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Un-grounded electrical outlets in a hotel?My, my. I hope their patrons use off-grid shaving devices.
Soul
Talk about system synergy. The thankfully large space easily accommodated the Daedalus Audio Ulysses speakers ($8800/pair), as well as the DA-RMA monitor which I didn't hear ($4450/pair); Gill Audio Alana preamp ($5000) and Gill Elise DAC ($6000); Art Audio Quartet monoblock amps ($14,500/pair) and unheard Art Audio Adagio ($29,000); and Empirical Design cables. Playing the great mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's Avie hybrid SACD of Handel arias, I was transported by this system's ability to convey the soul of Lieberson's singing. Not only were dynamic contrasts breathtaking, but Hunt Lieberson's intentional softening of her voice in order to better transmit the love that lies at the core of her artistry also went straight to the heart. And that's in a hotel whose electrical outlets were not even grounded, which made for a lot of unwanted brightness in a lot of systems!
Joe Freitas of Art Audio is a musician; the man understands what it takes to transmit what music is all about. Although I have less experience with Gill and Daedalus, it is clear that Joe did not create such fine sound alone. My sincere thanks to everyone whose gifts contributed to the experience. Check it out, boys and girls, check it out.
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COMMENTS
Submitted by Mark De Biasse (not verified) on October 16, 2007 - 1:49pm
Jason--I think you really hit on the reason why the Daedalus Audio room was so eminently musical--you have equipment designers who are musicians who REALLY know how real instruments (and voices) are supposed to sound. Lou Hinkley, who designs and hand builds Daedalus speakers, is an extraordinary guitarist who has been building the finest acoustic instrument amplification in the business for many, many years. More recently he has turned his attention to making home audio speakers that capture the tonality, dynamics and richness of recorded instruments. I'm not surprised to hear his new models produced some of the best sound at the show!
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus (not verified) on October 16, 2007 - 4:05pm
Yes. I ran into Lou in the hallway as both of us were leaving the hotel. He had his guitar case hung over his shoulder, and told me that he had just designed a pair of speakers for Lou Reed. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to hear Daedalus speakers again. I hope you'll be at CES, and my path from room to room includes yours. (There's a lot to cover, and I wouldn't be surprised if another Stereophile blogger gets there first).Thanks for the beautiful music.jason
Submitted by Lara Skaer (not verified) on October 16, 2007 - 5:43pm
Jason-I fell in love with the DA-1s at RMAF in 2005 because they were the most musical sounding speakers I had ever heard. I returned in 2006 and bought the demos. For the past year, they have filled my listening room (acousitically engineered by Rives Audio) with music that sounds live and real, with incredible imaging, clarity and a deep and wide soundstage. Plus, there is absolutely no listener fatigue. I returned this year to hear the new models Lou has been raving about and liked what I heard so much that I ordered a pair of the new model DA-1.1s. Pairing them with the Alana pre amp (which I own) and the Art Audio amps was like a marriage made in heaven, producing the best sound I heard at this year's RMAF, and there were many great sounding rooms. After visiting several other rooms I found myself returning to the Daedalus/Gill/Art Audio room and not wanting to leave. I hope you will consider reviewing the speakers. Laura
Submitted by Mike Quinn (not verified) on October 17, 2007 - 10:40am
And yet another glitch: and this same one apparently made its way into print some time ago in an As We See It. Unless he's spelled his name incorrectly on his business card, and unless it is wrong in hundreds of other reviews and interviews, including several by this intrepid reporter, Joe "Freitas" spells his name F-R-A-T-U-S. Can't believe this one gets by the editors of this magazine...
Submitted by Joe Fratus (not verified) on October 17, 2007 - 4:21pm
Jason,Thank you for your comments and for spending time with us (ArtAudio/Daedalus/GillAudio suite)during the RMAF. Just for the public's knowledge, the amplifier that was not playing at the time of your visit is the new stereo version of the Adagio amplifiers. The retail price of this product is $15,000. (not $29,000. as indicated in your article).Kind Regards, Joe Fratus Art Audio
Submitted by Frank Goldfarb (not verified) on October 22, 2007 - 6:56am
I also own a pair of the Daedalus DA-1's and now have a pair of Ulysses on order with Lou.Lou is a very dedicated designer and like many people in this business....guys like Joe Fratus, as a great example....Lou puts an awful lot of himself in his products. They are not only unfailingly musical speakers, but also beautiful to behold. My DA-1's are two years old, which is an ownership record for me, and I've not been interested in any others, until the Ulysses came along. Musical, dynamic and real sounding like no other speakers I've owned, Lou has my musical tastes down pat. By the way, I use Dan Wrights new LS36.5 preamp and after 400 hours of playing (it needs that to break in), it is a great sounding preamp. Gary Dodd's 150 watt tube mono amps's aren't too shabby either.Jason...Thanks for the report.
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