Munich 2019

Excellent bass, a somewhat toned-down presentation and somewhat dry midrange, and excellent imaging—the speakers completely disappeared—were the hallmarks of Zellaton Reference Mk II Loudspeakers (2018) (€147,950/pair). As with all our show reports, how much of what I heard was due to electronics previously unknown to me, and whose sound I cannot begin to describe until I hear them in a familiar context, I cannot ascertain.

The 2018 model of Zellaton's Reference loudspeakers contain Duelund Cast capacitors and inductors with a paper-based dielectric along with Duelund wiring. Also in the hardly-bargain-priced system: YS Sound YSS-782 preamplifier ($312,500) and YSS-722 monoblocks ($437,500/pair), either a Reed Muse 3C turntable (€15,850) with Reed 5T tonearm (€14,900) and Top Wing Suzaku Red Sparrow cartridge ($16,000) and Nem Phono Kit 4 (TBD) or Reed Music 1C turntable (€11,000) with Reed 1X tonearm (€3000) and DS Audio Master 1 equalizer and optical cartridge (€22,000), and Schnerzinger Protector & Comprehensive Cabling System.