T.H.E. Show 2019

Evolution Acoustics Exact Maestoso Loudspeaker and Cabling, Dartzeel NHB Stereo Amp and Preamp, Wave Kinetics NVS turntable, Merging NADAC, Durand Tonearm

Jason Victor Serinus  |  Jun 10, 2019

See that weird looking thing? It’s the outboard crossover to end all outboard crossovers, and it belongs to the relatively slim Evolution Acoustics Exact Series Maestoso 3-way loudspeaker system ($18,900). Heading an impressive and hardly bargain system from Blue Light Audio of Portland, Oregon, and The Audio Association of Anaheim Hills, the Maestoso made one of its first show appearances since I covered its debut at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest—was it three years ago?

I don’t recall what recording was playing when I entered the room, but piano tonalities were just wonderful. Highs were a touch bright on Leonard Bernstein’s recording of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, but the soundstage was huge and airy. “Really fun imaging,” I scribbled while listening to a DSD file of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead performing “Friend of the Devil.”

Also heard: Evolution Acoustics cabling, darTZeel NHB-108 Model Two Stereo Amplifier ($44,000) and NHB-18NS MK II preamplifier with integrated reference phono stage ($44,000); Wave Kinetics NVS Direct Drive turntable ($45,000) with W8 record weight ($700, A10-U8R Vibration Control System, and 2NS Loudspeaker Interface System ($1600/set of 8), plus Durand Tosca Tonearm ($15,000) and Ortofon Anna Cartridge; and Merging Technologies NADAC D/A Converter ($10,000), Power upgraded power supply ($7000), and U-Clock ($36,000).

COMMENTS
supamark's picture
Submitted by supamark on June 10, 2019 - 8:21pm

is gonna soak up a LOT of amp power. Much more impressed with simple crossovers (musically speaking), though this one certainly looks pretty cool. I get w/ 9 drivers they can't do a simple x-over, but dang.

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on June 10, 2019 - 9:06pm

... the "easiest way to understand how our crossover works is to imagine straight wire from the loudspeaker binding posts directly to the drivers themselves".
In what universe does that crossover come anywhere close to resembling a "straight wire"?

eriks's picture
Submitted by eriks on June 10, 2019 - 10:24pm

They may be using some sort of series crossover, but I've never seen one so um, carefully thought out.

Hahahah. :)

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Bogolu Haranath's picture
Submitted by Bogolu Haranath on June 11, 2019 - 8:08am

Is that 'Optimus Prime' from Transformers? :-) .........

dial's picture
Submitted by dial on June 12, 2019 - 6:03am

Hello everybody, it's strange because thin line arrays are to save place but the impressive crossovers, nightmares of Onken cabinets diyers ruin all these efforts. Also why all this fuss about new enormous Verdier lookalike turntables and unpractical tonearms (without detachable headshell) as nobody use them (never seen one at someone's home).

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