Just over a week ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Marco Serri and his team in Italy to present the Gladiator flagship speaker system.
The well-known saying, “Italians do it better,” was put into practice in so many ways that the impact is still lingering.
The Man behind the brand
Marco Serri path and professional growth have been characterized by A deep study of components and minute details (purchased components were disassembled for thorough analysis and often bought solely to experiment and conduct comparative studies).
In the late ’80s, he successfully dedicated himself to the creation of car audio systems, both independently and in collaboration with top companies in the area. With his own system, in 1989 he won first prize at the Bologna Motorshow for in-car installations on a Golf 3. Among his experiences, he also includes active collaborations with suppliers for Lamborghini and Pagani, working on the optimization of car audio components.
With deep knowledge of components and materials, he possesses the ability to design speaker cabinets and crossovers, and to combine loudspeakers in perfect synergy. His approach is rooted in an experimental culture that emphasizes rigorous A/B testing in real-world conditions, paired with a highly refined technical understanding and critical listening ability. In the 1990s, he was profoundly influenced by the sound of dipole speakers—particularly the Martin Logan CLS2—which captivated him with their expansive soundstage and exceptionally clear highs and vocals, qualities he found missing in traditional speaker designs.
From that moment, he began developing and producing pure dipole loudspeakers, and later hybrid ones, as pure dipoles couldn’t deliver a sufficiently deep low range.
Through successive experimentation (starting with cone drivers), Serri moved on to planar drivers, which he found sonically superior during listening tests. In this phase, he also hand-built magnetoplanar drivers in his lab with excellent performance.
Still unsatisfied with the low frequency response (which he found weak, lacking in dynamics, and incapable of reproducing very deep bass—such as the lowest octaves of a pipe organ), he began exploring a hybrid dipole solution. This approach, though ambitious, aimed to combine a closed-box driver dedicated to low frequencies with open-baffle drivers—challenging especially because magnetoplanars are very fast in transients and have rapid decay, as shown in waterfall response measurements.
Over the years, through determination and perseverance, Serri continued researching and developing this type of speaker, aiming to eliminate the disconnection often perceived between dipole panels and the low frequency section—a common issue in this speaker type.
In 2014, the first high-end speaker of the Venezia Series was born: the first hybrid dipole in reflex cabinet.
Exhibitions and Evolution
Marco Serri later began attending his first audio shows in Italy (Milan Hi-Fidelity, Rome Hi-Fidelity, Bari Hi-End). In 2015, he took part for the first time in the Munich show, presenting the Colosseum under the Omnia Audiofile brand—a large 4-way system with a 3-part MDF cabinet.
The use of resin
Although resin had been previously experimented with, it had always been postponed due to its high costs (molds, materials, processing).
In the pursuit of even greater performance, with a cabinet that would combine maximum structural rigidity, excellent internal damping, and acoustically optimal, rounded shapes, the Gladiator project was launched—leading to the founding of Marco Serri Design Srl in 2023, along with external investors, some of whom were already clients.
The objective was to create a monoblock resin cabinet, solid enough to support two bass drivers: one for very deep bass and another for fast bass, which is often hard to achieve with a single driver. The cabinet had to provide both structural integrity and rounded shapes, which benefit sound reproduction.
A design was created featuring a woofer for ultra-low frequencies (bordering on infrasound) and another faster unit designed to reproduce the typical punch (as delivered by JBL woofers suited for rock music).
Venezia Series and the culmination with Gladiator
In parallel, development continued on more affordable market targets with the Venezia series (models 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 and Maxi), also available in a Special Edition with an additional resin layer over MDF.
With the 5-way Gladiator, featuring a full resin cabinet, Marco sought to put decades of experimentation to use. This 5-way hybrid dipole configuration allows each transducer to operate within a narrow, optimized range—keeping it within its mechanical and electrical linearity zone.
The careful design of the crossover points and phase coherence between the drivers ensures an integrated, continuous response with no perceptible discontinuities—with direct benefits in tonal transparency, soundstage imaging, and dispersion control.
The cabinet’s rounded shapes are not only an aesthetic choice but a strategic acoustic solution, aimed at drastically reducing baffle diffraction, improving frequency response consistency, and optimizing angular wavefront dispersion.
This has resulted in a loudspeaker without compromise, aiming at the ideal goal of every ambitious designer: to specialize each driver section, exploiting only the best part of each transducer and blending them together with perfect continuity—evoking sonic performance similar to the most refined loudspeakers of the best high-end brands.
Gladiator – 5-way hybrid dipole
The Gladiator is a 5-way hybrid dipole loudspeaker, with a cabinet made of two monocoque multilayer resin blocks.
The Cabinet
The loudspeaker consists of two vertically stacked monocoque blocks, each one meter high, entirely made of multilayer resin filled with selected mineral charges, designed to achieve maximum structural rigidity and excellent internal damping.
Marco ambitiously transitioned from MDF (used in the Venezia Series) to a material that allowed a significant qualitative leap, with each layer specifically engineered for a particular function.
The molds were crafted by an artisan in Italy’s Motor Valley.
Construction includes five layers:
- Layer 1 (outermost): Resin + fiberglass (4 cross-woven layers)
- Layer 2: Resin + marble dust to add mass and surface rigidity
- Layer 3: Resin + ceramic powder + aluminum powder
- Layer 4: Resin + glass powder
- Layer 5 (innermost): Resin + fine wood powder + Aerosil, for natural damping and internal sound diffusion.
Aerosil also improves material homogeneity, preventing localized resonance peaks.
The differentiated composition and thickness of the layers result in a massive and highly damped cabinet, effectively eliminating sonic colorations, bass overhang, and tonal distortions.
- Lower Section: A bass-reflex design with separate chambers housing a 15″ woofer and a 16.5″ subwoofer, optimizing volume management for deep, fast, and controlled bass without mutual interference.
- Upper Section: An open-back dipole design hosting 4 mid-woofers, 4 mid-tweeters, and 1 super tweeter, chosen to maximize tonal coherence, transient speed, and naturalness, while benefiting from the absence of compression typical of closed-box designs.
The Shape Of The Loudspeaker
In addition to material innovation, Marco carefully designed the rounded forms to achieve not only a distinctive aesthetic but also sonic coherence aligned with his pursuit of perfection.
Aesthetic Shape Choices
The cabinet stands two meters tall (excluding the pedestal) with a Lower Section consisting of two perfectly symmetrical stacked spherical volumes housing the woofers, minimizing diffraction. The upper section features smoothly curved surfaces to accommodate the speaker arrays, enhancing acoustic performance.
Acoustic Benefits
The use of rounded edges and curved surfaces plays a crucial role in acoustic performance, significantly minimizing mid- and high-frequency diffraction while promoting emission coherence. This design approach ensures smoother sound wave transitions into the environment, reducing early reflections and enhancing overall clarity and spatial imaging.
The 5-Way Design
The system exploits the most linear and efficient frequency range of each individual driver.
Advantages of the 5-way layout
- Narrower passband for each driver, maintaining maximum mechanical and electrical linearity.
- Minimized harmonic and intermodulation distortion, even at high volumes.
- Optimized angular dispersion control, adapting each driver to its most compatible frequency band.
- Preserved phase coherence, resulting in a wide, natural, and focused soundstage.
- High amplification compatibility, including tube amplifiers, thanks to a very linear impedance and phase behavior.
Drivers
The Gladiator loudspeaker system features a carefully engineered five-way driver configuration, each selected for its specialized role in delivering a full-range, high-fidelity listening experience.
At the foundation is a 16.5-inch subwoofer designed for deep bass reproduction and subsonic fundamentals, offering high excursion capabilities and controlled SPL for uncompromised low-frequency authority.
Complementing it is a 15-inch woofer that delivers upper bass punch, impact, and articulate musical bass with precision.
The 6.7-inch midrange driver handles the crucial mid-woofer duties, ensuring the natural reproduction of instruments and male vocals with tonal accuracy and warmth.
The upper midrange is managed by a 7.9-inch planar magnetic driver, chosen for its controlled dispersion and excellent transient response, contributing to a lifelike and detailed soundstage.
Finally, a high-extension ribbon super tweeter completes the system by extending the upper harmonics, enhancing the sense of air and spatial openness.
Together, these drivers work in harmony to create a balanced and immersive sonic presentation across the full audio spectrum.
Crossover
The crossover network is a carefully designed 5-way system with 12 dB/octave slopes, chosen specifically to preserve phase coherence across the entire frequency range. Housed externally, the crossover is isolated from the loudspeaker enclosure to prevent mechanical vibrations and stray magnetic fields from compromising the delicate signal path.
The component selection reflects an uncompromising approach: high-purity, oxygen-free copper inductors are oversized to ensure minimal DCR, with a dual-conductor (bifilar) coil used for the subwoofer to handle high currents without introducing dynamic compression. Capacitors are carefully chosen for each frequency band—high-grade MKP capacitors for low and mid frequencies ensure excellent stability and low ESR, while Mundorf Silver-Oil-Gold capacitors are used for planar drivers to deliver natural and detailed mid-highs.
For the super tweeter, Klangfilm silver foil capacitors are employed, preserving microdynamics and brilliance without adding harshness.
Internal wiring features a solid-core copper-silver hybrid, combining the warmth of copper with the speed and clarity of silver.
Every component was selected through a process that balanced rigorous technical analysis with extensive comparative listening sessions, ensuring both measured performance and musical authenticity.
High-end painting process
The high-end painting process used in these speakers reflects an artisanal approach inspired by luxury supercar body shop techniques from Italy’s famed Motor Valley. The process begins with meticulous surface preparation, involving dry sanding up to P600 grit and manual finishing of all curves and joints.
This is followed by multiple layers of two-component epoxy primer, which are fully cured to ensure stability. Next, wet sanding with P1000–P1200 grit eliminates micro-imperfections, creating a flawless base for the metallic coat. A high-reflectivity metallic base is then applied using HVLP low-pressure spray guns, with pearl pigments added for enhanced depth and color-shifting effects.
Controlled curing at 22–25°C prevents surface contamination during drying. The finish is then sealed with two full coats of high-resistance polyurethane clear coat. Finally, the surface undergoes ultra-fine sanding up to P4000 grit and a three-stage polishing process using automotive-grade compounds like 3M Trizact.
The result is a mirror-like finish free of orange peel, offering the kind of visual depth and perfection typically seen on Concours-grade automotive showpieces.
The Music Impact
I had ample time to explore a variety of music genres and familiar tracks, so I could fully appreciate what the Gladiator is capable of delivering. Even within the first few notes of the opening track, I could instantly grasp the grandeur and sonic potency of the Marco Serri Design top-tier speakers. It brought to mind some of the cost-no-object systems I’m very familiar with, and the impact was, to say the least, sobering.
The Gladiator speaker system was designed from the ground up to avoid low-level artifacts or any harshness that might detract from the listening experience.
These Italian Gangagurtan loudspeakers provided splendid acoustic localization with enormous density, devoid of transient smear or phase shifts.
They also naturally enhanced spatial imaging far beyond the usual scope, offering natural punch and clarity, and cushioned the music in the most natural, comforting way — with no listener fatigue even after extended sessions at mighty volumes.
There was simply no single frequency band sticking out — the drivers are seamlessly integrated, allowing a natural aural development with subsonic depth, and the bass was focused and free of any faux pulsations.
With many speakers, even costlier ones, there can be a frequency bump, a missing range, or an exaggerated band, which can negatively affect spatial imaging.
In every respect, the Marco Serri Design Gladiator is the opposite of this, faithfully reflecting the music as it was captured live or produced in the studio.
The Sum Up
So what can be understood and taken away from this experience?
The first striking realization is that there are still people driven by pure passion and the drive to push boundaries beyond expectations—beyond the usual norms.
There is truly nothing remotely similar to the Gladiator among mass-produced loudspeakers. Marco Serri channels his other passions through an unconventional, standout approach that redefines what a loudspeaker can be, starting from the ground up.
This speaker belongs in the same category as boutique ultra-sports cars—something Italy is renowned for.
Nothing about this Italian speaker is ordinary. Even a glance at these sculptural, sonic objects—and a few words with the designer, Marco Serri—makes it clear that these are not just another set of boxed speakers with a wishful outcome.
They are the result of deep research, driven by a passion and fascination not only for music but also for sound design and upper-level, highest performance. All of this culminates in the first few notes of the music played through them.
There is something utterly impressive about the lightness and coherence of the sound emanating from the Gladiator speakers.
With speakers of this magnitude, there’s always the question of low-frequency performance—whether the bass can hold its own compared to the other drivers and remain integrated rather than sticking out in the frequency spectrum.
This is where the Gladiator stands apart. It delivers fast, focused, and controlled bass that reaches subsonic depths without distracting resonances. Many large speakers compromise in the bass range, which often clouds the overall musical experience—but not here.
Marco Serri Design’s flagship speakers are as much aesthetic statements as they are sonic ones. Yet, perhaps the most telling thing is that even after hours of listening, there wasn’t a trace of fatigue—something that speaks volumes.
Many speakers boast technically sophisticated enclosures and a mix of off-the-shelf or custom-made drivers, all backed by marketing blurb that may or may not hold up.
The Gladiator, however, is faithful to its designer’s values. It fathoms out pure performance—pure music—without constraint or compromise.
Of course, such an approach comes at a price. Custom-made enclosures, massive construction, and out-of-the-box thinking contribute to its cost. But compared to what’s out there, the Gladiator confidently fills a gap—objectively and unapologetically.
“Made in Italy” is a label often overused in marketing, but in the Gladiator, it’s not just a slogan. It’s a defining essence. These speakers embody many traits that proudly reflect Italian heritage—be it in motorsport, industrial design, or beyond.
Just like sports cars or fine timepieces, there are always brands that cater to a clientele seeking something beyond mass-produced luxury. They seek uniqueness—not just in form, but in function and performance.
And this is precisely what the Marco Serri Design Gladiator speakers offer: a unique, handcrafted sonic statement built from the ground up to capture the soul of music at full scale.
I prefer music of any genre to arrive all at once—as a coherent whole—rather than as a sequence of isolated elements, no matter how quickly delivered.
Speaker manufacturing, like super-performance engineering, is where art meets technology. What separates true state-of-the-art designs is the ability to transcend technical competence and become truly captivating. That’s exactly where the Gladiator excels—on all fronts, and in spades.
Marco Serri is a maverick—driven by both technical precision and musical emotion, making decisions from both the rational and emotional sides reflecting in a most unique proposition, at every level radiating an unmistakable Italian aura.
Gladiator is a superbly planned marriage of technology and artistic vision. It reigns quietly supreme.
For anyone seeking a non-mainstream, non-industrial pair of game-changing speakers, the Marco Serri Gladiator Design opens a unique window—a sonic proposition that boldly pushes boundaries on every level.❖
The Price
- 240.000 EUR
Contact
Marco Serri Design Srl
Via Marano 192
41052 Guiglia (MODENA)
Italy
Web: www.marcoserridesign.com
Email: info@marcoserridesign.com