Voxativ Ampeggio loudspeaker Review System

Sidebar 2: Review System

Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124 Mk.II, turntables; EMT 997, Schick tonearm; Ortofon SPU & 90th Anniversary SPU.
Digital Sources: Wavelength Cosecant, Furutech GT40, Ayre Acoustics QB-9 USB D/A converters; Apple iMac G5 computer running Apple iTunes V.10.1 & Decibel V.1.0.2 playback software; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Standard/SPU & Hommage T1, Silvercore One-to-Ten step-up transformers; Shindo Masseto and Shindo Vosne-Romanee preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Corton-Charlemagne monoblocks, Fi 421A, Fi 2A3 Stereo.
Loudspeakers: Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE.
Cables: USB: Nordost Blue Heaven. Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, Shindo Silver, Nordost Blue Heaven. Speaker: Auditorium 23.
Accessories: Box Furniture Company D3S rack under source & amplification components; Keith Monks record-cleaning machine; OMA slate plinth for Thorens turntable.—Art Dudley

COMPANY INFO
Voxativ GmbH
US distributor: Audio Arts, Inc.
1 Astor Place, Suite 11(h)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 260-2939
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
jeffreyfranz's picture

Oh, boy, another $30K speaker, what a bargain.  I love Art Dudley, but this kind of thing I do not need. It is what is wrong with audio today, and what has turned what used to be a hobby into a garish exercise in conspicuous consumption. I'm sorry to be a crab, and my comment will undoubtedly bring some cleverly snide response, but I still remember having a great time with my Dynakit Mk. III tube amps, for which I paid around $120 each, even in the 1980s. I thought audio was a lot more fun back then.  

davip's picture

$30k for a single driver in a box. Yah, I couldn't agree more.

My bugbear is turntables. Look at the sheer number of $n000 motor-bolted-to-a-piece-of-plywood (sorry, 'Medium Density Fibreboard') turntables today (pick from WTL, MFF, MoFi, Project, Oracle, Funk, McIntosh, etc., etc.). When I bought my first major turntable (in 1980, not so strangely enough), it was a solid aluminium plinth around a bitumen-damped foam-damped sprung steel subchassis. No plywood, fishing-line, sorbothane, squash-balls, etc., and all for £290 (Hadcock GH228 included). And it knocked the socks off an LP12. Sure, prices go up over the years (look at houses), but jacking the price up 15-fold while supplying a turntable built out of $20 of parts (yes, I'm talking about you Well-Tempered Labs) is taking the pss...

nunhgrader's picture

On the other hand, I love to read about high end - high art pieces that I will never be able to afford - lol! Fun stuff - if I only read about things I could afford how boring would I be?

 

I do understand jeffreyfranz's points but, this review should do nothing to change the way you enjoy the hobby. There are plenty of entry points for all budgets.

Christian Goergen's picture

Is no reason for a higher price, because german engineers have high expertise and solid tradition.
Assembly in Germany makes products expensive.
Greetings from Germany.

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