Milan Other!

  A popular cable in Italy is made by Shinpy.  Their Series 2 cable is claimed to be totally insensitive to outside electromagnet interference which can induce distortions into the signal they carry.  In fact they claim a factor of 10 times less then even the best cables made today!  Their higher models "...make use of advanced not-solid wires, that exclude every mechanical resonance and every little loss of signal."

Ikarus Audio Ercolino

Not being sure just where to put the above in this show report, i decided to put it here.  Kits and Do-It-Yourself magazines are extremely popular in Italy. Fedeltą del Suono magazine is one example that also had the best sound at the show!  Using a Type-45 based 1.5 watt tube amplifier (Ikarus Audio model Ercolino amplifier made by Mr. Gianfranco Pellas using Tamura F-475 outputs Tamura choke), they had these Lowther speakers really making some great music that was also capable of extreme volume levels!   The amplifier itself is a uses a singly Type-45 (RCA) tube for output, 83 for rectification, 6SN7GTB, Elna Cerafine power capacitors, and Jensen copper foils.  All i can say is that it was very dynamic, had amazing inner resolution, macro/microdynamics, gorgeous midrange, and was able to decipher the intricate multi-happenings within the music.  For those who say that small wattage system can't jam have never hear a properly done system as the above was.  Alas, even some other reviewers i know can't understand the benefits of lower powered SE tube amplifiers.  Wish they came to the Italian show.  (Sigh) oh well, some reviewers like living in their own small-world bubble.

Lucio Cadeddu

Editor/Owner of TNT Audio, Lucio Cadeddu, runs   a great Italian and English-based internet magazine.  He was at the Top Audio & Video show checking out all the groovy new toys.  We shared a great lunch together and spent the entire day checking out new products (some of which will be reviewed shortly!).  Alas, internet connections in Italy seemed quite slow to me so maybe Italy has a way to go in discovering the advantages of the internet?

Marantz MR2020 Closed

Marantz MR2020 Open

Looking all killer cool was the new Marantz MR2020 AM/FM/CD integrated unit from Marantz's Design Series.  Also accepting other inputs, this integrated unit by Marantz offers thirty radio presets, programmable CD player, auxiliary inputs, and full preamp/amplifier duties.  With 25 watts per channel for your musical pleasure, this unit had the coolest visual closed-top look!  While closed, you can use either the wireless remote or the top four joysticks for operation (top photo).  When the top is opened, all the same operations can be done via four diamond shaped buttons (bottom photo).  Whoever said good sounding gear must look ugly has never seen the Marantz gear like the Arch or this MR2020 unit!

Your Cartridge Analyzed

One of the great services offered by one of the premiere Italian magazines was in having your cartridge analyzed.  A professional was checking various attendees cartridges under a microscope for wear, cantilever condition, etc.  Ya know, i wish more folks were able to have such services available to them here in America.