Mark Conti’s MC Audiotech room was dominated by his company’s just-launched, Paul Paddock-designed MC Audiotech Forty-10 2-way loudspeaker ($35,000/pair including crossover). Hidden in the high-frequency spaced array are 10 identical bending wave drivers “of the latest generation,” covering everything above 100 Hz. In its Folded Cube low-frequency enclosure reside two “industrial type” woofers in a dipole arrangement. The speaker uses a dedicated hybrid external crossover with low-frequency level/contour controls.
With 4 ohms nominal impedance and a claimed efficiency of 95-96dB for the array and 93dB for the woofer, the speaker should be able to perform well with just a few watts of power. Among other claims for the 175lb speaker—I have no reason to doubt that they are true—is that it’s flat off-axis, within 2.5dB over +/- 60°.
Some tracks on vinyl and CD sounded very good. Nonetheless, I thought the speakers too dynamic for the space they were in; their full potential went untapped. Regardless, the beauty of the music and the Pass electronics—XP22 preamplifier ($9500), XA25 power amplifier for the array ($4500), and X250.8 power amplifier for the bass ($7500)—shown through. Liquidity was a strong suit. This system is deserving of an audition in a more system-friendly environment.
