SHOW REPORT
8/16/2024
Constantine Soo
Colin King of Gestalt Audio and Joe Cohen of Lotus Group once again teamed up for a second year at CAS, and attendees were treated to another field-coil speaker system driven by a meticulously design and set up analog gig, featuring a new and improved Fuuga cartridge on a $30,000 PrimaryControl FCL 12-inch tonearm on a TW Acoustic Raven GT2 turntable system, all meticulously amplified by the SW1X Audio Designs LPU IV Special phono preamplifier. The Dalby Audio Design Pirueta Extreme Record Stabiliser added a new level of grace to the spinning of the vinyl. The artistry and creativity exhibited in its design is off the charts.
Having reviewed the SW1X AMP V “Titan” SP integrated amplifier recently, I was surprised by how differently the Wolf von Langa London sounded with it and it took several returning visits before I could begin analyzing it. But then, it was perhaps no surprise since I hadn’t reviewed a speaker the full-range driver and bass drivers of which are all field-coil electrified, and a whole system of SW1X Audio Design electronics were in tow. The London’s full-range main-driver was among the most impressive I’ve heard, encompassing an audibly huge range that I suspect reaching down to around 100 Hz. Since the two bass field-coil drivers are in-phase, the resultant bottom-end reproduction was nothing short of first-rate, amidst achieving that in the generous dimensions of the Parlor Suite no less. The sound was such that even if were not in a show but in my home, it would still be some time before I could shift my attention from that of enjoyment to critiquing. Noteworthy is that this year’s London is a different design than last year’s. Per Colin: “the entire line – every speaker Wolf offers – undergoes constant R&D. Rather than release a “LONDON 2″ (or whatever marketing term is hot at the moment), improvements get continually baked into the existing models. This year’s LONDON offers an improved field coil power supply with new technologies, improved venting for the 15” field coil woofers, and large cost-no-object capacitor banks for the field coil woofer electromagnets. Last year’s LONDON model was exceptional but these are incremental improvements that continue to push the state of the art in field coil loudspeaker development.”
Methinks this is an excellent operating and marketing model, one that will capture the imaginations of the audiophile; but of course only the sizeable companies possess the will and ability to incorporate improvements into every new year’s models, much like the conventions of the automotive industry. If only we operated like that since the beginning.
The PranaWire systems were instrumental in extracting every electron from the coil of the Fuuga and propagating it through all the circuits onto that of the London, and since a system could only sound as good as its weakest link, the demonstration class performance of the system left no doubt the PranwWire system constituted its stronger member, if not the strongest. Have no doubt how a premium cable can transform an old DAC.
Once again, I would love to experience the SW1X DAC III but attendees were unrelenting in requesting vinyl demonstrations.
July 1, 2024 Pre-show press release:
Gestalt Audio, German field-coil loudspeaker systems manufacturer Wolf on Langa’s U.S. distributor will demonstrate the LONDON speakers, while British electronics company SW1X Design will be represented by its U.S. distributor Lotus Group. The following is a complete list of equipment valued at more than $437,340 to be played at the show:
Wolf von Langa LONDON field coil loudspeakers: $64,995
SW1X Audio Designs AMP V Titan integrated amplifier – $22,295
SW1X Audio Designs DAC III Balanced Special DAC – $18,325
SW1X Audio Designs VDT IV Special network transport – $33,050
SW1X Audio Designs LPU IV Special phono preamplifier – $33,050
PranaWire Sukhavati Speaker Cable 3.0m Set $52,500
PranaWire Arhat 1.5m Speaker Cable 1.5m Set $18,645 discontinued, for sale at show
PranaWire Nirvana XLS Level III RCA Interconnect Pair 1.5m (Prototype) – $15,000
PranaWire Nirvana Standard RCA Interconnect Pair 1.5m $29,050 discontinued, for sale at show
PranaWire Nirvana XLS Level III Power Cable 1.5m (x2) (Prototype) – $8,250
PranaWire Nirvana XLS Level III Digital Interconnect 1.0m (Prototype) – $7,500
PranaWire Nirvana XLS Level III DIN Phono Cable 1.3m (Prototype) – $8,250
PranaWire MahaSamadhi Power Cable 1.5m $5,450
Various Additional PranaWire Power Cables
PranaWire Linebacker SE In-line Passive Power Filter (x2) $7,500 ea.
PranaWire Master Grounding System:
PranaWire Ground Vault Level II in Bloodwood $8,050
PranaWire Interceptor Level III (X2) Figured Maple $6,350 ea.
PranaWire Interceptor Level II (X3) Hickory $3,450 ea.
PranaWire Ground Master Level II (x2) Prototypes $3,750 ea.
TW Acustic Raven GT2 turntable: $12,500
TW Acustic Raven 10.5 tonearm: $6,000
PrimaryControl FCL 12″ tonearm: $29,995
Fuuga MC cartridge: $9,995
Codia Acoustic Design Stage 3000 Diagon rack: $4,495
Silent Running Audio Ohio XL.2 isoBASE $varies
Acoustic Revive RTP-6absolute distribution block $3,995 discontinued, for sale at show
Various isolation devices and platforms
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