Warsaw Audio Show 2024

Although I did happen upon Peak Consult speakers in Munich and Southern California in 2023, we last reviewed a Peak Consult speaker almost 18 years ago. Hence my excitement when I encountered genuine full-range sound (albeit too loud) in the room that paired a new reworking of the company's El Diablo loudspeakers ($79,000/pair) with Extraudio electronics.

"The core of Peak Consult’s designs are its cabinets, to which we apply crossover and driver technology," explained Sales and Marketing Manager Mike Picanza. Picanza should know. He formerly ran the UK branch of Dynaudio for 10 years and joined Peak Consult's new owner, Dynaudio founder Wilfred Ehrenholz, in January, almost three years after Ehrenholz bought Peak Consult.

"We needed to rework the El Diablo to enable it to function in smaller rooms," Picanza said. "That involved tweaking the bass. These speakers have 90dB sensitivity and a flat 4-ohm impedance. It does not dip below 4 ohms. The drivers are made especially for us by Scan-Speak and Audio Technology."

The track I heard, Woong San's "I Can't Stand the Rain," had more than its fair share of artificiality about it. But it was also a great showcase for the El Diablo's genuine, flowing full-range sound. I wish I could have heard more of it, but just when I was settling in, it ceded to Bernardo Sassetti and Carlos do Carmo's "Lisboa que Amanhece." What didn't go away was the quality of sound. Here's to the opportunity to listen longer and deeper next time around.