RMAF 2012

The sound in the room from Arte Forma of Taiwan, represented in the US by Aire Audio, completely seduced me. Playing a wonderful recording of pianist Murray Perahia performing Handel, I was captivated by the presentation’s beautiful glow and air. It felt as though a light was shining from within the piano. This system portrayed the high treble delicacy of the piano’s strings like few others.

Arte Forma called into play its 805 SE 50Wpc monoblock amplifiers ($4000/pair) and solid-state Pearl Pre ($1800). I regret that I don’t know what CD transport was being used, but together with Empirical Audio’s Overdrive SE DAC ($5999), Off-Ramp 5 HDMI USB Converter ($1299), and Synchro-Mesh Asynchronous Reclocker ($599); Vapor Audio’s Cirrus White monitors ($5495/pair); a GR Research Rhythmic 12 servo sub ($1100); and Antipodes cables from New Zealand, they made such beautiful music that I regretted having to leave.