In a room too small to do YG Acoustics' gems full justice, YG's Dick Diamond had assembled a most impressive system for the Anat III Signature ($119,000/pair, back) and sometimes played, more modestly sized Carmel loudspeakers ($18,000/pair, front). We're talking the same four-piece dCS Scarlatti system (approx. $79,000) and Veloce Audio LS-1 battery powered line stage preamp ($18,000) used in the Scaena room, plus two Krell Evo 402e amplifiers ($18,500). Cabling was all Kubala-Sosna, and a PS Audio Juice Bar took the place of power conditioning. Needless to say, the system presented a complete symphonic picture, with solid bass extremely natural and controlled, as opposed to hyped up. In addition, instrumental timbres were pretty much right on.

Unfortunately, because there was nowhere to sit but close, the speakers' tilted down tweeters fired way over the heads of people in the first row, and even over the heads of short folk like me in the second (last) row. This contributed to the feeling that I was somewhat unnaturally immersed within the soundfield, as though listening to an orchestra from the inside out. A bit eerie, I must say. Also, seated so close to such a tall speaker whose woofers sit way below its midrange and tweeter, low bass seemed separate from higher pitched instruments, as though the orchestras I was listening to were spread out over two vertical tiers, with notable space between them. It's a shame, because I'm sure, in a larger space, this system would have been a contender for Best of Show.

PS: YG Acoustics' Dick Diamond, a helluva fine human being, calls the Veloce his "secret weapon." When I asked why, he responded, "it's quiet, transparent, and tonally correct." That, my friends, is saying a lot. Happily, the same words also apply to the big and small creations of YG's Yoav Geva (Gonczarowski).