Acoustic
Preference Maestoso 2 speakers
They say,
that every object of art have it’s owner DNA written already in it’s core. This
might also be right with Acoustic Preference Maestoso 2 speakers and mine audio
cryptic.
They’re
beautifully carved object, that will satisfy people with true passion for
classical aesthetis and if I can call it aristocratic taste for design.
Maestros?
There is
nothing classical about Maestoso 2.0. It could be a more convenient to call
them contemporary with a pedigree. Carefully selected drivers and crossover are
giving Maestoso 2 very unedifying signature. They are not only character less,
but very linear. Being used to Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento speakers a first
encounter with Maestoso 2 was an open revelation. I did hear and test Acoustic
Preference’s Gracioso 2.0 speakers already, but Maestoso 2 is an avid step up
in the land of transparence and an eye (ear) opener. This must be connected to
a Morel Supreme tweeter, that adds up to coherent, non-fatigue and very dynamic
sound, which one can get in a well thought and balanced system.
With its
91db sensitivity I had not only good, but great experience’s with low powered
tube amplifiers. There is a certain synergy with very good solid-state amplifiers
and Maestoso 2 speakers. This must be connected to Acoustic Preference’s
experience with solid-state amplifiers. I’m still hoping for a day to come,
that they’ll bring out Bravura line of amplifiers to the light of the day again.
Why? They are both great looking and sound example of well-engineered and
designed amplifiers. Marjan and Davorin are taking their job very seriously and
I’ve seen numerous industry state of the art gears in their lab and demo room.
To reconnect with my thoughts Maestoso 2 speakers were designed with top of the
class amplifiers on the hand and it evidently shows in their performance
Big bang
Maestoso
2 are not being small, but again they’re not the biggest contenders in the race
of high-end. With clever selection of 2 X 160 mm
Morel High Performance bass units and Morel 140 mm High Performance Neolin
midrange driver, they created a speaker, which behaves wonderful even in
smaller environments. They’ll breathe in a larger space, but more then concur
smaller spaces So, Maestoso 2.0 are room friendly, which means, that
they are more then welcome into living rooms and listening spaces without
dedicated rooms. If drivers were a bit bigger, I do believe, that they would
loose some of it charm, but with the current selection of units, Marjan and
Davorin managed to form a balanced and tamable sound to a degree, that goes
beyond ordinary. Maestoso 2.0 are rated at 91db at 1W/1m. Acoustic Preference
seems to plaid safe with the specifications, since many manufactures would give
them 93 db based on the driver specifications. Why is all that important?
Maestoso 2.0 performed remarkably well with tube amplifiers. My tube reference
Mactone MH-300B amplifier is not only a great performer, but also a true stand
out. Funny how often we associate tube amplifiers with warm sound. Stop
dreaming and wake up! It 21st century and tube amps sound often like
solid state and vice versa. Not so with Mactone MH-300B and Maestoso 2.0.
They’re both surprisingly neutral. Funny isn’t. In the times when everything is
evolving exploding fast, we’re still dealing with technology of last century.
In both cases, solid sate and valves. Were did we came so far. I do believe,
that to the state of fine refinement.
Mactone
MH-300B is colorless amplifier. With two 300B per channel it produces around 24
watts. As proved in recent years (and well known to connoisseurs) tube watts
are non comparable to solid state ones. It’s different universe on its own and
one might easily fall into the trap of tube watt myths. It’s the same with
warmness associated with tube amplifiers. For example the Gryphon Atilla, which
is just under a review at Mono & Stereo holds much more warm character then
Mactone MH-300B. How is this possible? Different goals and different visions,
which also needs different, fine tuned setups. Being impressed with Gryphon
Atilla performance I was eager to switch back to Mactone MH-300B to compare.
Man what a difference. They’re both impressive performers and in great synergy
with Maestoso 2.0 speakers, but both of them need a completely different
approach in selecting the front ends, cables etc. For example Gryphon Atilla and Lampizator
Level 4 dac plaid like match in heaven. This combination came dangerously close
to my reference turntable setup. Both Lampizator and Gryphon Atilla set standards
on it own, but they need to be mated in a right way with the right components
to show their best.
Returning
to Mactone MH-300B. Spending almost two years with selecting the correct gear
to refine my system I’m more then satisfied with an outcome. Quite few people,
that I trust and respect dearly heard my current rig and confirmed my feelings
about synergy and performance. We’re beings of different tastes and natures.
There is no one ends in this high-end audio quest of ours. We must stand firm
and being straight about references. Live music, vocals etc. are still the
instruments of measurement, when it comes to setting up the true standards of
state of the art reproduction. There can be no doubts about this. On the other
hand, every listener builds up the high-end audio system to his own taste and views.
There is no firm rule about it and there is no perfect system as much as some
ego trip maniacs would love to set their own standard. I heard many high-end
and ultra high-end systems and some of them are amazing and striking, yet you
can always feel and hear some sort of a flavor in them. As with amplifiers and
preamplifiers. Even the most transparent ones will have a certain degree of its
own signature. At the end of the day and after all of the years passing by
we’ll have to settle down with the facts, that we’re not living in the perfect
world. What the hack, even our own senses
are not perfect. Some other species, that share living landscapes with us are
seeing better, smelling better and what to talk about hearing better! Things
audio beyond audible impact we discussed perhaps to many times. Like it or not
we experiencing lots of things on sublime level, which goes beyond our
so-called raw six senses. We’re not talking about Freudian or Jung like
archetypes or impressions here, but about what happens on some different level.
We’re sensual creatures and music affects us in more then just analytical way.
This is why both measurements and listening is required when we test, design
and produce gears of joy. We need both our left and right brain hemisphere to
be connected. This is also why there is always better to train oneself to
recognize the dealings of those two, or as many companies do, combine people
with strong impact from both hemispheres.
Spending
years in designing high-end components gives a designer a certain clue in how
things should and could sound. I do believe Acoustic Preference’s Davorin Žnuderl
is one of those artisans when it coms to electronics. As any master of trade
recognize the material influence on final outcome, it’s the same within audio.
Many laughed at Vladimir Lamm, when he talked about creating preamplifiers and
amplifiers without listening them during the creation. Nobody loughs when Lamm
gear are playing music at shows or in demo rooms. So it’s not about perception
only, but about knowledge, intelligence, experience, knowledge, mileage and
know-hows.
Maran
Tancer and Davorin Žnuderl are mature experienced high-end audio chaps.
Actually seeing projects they went through, nerves they burned and money
they’ve spend in designing and creating not only speakers, but also almost
everything connected to high-end audio ones mind spins in perpectum mobile. I
would not called them enthusiasts, but hard-core hard working high-end
standouts. This shows on their end results. I’m saddened, that they’re not
recognized more within Slovenia, but this go as a leit motif, that envy is an
enemy of ignorance. What can be done? We can spread the words around…
In music
Acoustic
Preference Maestoso 2.0 speakers are my daily reference speakers for all the
testing, comparing, listening etc. Within my Mono and Stereo HQ’s demo room I
managed to create a balanced audio eco system, that gives me correct feedback
of every component coming through for a long or short time period of testing.
Maestoso 2.0 speakers are a vital part of my reference testing system. I’m
thrilled by their less of character, their musical DNA and soulful
reproduction. This can be only be achieved with careful selection of
components. Last major addition to my reference system along LessLoss cabling was
Lamm LL2 preamplifer. You can track down impressive reviews and accolades of
this tube preamplifier over the media and net. I have to agree with most of the
written. Lamm knows something about how to create high-end gear in the service
of music and how natural it should sound. Some high-end components are carrying
the same or very similar DNA, when it comes to the way in how they connect us
with music. Synergy of Lamm and Wilson is evident for example. I have to say
and conclude, that Acoustic Preference and Lamm jointly are bringing out the
intimates of music in a way that never so far connected me into music as
emotional and lucid as with and within my current set up and system. I’m one of
those persons who cannot listen critically at low volumes. Yes, quiet night do
bring down volumes, but not as a standard rule. For me the right impact of
energy have to be come directly. Motion of sound is simply non transferable at
to low volumes. Maestoso 2.0 never seems to loose the grip, pace, timing or to
resonate at some frequency. I always go through entire spectrum with audio synth,
which can generate basic sound through out the whole audible spectrum when
testing new gear. There were zero frequency matches, which would resonate on
same frequency and cause audible resonance of enclosure. This simple, yet
effective method conclusion was also confirmed in my analytical listening’s
(yes, I also have to do that) with all sort of musical source material.
The End
When they
were introduced Maestoso 2.0 costed almost 20.000 eur. With the current shift
of Acustic Preference business tactics to direct buy-sale you can be a proud
owner of this great speaker for 7.980 eur including shipping to Europe.
Maestoso
2.0 are genre-less speakers for connoisseurs of both aesthetics and high-end
sound. The ultimate test is not rock, blues or any specific genre, but live acoustical
music. Maestoso 2.0 speakers are far beyond calling them well performing. They excelled
in ultimate test of live music managing to reproduce both timbre and sense of
articulation in a way, that so much represent what evoke the inner clock of my
music satisfaction in live musical events.
With the
new pricing scheme Maestoso 2.0 are real standouts and performers way beyond
their price. Don’t let the absence of distributors commission bewilder you.
These are the speakers for a daily doze of pure energy, audio bliss, enjoyment
of music and critical high-end audio partners to stay.
Technical
Let me
look what makes Maestoso 2.0 such a complete and universal speakers.
Maestoso
2 is 3-way/Double-select ported bass reflex system.
Ported bass baffle can be mounted from both front and back side. In this way
you can control and tune bass to your preference or even more important, to
listening room.
• 2 X 160 mm Morel High Performance bass units
• One-piece DPC cone/dust cap for smooth, extended response and
firm bass
• Large diameter aluminum former for efficient heat transfer
• 75 mm diameter HEXATECH voice coil for high power handling and
superior dynamics
• Massive die-cast open aluminum basket for flat and smooth
response
• Natural felt disc for absorption of unwanted reflections
Midrange
• Morel 140 mm High Performance Neolin midrange
• One-piece DPC cone/dust cap for smooth, extended response and
firm bass
• Large diameter aluminum former for efficient heat transfer
• 75 mm diameter Hexatech voice coil for high-power handling and
superior dynamics
• Copper devices for reduction of distortion and linear
impendence
• Five high-flux neodymium disc magnets for enhanced sensitivity
and excellent air cooling
• Massive die-cast open aluminum basket for flat and smooth
response
• Natural felt disc for absorption of unwanted reflections
Tweeter
• Morel 28 mm High Performance Supreme series tweeter
• Acuflex hand-treated soft dome and aluminum faceplate
• Hexatech voice coil for high-power handling and superior
dynamics
• Flat Neodymium motor with high magnetic power
• Under hung configuration for higher performance and lower
distortion
• Linear motion for high sensitivity, fast transient response
and high definition
CROSSOVER
• Three way 12 dB/oct/LKR/220/2200 Hz crossover
• Mundorf Air Foil Coils, 99.999% pure OFC copper with
Polypropylene insulation
• Mundorf High-End Audio Grade MKP capacitors, matched to 0.5%
tolerance
• Exclusive custom braid - HGA Solid Silver/Teflon insulated
inner wiring
• High quality Bi-wire WBT terminals
Matej Isak
Mono and Stereo ultra high end audio magazine
All rights reserved, 2012
www.monoandstereo.com
www.myaudioshop.com