But for all of you which are primarily interesting to read about what I have had chance to listen and see, or just to see (due to exculpatory reasons), let’s start with monoblocks.

As some sort of “warm-up” in the very beginning we have chance to listen the following:  The Experience Reference monos, ModWright LS-36.5/PS 36.5 preamp/power supply,  APL NWO 3.0-GO CD player i WLM Grand Viola speakers (with matched Duo 12 subwoofer). With still present reminiscence on very impressive sound of WLM La  Scala and Almarro combo during last HighEnd fair in Munich, combination in which monos have their “debut” once again proved a very good sound of WLM speakers and nominated The Experience Reference monos as very serious and respectible matching partners.  It must be said that monos had circa only 80 working hours behind them, so it’s more that obvious that some changes in sound will occurred during time, hopefully in positive direction.   

Fact that our host has in possession several very interesting 300B and other tubes, gave us a great opportunity to listen monos with some of them. Personally, I have had an opportunity that shortly listen monos with relatively new EML 5U4G rectifier and and E.A.T. 300B Diamond tubes, with attached Supratek Cabernet Dual preamp/power supply and ZU Audio Presence speakers. That was our first encounter with ZUs about which Srajan told us very interesting story, with special emphasize on technology used for final finish, which practically make them almost totally resistant to scratches and other damages originated during transport and similar. Looking at surface of ZU’s Presence from distance of a few centimeters it was simply impossible to stay stolid and stop thinking about speakers but something that just left some high-tech lab. 

Speaking about sound, personally it wasn’t so persuasive and direct as it were Grand Violas. But, as I also was limited with time which I’ve spent listening ZUs, a final comment will be omitted this time,. But, if you had chance to hear some of ZU’s speakers,  my suggestion is to listen them mandatory.

Last session (or to be more precise - almost “round midnight” session) occurred in the following environment: on preamp – Trafomatic Head One preamp, on power amps – Trafomatic monos with Western Electric 300B tubes and on speakers (visually very uninviting) Rethm Saadhanas. Note: Rethm speakers are manufacturing in India and thay are product of two musical enthusiast which are architects by primary vocation. Reviews related to Rethm’s speakers were something that I’ve started to read in several magazines and web sites, but I’ve never finished reading. If you ask me why, I only can give you one and always the same answer – I don’t know why !  

As previous night Sasa and Milorad had a chance to listen these speakers, during morning coffee they’ve exposed me their impressions with final statement that these speakers were among the best what they’ve heard since now. After my “round midnight” session with Saadhanas, I can only repeat the same. What I’ve heard was very, very different in comparison with everything heard before (regardless type of cabinet construction or used drivers like Vifa, Seas, Scan-Speak, Lowther, Fostex, etc.) Not from perfection point of view, but in sense of emotional experience and lightness of join with music that you are listening.

Regarding what was on musical menu, it must be said offer was very rich and somehow surprising.  Although a few  tracks were not my “cup of tea” in general it was extremely interesting to hear them on each of these 3 systems. It was very clever mix of rhythms and voices from almost round the world, but with emphasis’s on Middle Eastern, gypsy and flamenco instrumental and vocal tracks. Typical musical “menu de jour” was like following: as starter – western African vocals, main course – Siberian Gypsies’ filet and for dessert – fado or flamenco (the choice is yours) . And everything served with on the highest production and performance level (my favorites were vocal tracks that arrived from Turkey and surroundings).  Very suggestive and direct in its presentation, these tracks firmly retains listener’s attention from the first to last note.

And this was almost everything which it was seen and heard from my side, with addition that I’ve had a chance to see for the first time “in vivo” some not so widely known tubes (like 101D-a on Supratek Cabernet Dual preamp), as well as to see Fi and Yamamoto products and to be introduced with a few interesting and no so known information from “hi-fi underground”.

As I’ve said at the very beginning, main activities during our stay in Cyprus played without my presence and were related to primarily for the business related topics. Naturally, so many things were said and discussed with my presence, but according to fair play and following “non disclosure” principles which include data privacy, instead of some final conclusion please look at pictures made on Cyprus during out trip.

>> click on images for larger view <<

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