Paddling all the way from NYC, Jeffrey Catalano's High Water Sound, aka “2 channel with attitude,” featured the premieres of Hornning Hybrid Systems Eurfrodite Mark IV Ellipse loudspeakers ($30,000/pair) and Tron-Electric’s flagship Syren II GT preamplifier ($55,000) and Seven phono/mono ($15,000). The speakers have eight 8” bass drivers in push-pull configuration, a back-loaded horn, and a PM 65 Lowther midrange, all of which help account for their 98–99dB sensitivity. Jeffrey called the Tron preamp “a work of art,” with an outboard power supply, “all-silver everything,” and proprietary caps and transformers.
The sound through a TW-Acustic table with Ortofon cartridges, Electra-Fidelity 300B SE monoblocks ($10,000/pair), and other products from Silver Circle Audio, Silent Running Audio, Symposium Acoustics, Zen Sati, and Tel Wire was distinguished by a beautiful midrange and a very high and wide presentation. The system did an especially beautiful job with the sound of a piccolo, which realistically projected up and out from the orchestral canvass. Highs were a bit muffled, no doubt due to the room.
