Paradigm Persona 7F loudspeaker and Persona SUB, Anthem STR preamplifier and STR power amplifier, Wolf Alpha 35X server, Torus RM20 power conditioner, Clarus Aqua cabling.

Paradigm’s Canadian-designed-and-engineered Persona 7F loudspeakers, which have beryllium diaphragms, anchored a system that received additional grounding from the Paradigm Persona SUB ($6500). The sub’s six 8" woofers are powered by a 1700W “Ultra Class D” amplifier that, aided by DSP and other stuff, descends to a formidable 12Hz.

The room also featured the premiere of the production version of the Wolf Alpha 35X music server ($9295), which was previously shown at the Hong Kong show in prototype form. The company’s Joe Parvey told me that the 35X includes $1200 retail worth of Stillpoints products, including patent pending ground plane enhancement. The server can handle native DSD1024, which can only be played by a T&A DAC at this point (and which takes up a huge amount of HD space, something like 3GB/track). The server comes complete with a disc-ripper.

When I entered the room, a low volume was unnaturally low—but once the volume was raised to reasonable levels, a fine, perfectly proportioned midrange helped put a Qobuz stream of Ensemble Antiqua Köln’s recording of one of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti over the top. I appreciated the warm core on the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s “Midnight in Harlem.”

Also in the system: Anthem STR preamplifier ($3999) with automatic room correction and bass management, Anthem 400wpc STR power amplifier ($5999), Torus RM20 power conditioner, and Clarus Aqua cabling.

COMMENTS
mtrot's picture

That room had fantastic imaging and clarity. The Personas will certainly tell you all about a bright recording. I thought the sub integration was excellent.

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