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

First Italian dealerships show how various environments respond to the cosmetics of the Ballerina. The maker prefers reasonably close boundary proximity (as close as 16 inches to the rear wall) and recommends against toe-in.



The crossover networks combine to 4th-order acoustic functions at 900 and 6000Hz. The working principle is hybrid open-baffle dipole. The iso dynamic tweeter bandwidth is direct-radiating only as is the mid-dome but the woofer is semi-dipole, the latter due to the ABS housing which becomes sonically transparent below a certain frequency. "Taking an average measurement, the back emission is lowered by 25dB. While the remaining dipole effect is deliberately reduced, it remains audible to create a wider deeper ambience without all the in-room positioning challenges associated with full dipole emission. As one descends in frequency, the Ballerina's dispersion pattern becomes smoothly dipolar like that of many musical instruments and quite unlike for example hybrid MartinLogans whose electrostatic radiation is radically different from their dynamic woofers.


"The very low-tuned port is not a conventional reflex port. Due to the varying pressure inside the bass enclosure, its appendix and opening, it effectively lets the driver see a variable volume. Conceptually, this is more similar to an old two-stroke engine expansion exhaust than conventional reflex port. Compared to the latter which at the tuned frequency adds output like an extra driver, the Venturi port adds only a very minimal amount of gain. Rather, its combination of small diameter and short length coupled to the sub volume of the lossy bass enclosure creates a change of speed (lower) and pressure (higher). The structure is energy dissipating rather than absorbing. Energy follows the path of least resistance and our structure will let vibrations travel to the triangular base as the heaviest and grounded part."


The Ballerina 301-8" counters common precedents of bringing in the woofer as low as possible. Here the 8-incher rather than midrange is responsible for many instrumental fundamentals which could benefit power handling. The 2-inch dome has broad measured dispersion. For a smooth transition to the ribbon tweeter, the latter must be narrow and tall exactly as is while its lateral deflectors and phase correction bar are intended to further improve its off-axis response.


Measured minimum impedance is 4.6 ohm at 4600Hz to suggest a benign amplifier load. Audio Review's Gian Piero Matarazzo was surprised to measure attainable max output levels of 115dB across most the band limited only in the lowest octaves by woofer size and excursion. He noted very low THD above 200Hz even at high levels and remarkably low bass THD up to 90dB.
The brand name Pearl Evolution is owned by Più Uno Distribuzione and was launched in 2005 as adjunct to Mr. Cremonesi's 15-year career as a professional designer for many third parties, an activity he continues today. One invention which can be revealed—ongoing OEM work is contractually secret—was S.A.P's Relaxa magnetic levitation base. "As an independent speaker designer, Silvano Cremonesi has followed a clear research path into preserving the full dynamics given drivers are capable of; sharp well-defined imaging; and the elimination of box colorations. He  introduced to the loudspeaker world certain innovations, many of which were popularized later by major companies. An important one was the RSS reflex suspension system which is still used at Pearl Evolution in the EVO line of mid/high-priced loudspeakers. RSS is a mounting system whereby midrange and woofer detach from the enclosure by neoprene ring while being fixed from their magnets with a stiff steel rod that is bolted to the rigid cabinet back. RSS allows for dynamic integrity and greatly reduced box coloration. The same basic principles are at work behind our Amie line though there they found a radically different expression and new mechanical solution."

Experiments with various amplifiers determined that this speaker loves power and tubes. This meant my big Octave MRE-130s with SBB. For less money and transistors, I had Metronome Technologie's MT One on review loan and April Music's Stello Ai500 super integrated.