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More from the AXISS Audio Team: Gauder Akustik, Soulution, Transrotor, Nihon Onkyo Engineering, and Beaudioful

When “What a beautiful midrange!” is the first phrase that floats through your brain as you settle down to listen to a hitherto unknown system, you can be pretty certain you’re in for a rewarding time.

In the case of AXISS Audio’s system second (of four) on the 16th floor—the highest exhibit floor at AXPONA, easily reachable by AXISS Audio’s own express elevator—my initial impression proved true.

The first artist to benefit from this system’s beguiling midrange was Peter Cincotti, whose “He’s Watching” was an ideal vehicle for his seductive vocals. During the next track, Renée…

T+A Solitaire S 530 loudspeaker

I jumped at the chance to review T+A's $47,900/pair Solitaire S 530 loudspeaker for a few reasons (footnote 1). First, because T+A is a well-established company with an approach I like and respect: They make hi-fi equipment of the highest quality but with prices that, though substantial, are in line with their technology and execution. Their stuff is very handsome with impressive industrial design, but T+A doesn't do audio jewelry. What's more, though T+A is aggressive in R&D—their "Company" webpage says, "Actually, we're scientists ..."—but they are selective in the use of new technology…

T+A Solitaire S 530 loudspeaker Page 2

T+A's James Shannon stopped by a week later to check in and help with setup. I'd already, on my own, moved the speakers back a couple of feet and out about 7" farther, and I was happy with how things were progressing. Jim's impressions were the same as mine: that the speakers and room were working together well, the system was detailed and articulate, and the transitions between the drivers were essentially inaudible.

But we also agreed that the system was bass-shy, so that's where we started. By the end of the day, we'd moved the speakers back another 2', toed them in a bit more, moved…

T+A Solitaire S 530 loudspeaker Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Three-way, floor-standing loudspeaker. Drive units: 33.5" (850mm) long, 1.65" (42mm) wide Magnetostat tweeter; 24" (610mm) long vertical array of seven 3.5" (90mm) long, 2.5" (60mm) wide aluminum-cone Oval Membrane midrange drivers; two 8.75" (220mm) aluminum-cone woofers. Driver enclosure types: bottom-ported woofer, sealed midrange, sealed tweeter. Crossover frequencies: 180Hz, 1.8kHz. Frequency response: 29Hz–45kHz, ±1.5dB. Power rating: 200W music, 250W maximum. Sensitivity: 86dB/2.83V/m. Impedance: 4 ohms.
Dimensions: 50.5" (1280mm) H (inc.…

T+A Solitaire S 530 loudspeaker Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog sources: Spiral Groove SG2.1 turntable and Centroid tonearm, VPI HR-X turntable and JMW Memorial tonearm; Grado Epoch, The Reference, and Signature Reference; MicroBenz SL, Audio-Technica AT-MONO3/LP phono cartridges.
Digital sources: Audio Research CD6E CD player, Mytek Brooklyn+ DAC.
Preamplifiers: Sutherland Line Blocks, Phono Blocks Refined, and Phono Loco.
Power amplifier: VTL Ichiban Signature.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha DAW.
Cables: Shunyata Sigma v2 NR and XC AC cords; Shunyata Delta v2, Alpha v2, and…

T+A Solitaire S 530 loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system, a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone, and an Earthworks microphone preamplifier to measure the T+A Solitaire S 530's quasi-anechoic frequency- and time-domain behavior in the farfield. The center of the line-source tweeter is just 32" from the floor, but as the loudspeaker on its feet is slightly tilted back, I examined the farfield behavior on an axis at right angles to the front baffle with the microphone aimed at the center of the tweeter. The grille was left off for these measurements.

When measuring a loudspeaker's farfield…

Synergistic Research, Estelon, Ideon, and JMF

Off by itself near Expo Hall, the Journey/Creation rooms sponsored by Scott Walker Audio and Synergistic Research utilized so many Synergistic Research products—eight models of cables, seven for power conditioning (including fuses), six acoustic room treatment thingees, four racks, three grounding devices—that I was tempted to adapt the product list into lyrics for an audiophile Christmas carol.

Also present in the room, which was hosted by Michael Vamos of importer/distributor Audio Skies, were Ideon Audio’s Absolute Epsilon DAC ($49,900) and Absolute Time Signature V ($22,000), JMF’s…

Zesto, Tidal from The Voice That is, Dr. Feickert, Tri-Planar, Ortofon, Cardas, and Stillpoints

Oh, how I love the look of Zesto Audio equipment. Here it found its ideal visual complement in Tidal Piano speakers ($57,000/pair) from Philly-area dealer The Voice That Is and a catchily titled (not) Stillpoints ESS42-26-4 rack with acrylic shelves ($13,788).

LP was the medium of choice in this room. From Blue Note 1595, Somethin’ Else, Cannonball Adderly’s sax sounded gorgeous, the top lively. “Jupiter” from Zubin Mehta’s take on Holst’s perpetual The Planets was ideally open, clean, and shiny. I didn’t write down what else was played, but my impression was, open, warm, lively,…

Dynaudio, Octave, Moon, Grimm, Brinkmann, and Torus

It was great to hear monoblocks I'd just reviewed—the new, German-made Octave MRE 220 SE mono amplifiers ($28,500/pair) with their Super Black Box PSU upgrade modules ($7000/pair)—in the context of a different system. In partnership with the Octave HP 700 SE preamplifier with RIAA phono, tone controls, and MC step-up transformer ($24,500 as configured); Moon North 791 streaming preamp ($16,000); Grimm Audio MU-1 Roon server ($12,500); and Dynaudio Confidence 60 loudspeakers ($50,000/pair), the system sounded top-rate.

The Beatles' "Come Together" excelled in bass, and Fred Hersch…

Vimberg, Kalista, Karan, Entrec, and Fono Acoustica

It was a mixed show for Wynn Wong, mastermind of Canadian-based Wynn Audio importers. Soundwise he did very well, with Ayama Witter-Johnson’s take on Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington’s “The Nearness of You” so satisfying on every level, from solidity of bass to clarity of voice.

The other half of the experience was learning of the very recent death of Milan Karan, owner and chief designer of Karan Acoustics, at age 59. I reviewed the Karan Acoustics POWERa mono amplifier ($106,000/pair), which I heard in this room in spring, 2023, and found it a “phenomenal achievement.”

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