiting the Faber's Cables atelier:

The same day, just before to visit the Gran Galà, we went to the studio of Faber's Cables in Due Carrare.


The first system that we listened was all solid state, with Chord DAC, Audia Flight preamp and Yba power amp. Of course, I preferred the last system -all tube- with the Adagio DIY DAC and Gamma Audio preamp and 300B-based power amp.


The Adagio DAC is based on the Philips TDA1541 crown.


The Chord DAC 64 on an Ikea board.


The wondeful Krell KPS 20t on 3 Daruma feet.


The main reason for this visit was to hear his new speakers, that replaced the Reference 3A stand-mounted monitor.


The Raidho Ayra C1 has a ribbon tweeter and a ceramic woofer. The stand is extremely light.


One of the best products made by Faber's Cable is surely his FaberSix power distributor, here in its XL version...


The back shows that it is not possible to do the biwiring. Even so the sound was incredibly detailed, but also with very solid bass.


Another important aspect pf the Faber system is the attention to control vibrations: here you can see the Acappella Fondato Silenzio board under the power amplifier.

Alltogether, the sound that we heared in the Faber's studio was more coherent and rigorous than all the other heart at the Gran Galà!



Tino © November 2011