This review page is supported in part by the sponsors whose ad banners are displayed below



Reviewer: Marja & Henk
Financial Interests: click here
Sources: PS Audio PWT; PS Audio PWD; Dr. Feickert Blackbird/DFA 1o5/Zu DL-103; Phasure NOS1 DAC [in for review]
Streaming sources: XXHighEnd; iTunes; Devialet AIR
Preamp/integrated/power: Tri TRV EQ3SE phonostage; Audio Note Meishu with WE 300B (or AVVT, JJ, KR Audio 300B output tubes); Yarland FV 34 CIIISA; Qables iQube V1; Devialet D-Premier; Hypex Ncore 1200 based monoblocks; Trafomatic Kaivalya; Trafomatic Reference One [in for review]; Trafomatic Reference Phono One [in for review]
Speakers: Avantgarde Acoustic Duo Omega; Arcadian Audio Pnoe; Vaessen Aquarius
Cables: complete loom of ASI LiveLine cables; full loom of Crystal Cable cables; Nanotec Golden Strada #79 nano 3; Nanotec Golden Strada #79; Nanotec Golden Strada #201
Power line conditioning: Omtec Power Controllers; PS Audio Powerplant Premier; PS Audio Humbuster III; Commino Powerline Harmonizer H 3.1 [in for review]
Equipment racks: ASI amplifier and TT shelf
Sundry accessories: Furutech DeMag; ClearAudio Double Matrix; Nanotec Nespa #1; Exact Audio Copy software; iPod; wood, brass, ceramic and aluminum cones and pyramids; Shakti Stones; Manley Skipjack; Blue Horizon footers [in for review]
Room treatment: Acoustic System International resonators, sugar cubes, diffusers
Room size: ca. 14.50 x 7.50m with a ceiling height of 3.50m, brick walls, wooden flooring upstairs, ca 7 x 5m with a ceiling height of 3.50m, brick walls and concrete floor downstairs.
Price of review component: €349/pr for the speakers, €490 for the amp

Most if not all products from Italy have that ineffable extra. High design is the first thing that springs to mind. Just like taste the high there depends on personal angle of perception. No exception is the fairly new Audel Art company. As the 'art' in the name suggests, at least the company thinks its hifi products are works of art. Our first encounter with certain Audel creations was at a recent Dutch show where two examples of the speaker line were on static display.

 

The looks of the larger CG509 and tiny Nika are vintage retro. Hints of Bauhaus and Art Deco combine in stacked Birch Ply casings with inlaid ebony baffles and stands. When asked to spend time with one of the pairs post show, we opted for the tiny Nika. We received it in with the matching Audamp 50wpc ICEpower integrated amplifier.
All three components are clad in laminated multilayer Birch. A CNC router cuts out the required layers which are subsequently high-pressure bonded. Assembled cabinets get sanded smooth before receiving a hand rub and polish with beeswax. The contrasting dark panels are ebony veneer. Stacking a cabinet is not the simplest way of construction but gives the designer far more freedom of final geometry. Instead of right-angled edges, smooth rounded edges are easily achieved not only for the exterior but also for the inlaid baffle and in case of the Nika the slightly smaller back panel. In fact multi-layering is a sort of 3D printing process in discrete mechanical steps.
s