Toronto Audiofest 2022 Show Report Part 3
Musical magic while listening on Level 2.
Show Report By Rick Becker

  Walking into the large Bristol A room I found Frank Fazallari showing off his new “The Eighteen" speaker from Coherent Speakers. For 2022 his line is limited to four floorstanding coaxial speakers starting with The Ten, The Twelve, The Fifteen, and now The Eighteen. These are high efficiency, like 94 to 102dB, depending on size. Frank seems to have dropped his original stand-mounted models based on the Golden Mean ratio in favor of these floorstanders. They come in two versions, a Signature and a Reference that vary primarily in the crossover parts quality. The Eighteen Reference is $17,800 USD and the Signature is $15,950. There is an additional $300 drop ship charge if you cannot pick them up in Ontario at the factory.

Corby's Audio was the co-host of this room and supplied the Kuzma turntable with tonearm and Kuzma Car-40 cartridge as well as a Stillpoints record weight on the top shelf. Below it was an Allnic T-1500 Mk2 single-ended stereo integrated amplifier equipped with Emission Labs 300B-XLS tubes and small meters indicating the relative current the amp was drawing. Below the amp was an Allnic H-5500 phono stage with inputs for two MC and two MM cartridges. I didn't check behind, but at this level you would expect plenty of cartridge loading capability.

The digital front end was cloaked in black on the bottom shelf — a Baetis Audio Revolution X3 ($6,200.00, though I'm not sure if this is USD or CDN, given the CEO is based in Montreal and the “retired" founder, who is still active in the company, is in Livingston, Montana.) A silver-faced unit on the floor next to the rack appeared to be a DAC of some sort as it indicated a hi-res file.

Corby's is apparently the principal dealer for Coherent Speakers as there are few others, making this somewhat of a cult brand. I've been very impressed with earlier models at the show, but here, in combination with the Allnic gear, I found a very neutral and somewhat drier presentation than I've appreciated in the past. There was certainly great resolution and dynamics and a good soundstage if you stood behind the seated area, far enough away from the widely spaced speakers. But I missed the warmth and bloom of previous presentations. This is likely the choice of amp or perhaps just the choice of 300B tube.

I noticed that Frank has gone to a much thinner edge strip to accent and protect the edges of the chassis and I like that change; it's more subtle. In the photo of the speaker corner, you will also notice the super-tweeter just above the coaxial driver, set in an oval insert. (It's small.) This lends an open, airy presence to the music and it is standard on the four models. There are two principal veneers and a handful of other suggested veneers available at an upcharge, as well as another hundred if you're absolutely obsessive or need to match something in particular. In any case, this is a speaker for people who really appreciate wood and Frank does it exceptionally well.

A quick surf of Corby's website indicates that they carry a large number of well-known brands so there should be lots of ways to audition Coherent Speakers there.

In Bristol B, which was smaller than Bristol A, but still a fairly large room, I had my second exposure to the PMC MB2 XBD speaker ($80k) with its masculine (and muscular) woofers. It was driven by an Accuphase E-5000 integrated amp ($20k) with a Lumin Music P1 Network Player ($13,500) and a Zidoo something or other. A sheet with the equipment in the room spec'ed an iFi Audio Diablo DAC ($1375), which I had heard in an outstanding room at Montreal but it was not in the rig. Modulum racks and XLO Signature 3 cables were also mentioned, as was an Accuphase DP 450 CD player ($8500) that was MIA. The music was warm and inviting with lots of air and plenty of deep bass. I expect the top half of the speaker could easily stand alone in a room of this size or smaller.

Motet, who sponsored the room is an importer and distributor. I also spotted gorgeous Audio Note An-E-SPX-HE-SE-SIG speakers ($72k) with corner-matched veneer giving them a very distinctive look. And an Audio Note Ongaku integrated amp ($220k), with 4242E tubes still in the boxes was also on silent display. I've yet to hear this fabled amplifier. (I should have asked them to hook it up with the Coherent speakers in the previous room.)

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