The three heavy hitters noted above brought Italian heavy hitter Thuono to Capital Audiofest (CAF), showing the Thuono TH400 turntable ($59,500) for the first time in the US. I've noted these handsome machines at High End Munich; it's great to finally see the brand stateside.
The TH400 includes a 400mm (15.75")-diameter platter supported by "a proportionally designed rotation system," the press release noted. "Both elements of the chassis are composed of a thick layer of aluminum and Nero Marquinia marble and supported by high precision magnetic suspensions. The unusual dimensions of the platter, frame, and motor system allow an extraordinary inertial torque to be obtained, giving extreme dynamics levels and authority of sound."
The TH400 was using an Ortofon Verismo cartridge. ($7350). Also in the system: all-Aavik electronics: an R-880 MM/MC phono stage ($73,500), an Aavik SD-880 streamer/DAC ($73,500), an Aavik C-880 control amplifier ($73,500) and Aavik a pair of P-880 power amplifiers ($73,500/each). The amplifiers drove a pair of Børresen M3 loudspeakers ($294,000/pair). Ansuz Acoustics cables hooked everything up: a Mainz8 Gold Signature power distribution bar, a PowerSwitch Gold Signature Ethernet switch, a PowerBox Gold Signature power box, Speakz D-TC3 Gold Signature speaker cables, Mainz D-TC3 Gold Signature power cables, Signalz D-TC3 Gold Signature interconnects, D-TC3 Gold Signature phono cable, D-TC3 Gold Signature Ethernet cables, Darkz Z3W resonance control footers, and T2s racks.
FinkTeam presented the American debut of its Borg Episode 2 loudspeakers ($37,950/pair). To quote my colleague Jason Victor Serinus, from his 2023 High End Munich report, "The Borg Episode 2 sits on a bass plate that's inclined 4–5° to enable better integration between drivers, listeners, and room. The biggest speaker issued by the Fink Team so far, it includes an AMT (Mundorf) tweeter and a high-power 10.25" bass unit with a 3" voice coil. With a frequency response of 41Hz–30kHz, –6dB, and 32Hz–35kHz, –10dB, it has an average impedance of 10 ohms and a minimum impedance of 6.5 ohms at 20kHz. Sensitivity is specified as 87dB, distortion 0.2% at 87dB SPL, and weight is 114.64 lb."
Electronics were by Linn: Linn Klimax DSM Organik streaming preamplifier ($48,230) and Linn Solo 800 monoblocks ($51,190/each). HiDiamond Top Gold interconnects, an Ansuz Acoustics rack, power cables and accessories, and Audience FrontRow Reserve 20A PowerChords for the Linn Solo monoblocks finalized the system.
The TH400 was using an Ortofon Verismo cartridge. ($7350). Also in the system: all-Aavik electronics: an R-880 MM/MC phono stage ($73,500), an Aavik SD-880 streamer/DAC ($73,500), an Aavik C-880 control amplifier ($73,500) and Aavik a pair of P-880 power amplifiers ($73,500/each). The amplifiers drove a pair of Børresen M3 loudspeakers ($294,000/pair). Ansuz Acoustics cables hooked everything up: a Mainz8 Gold Signature power distribution bar, a PowerSwitch Gold Signature Ethernet switch, a PowerBox Gold Signature power box, Speakz D-TC3 Gold Signature speaker cables, Mainz D-TC3 Gold Signature power cables, Signalz D-TC3 Gold Signature interconnects, D-TC3 Gold Signature phono cable, D-TC3 Gold Signature Ethernet cables, Darkz Z3W resonance control footers, and T2s racks.
FinkTeam presented the American debut of its Borg Episode 2 loudspeakers ($37,950/pair). To quote my colleague Jason Victor Serinus, from his 2023 High End Munich report, "The Borg Episode 2 sits on a bass plate that's inclined 4–5° to enable better integration between drivers, listeners, and room. The biggest speaker issued by the Fink Team so far, it includes an AMT (Mundorf) tweeter and a high-power 10.25" bass unit with a 3" voice coil. With a frequency response of 41Hz–30kHz, –6dB, and 32Hz–35kHz, –10dB, it has an average impedance of 10 ohms and a minimum impedance of 6.5 ohms at 20kHz. Sensitivity is specified as 87dB, distortion 0.2% at 87dB SPL, and weight is 114.64 lb."
Electronics were by Linn: Linn Klimax DSM Organik streaming preamplifier ($48,230) and Linn Solo 800 monoblocks ($51,190/each). HiDiamond Top Gold interconnects, an Ansuz Acoustics rack, power cables and accessories, and Audience FrontRow Reserve 20A PowerChords for the Linn Solo monoblocks finalized the system.
