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Reviewer: John Potis
Two-Channel System
Analog Source:
Rega P9 turntable, RB1000, Benz Micro MC Silver, Rega Super Elys & Garrott Bros Optim FGS cartridges
Digital source: Pioneer DV-535 DVD player/ Bel Canto DAC2
Preamp: Shindo Partager
Power Amp: Art Audio Carissa, Bryston 7B ST
Speakers: Ohm Acoustics Walsh 4 with 4.5 mk.2 upgrade, Hørning Perikles
Cables: JPS Labs Superconductor and Superconductor FX interconnects and speaker wire, DH Labs D-75 digital
Power Cords: PS Power AC, Analog AC, Digital AC and Kaptovator power cords, ZCable Heavys & Black Lightnings
Powerline conditioning: Balanced Power Technology 3.5 Signature Plus with ZCable Heavy Power Cord
Sundry accessories: Vibrapod Isolators and Cones, Ultra & Heavy ZSleeves, Auric Illuminator
Room size: 12' by 16' with 9' ceiling

Multichannel System
Digital source: Sony DVP-NS500V
Multichannel Preamp: McCormack MAP-1
Bass Management: Outlaw ICBM (Magnepan version)
Power Amp: Rotel RMB-1095
Speakers: Mains: Magnepan MG MC-1; Center: Magnepan MG CC2; Surrounds: Magnepan MG MC-1
Cables: JPS Labs Superconductor interconnects and speaker wire
Room size: 15' by 23' with 9' ceiling

Review components retail: A'Diva Ti loudspeaker in black/white/silver $275/ea., stainless $300/ea; Micro Ti loudspeaker black/white/silver $200/ea., stainless $235/ea.; TR1 Subwoofer black/silver $425 ea; TR2 Subwoofer black/silver $700/ea; A'Diva stands black/white/silver $290/pr.; Micro stands black/white/silver $165/pr and in stainless $300/pr


The new Anthony Gallo Acoustics A'Diva Ti loudspeaker is a 5-inch sphere slightly larger than the original and venerable Gallo Micro that was a 4-inch sphere. Think grapefruit and naval orange respectively. The A'Diva Ti sports a frequency response of 76Hz- 22kHz when mounted on-wall (90Hz – 22kHz on stands), an 87dB sensitivity and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Gallo specifies a 50-watt power handling (120 watts when used as "small" speakers in a surround-sound system). The driver is Gallo's proprietary 3-inch full range pure titanium cone, hence the Ti designation. The metal diaphragm is damped by a paper dust cap and optimized with S-2 technology (details to follow). Connectors are gold-plated binding posts with plastic nuts that accept bare wire, spades, bananas and pins. The A'Diva Ti weighs in at 1.8 pounds each and is available in matte black, matte white and silver/gray.

The A'Diva Ti speakers come with a rubber O-ring designed to stabilize the speaker when placed directly on a shelf, cabinet or your TV set (you set the speaker on the ring as you would a glass on a coaster). My review system included a pair of gooseneck stands that are available in black, white and silver. At $290/pair, they don't seem quite as value-priced as the speaker balls themselves but, like the speakers, they look good and are well thought out. You can run the speaker wire though the stand's hollow tube to render unsightly cables invisible and the speakers are elevated off the floor by 36 inches. These stands are definitely highly recommended for getting the most out of the A'Divas. Sitting the speakers on top of a pair of speakers, for example, colors the otherwise open midrange and keeps the speakers from aptly performing their vanishing act. They like their space.


Gallo's TR-1 subwoofer is almost as unique as their speakers. Utilizing a 10" custom-made driver housed in a 10.75" wide by 12' high by 13.5" deep cylindrical enclosure with a Class AB 100-watt amplifier, it sits upon 4 semi-compliant legs and reminds me of a headless piggy bank. Around back, the TR1 features all the usual accoutrements starting with the low-level RCA i/o ports (no filtration) as well as speaker level ins and outs with a fixed 80Hz high-pass filter. The low-pass filter is continuously adjustable between 50 and 180Hz. There is a two-position rocker-type power switch selecting between signal-sensing auto-on or off. Phase is continuously variable from 0 and 180 degrees. There is also a 3-pole bass EQ switch that toggles between –3/0/+3dB at 35Hz. Gallo rates this deceptively solid 34-pound subwoofer as having a frequency response of 26 to 180Hz (-3dB corner loaded, max boost). The TR-1 carries a 2-year parts and labor warranty.


Last but not least are the new Micro Ti speakers, which use the same driver as the A'Diva. According to Anthony Gallo, the biggest difference between the new A'Diva Ti and the Micro Ti is bass response (smaller enclosure, less bass). The Micros are specified to 100Hz when mounted on-wall and 120Hz on stands. The new Micro Ti sports treble extension to 22kHz, quite a raise from the standard Micro's 18kHz (production of standard non-Ti versions of both Micro and A'Diva to continue as long as demand persists). The 1.3- pound Micro Ti's sensitivity is 87dB and impedance is 8 ohms with 120-watt power handling if high-pass filtered. Like the A'Diva, the Micro carries a 5-year parts and labor warranty.


Be careful that victories do not carry the seed of future defeats...
A friend and I were having a recent discussion
wherein he confided to being a bit disillusioned with the high end. I'm speaking of the ultra high end. My friend plays in those rarefied leagues where if you have to ask how much, you likely can't afford it. I suggested that he stop trying for that brass ring and climb down from the ultra stratosphere and try something just plain fun.