Fidelity Imports: Diptyque, Audia Flight, Michell Audio, NEO, QED, Titan

The French two-way Diptyque DP140 MKII loudspeaker ($17,000/pair) challenges the preconception that planar magnetic audio system battle to place out deep bass: It’s specified to achieve right down to 35Hz. Its 87dB/W/m sensitivity is merely common—it’s going to profit from some energy—however its 6 ohm nominal impedance means it isn’t too heavy a load.

The sound high quality of this technique was excellent. Its planar-magnetic mid/bass driver and ribbon tweeter function in seamless concord. There’s a lack of deep bass output with any open baffle dipole design, however this may be compensated, and it is offset by the dearth of cupboard coloration in open-baffle audio system. Such designs want room to function and particularly cautious placement, however as soon as that is achieved, they work in concord with the listening area as an alternative of preventing it. Done proper—because it was on the present—the outcomes can sound chic.

Justin Timberlake’s "Say Something" confirmed how deftly this technique separates music parts. The vocal readability and the guitar’s element demonstrated the quick transient response of planar-magnetic and ribbon drivers, however the attention-getter was the tight, full bass. It was textured, thick, and agile in no matter proportion this system demanded. The means the system dealt with "(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay"—a reside recording of Sara Bareilles protecting the Otis Redding traditional—had me feeling like I had the most effective seat in a comfortable jazz membership. This planar-magnetic bass sounded and felt nearer to reside than what many audio system obtain.

One of the notable developments on show at this present was the variety of techniques powered by an built-in amplifier as an alternative of separates. Here, the Audia Flight FLS10 ($12,999) proved a fantastic match for the Dyptiques. The energy ranking—200W into 8 ohms, 380W into 4 ohms, 700W into 2 ohms—means that it has loads of headroom powering the DP140 MKIIs. The sound corroborated that: It appeared easy music at energetic output ranges.

The Michell Audio Gyro SE ($6499) with CUSIS E Cartridge ($1299) served because the analog supply. A NEO rack, QED cables, and Titan energy cords spherical out the system.

Check out the video under of the DP140 MKII audio system and the remainder of the system, demoed on the present. Use an honest pair of full-range headphones to get a style of the system’s in-room sound.