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The Best for Show Reporting
Coverage of Top
Audio & Video 1999
from Milan, Italy, September 9-13
Please note: most product
prices are given in Italian lira. At this time, 1 US dollar is worth approximately 1880
lira.
Doug Schneider is shown with the stout B&W 801
Nautilus loudspeakers, which were being powered by gleaming Rowland power amplifiers.
Ian White is shown with the tiny Zingali Colosseum S loudspeakers. See Show Coverage - Part 1 for a look at the entire system
with subwoofer.
Audio Note's Conqueror amplifier uses 300B tubes to deliver 9Wpc and is priced at
5,800,000 lira.
Germany's Magnat Vintage 550 loudspeaker was on silent display.
Let the format wars begin! Technics and Panasonic displayed their version of advanced
digital technology with their DVD-Audio players, and Marantz showed its first SACD player
in Milan. Unfortunately both the Marantz player shown here and the DVD-Audio players were
not used in their respective rooms. I guess we'll have to wait to find out which format
sounds better.
The same company that produces Unison Research electronics also produces the Opera series
of loudspeakers. Above is the Callas Gold.
Famed Italian manufacturer Sonus Faber had a prominent display of their speaker products.
While the Signum speakers occupied the main stage, on silent display to the side were the
gorgeous Guarneri Homage loudspeakers priced at 12,500,000 lira per pair.
Sonus Faber also produces electronics. The Musica integrated amplifier, priced at
4,850,000 lira, was used to drive a pair of the SF Signum loudspeakers.
From left to right are the Unison Research Mystery One preamplifier, Smart 845 mono
amplifier, Power 35 stereo amplifier using EL34 tubes, and Feather One class-A
preamplifier. All are tube based and feature gorgeous sculpted-wood construction. These
units were all on silent display.
On live display and driving Opera loudspeakers was the Unison Research S8 integrated
amplifier (24Wpc) priced at 8,900,000 lira. The CD player in the system was by provided by
Audio Analogue. The Unison Research S2 integrated amplifier is shown at the bottom, but it
was not in use while we were in the room.
Krell's FPB-600c amp was used to power the Wilson Audio Specialties Watt/Puppy VI
loudspeaker combination. The price of the FPB-600c amplifier is 39,900,000 lira, and these
Puppies sell in Italy for 54,100,000 lira.
- Show Coverage: Doug Schneider and Ian White
- Additional Editing: Marc Mickelson
- Digital Photo Editing: Doug Schneider
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