by Eric Shook
Collaborating with TriangleArt, Muraudio Electrostatic Loudspeakers brought their lively sounding SP1 Point Source Electrostatic loudspeakers ($14,700 pr USD) when in semi-gloss veneers and solid colours. However here at RMAF 2018, they were on display in Muraudio’s signature SP1 Steller White High Gloss finish which is an additional $650 USD. The speakers are as contemporary as any at the show when it comes to design, and yet even with the classic luxury looks of the Triangle Art electronics, one could mistakenly assume they are all from the same manufacturer.
Utilizing a curved ESL panel and four six-inch traditional cone mid-bass drivers per channel, the SP1’s did exceptionally well to disappear and image precisely. Using the small room boundaries and a little toe-in, I was impressed with how large in scale the sound of this combination was. Most of the demonstration rooms are this size, and I do not recall any of them comparing to this room as far as scale was concerned. It occured to me while listening to the system that the SP1 loudspeakers are the largest and most unique D’Appolito array I’ve ever seen or heard.
Backing up the Muraudio magic, was full buffet of Triangle Art electronics. Starting at the sources, an absolutely irresistible pair of turntables; the TriangleArt Master Reference ($39,900 USD) and Maestro ($7,500 USD). Both featured their Apollo MC cartridge ($8,000 USD) and Osiris Mk2 12” tonearm ($6,890 USD). A bold, but wise, move to showcase the same cartridge and tonearm on two drastically different levels of turntable. Many different viewpoints could be made by the listeners. However in my time in the room, only the Maestro was playing.
Undoubtedly tube, the supple sound portrayed by the ESL speakers was decidedly detailed and glossy, realistic and organic. TriangleArt’s Reference Tube Phonostage ($12,995 USD), Reference Tube Preamp ($18,995 USD) combination was pure in character without becoming the “tube-like” parody that some all-tube systems can become. I say this, because the continuation of the system was solid state class-A. It was matched pair of TriangleArt’s TA-200M Pure Class-A Monoblocks ($73,000 USD) lighting the way. A total of forty carefully selected and matched powerful bipolar transistors fill the two chassis (200 wpc / 8-ohms, or 400wpc / 4-ohms). All tied together with TriangleArt Rhea Reference cables.
On static display during my time in the room, was the TriangleArt Ultimate TA-350M Tube Monoblock amplifier ($53,900 USD). The newly designed TA-350 Ultimate Tube Amplifier is a state-of-the-art monoblock amplifier offering the ultimate listening experience. With the use of eight KT88 output tubes, three 6SN7 driver tubes and one 6SL7 rectifier tube (per channel) under class-A push-pull triode mode, the TA-350 is capable to deliver 350 watts of power without stressing or pushing the tubes to their limit.
Overall the system was just as moving to listen to as it was to look at. If in fact you are looking for that “I’m in the Illuminati” look to your system, you’d also be equally proud of the sound it displayed. TriangleArt and Muraudio both are now on my short list of must see exhibits as I plan forward into 2019.
