Indeed. That’s Jules Verne for you – a century ahead of his time.
I have to share. If you Roon and listen to digital the Grimm MU1 is an endgame purchase without a doubt. I could not be more impressed and yet I know I will be the very next listen.
John Atkinson loved it as well.
Herb will be speechless when he tries it.
Spend.
The.
Money.
And be glad!
My end game piece until the next end game piece that comes along is the Esoteric N-03T streamer playing quad rate DSD. It has a thickness, density, and liveness that only a top vinyl system can match. Yes, I agree, spend the money and I am very glad I did!
These are better pictures of the Sonus Fabers / McIntosh.
But I preferred the sound of the Wilsons / D’Agostinos.
Could be the acoustic of the different rooms.
Elegant
I agree with you, @Serhan.
Sonus Faber makes some of the most beautiful speakers, IMHO.
When it comes to fashion, design and craftsmanship, Italians sure know what they are doing, and are hard to beat. They’re descendants of the great violin makers. Think Stradivarius, Guarneri …
Speakers made from wood fit really well in my living room.
And the WAF of Sonus Faber is through the roof.
The look of speakers is very important for us, especially my wife.
Happy wife, happy life.
BTW, 10 days ago, I heard some fairly small SF, driven by an AVM integrated.
That system was about 7 or 8000 Eur, and it sounded fantastic, more like a 25k system.
Back in the 90s, someone told me some of their speaker cabinets were made of solid walnut wood.
I heard those SFs biamped with MC901s very nice. The McIntosh XRT2.1K Line Array I liked just as well in the same space driven by MC2KWs. But I am a McIntosh line array fan but Sonus Faber assisted in the XRT2.1K development with drivers. I’d love either of those two MC amps or two The Relentess or Progression amps. I heard Progression with Wilsons. That was XVX was just as great too.
I still remember one of my first visits in a hifi shop, at House of Music in San Francisco, about 30 years ago. I saw those beautiful McIntosh products and started drooling . Out of reach at the time, I bought Marantz with Tannoy speakers.
I have never owned any McIntosh gear, but would love to.
I think they look fabulous, just like the Dags.
But I can understand that the look is controversial, for both.
Scarlett Johansson as the exception that proves the rule I don’t think there are any universals when it comes to taste.
I can easily see products from McIntosh, D’Agostino and Sonus faber residing in museums dedicated to design. Haven’t been there in a long time but the Museum of Modern Art had a turntable from B&O on display illustrating just that point.
Taste and aesthetics are individual. That’s hardly a revelation but it bears pointing out as you’ve done, Phil.
Are there any local dealers for HoloAudio – May DAC in the USA?
Absolutely. And another divisive one is Dartzeel. Beautiful but a bit bling, like the other two. I personally love the look. A Focal Utopia / Dartzeel demo was one of the best that I have heard, along with the Wilson/Dag. I am so blessed to have this wonderful dealer nearby, and those great annual hifi shows in Brussels. I try to share the pictures and impressions with the Hi Fi family …
Except for the drool factor, you’re doing us a service. Thank you.
You’re lucky indeed. Many moons ago I lived in CA and was a member of the Los Angeles & Orange County Audio Society and would get to hear some top notch equipment. I remember one in particular where they were demonstrating a JM Labs Utopia together with VTL monoblocks. It was mighty impressive. Audio shows are another source but you have the vagaries of the hotel room, sometimes an overly generous hand at the volume control, etc.
Kitsune Hifi is the only official source for HoloAudio products in the USA.
https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/
Thanks Bill!
Well, you posted a pretty crappy photo to match your “assessment”.
(Seriously, this photo really does the kit a disservice.)
My first McIntosh experience with Klipsch. Tannoys must have been great with the Marantz.
My XR290s are from that time period as are the amps. Its amazing the sound still competes with their newer offerings 25 years later after refreshing the amps. Source cables and acoustic treatments before I believed that. Chasing just equipment can’t correct the other imbalances.
Hey, isn’t that Al’s new baby the Grimm? You are so lucky to get to listen to all these goodies!
House of Music was where I first saw those beautiful McIntosh’s. I couldn’t afford them then and still wish I could afford them now.