The Acapella High Campanile 2 is a very exclusive physically enormous loudspeaker and the sonically most convincing I have ever come across, hard stop. That may not surprise given the price tag where these humdingers should have a lot to offer. And yet I was surprised. I had expected something more incremental, not this fundamental. This Acapella easily ticks off the usual checklist of sonic criteria but that you can get for half the price. What to me was new and unheard of was the combination of life-like dynamic impact, authentic tonal colours and sheer resolution. To convey the imposing size of an orchestral tutti with full energy then a solo violin emerging from behind a piano with a level of realism never heard before… even high-quality high-end speakers are often stumped to reproduce both so convincingly let alone together. The Campanile 2 on the other hand pulls it off most nonchalantly. That for me—the intimate and grandiose, simultaneously—is the decisive selling point which sets this speaker apart. Contra arguments are child's pay of course. Too big. Too heavy. Too expensive. Anyone who demands more safety distance in terms of energy and musical expanse will probably prefer more compact loudspeakers, too. Then there is the question of genre. The Campanile is suitable for all musical tastes, no question about it. Yet anyone who majors on sophisticated Scandinavian jazz, girl-with-guitar songs and the occasional chart Rock won't plumb this speaker's fullness; not even close. It's those who demand a lot more and stash the necessary cash – it's them my daughter and I will now envy.

Psych profile of the Acapella High Campanile 2:

• Tonally balanced, neutral and extremely broad-band from the deepest lows to the highest highs.
• The bass is homogeneously drawn and nothing softens even in the infra range. Bass dynamics are from a different world. Impulses distribute so confidently that you rub your eyes. It's not just eight 10" woofer which pay off but also the immense height which enables a different so line-source or cylindrical radiation pattern. The Campanile 2 has the room under control.
• The mid and high frequency bands are a unit and not least thanks to the ion tweeter, extremely well resolved. This is evident in the sheer wealth of detail of quiet signal like venue reverb and decays but especially in the highest realism of timbres which come across as completely authentic. This is a very special performance even for those used to high-class transducers.
• Dynamically an exceptional talent in every regard. Even large orchestral bodies convey believably which is extremely rare. The bass range completely integrates dynamically. With the Campanile 2 it never seems like more work because voltage leaps continue seamlessly into the bass. In addition, the dynamics have an effect…
• … on the spatial representation. In "normal operation" the soundstage begins on/at the stereo base and stretches pleasantly wide and realistically deep. But true stage size is not fixed but dynamically variable. An orchestral fortissimo can quickly occupy half the listening room, the stage breathes according to musical instructions. This seems incredibly realistic not only but especially with great classical music.
• Imaging precision and transparency of depth layering are high but in themselves nothing special considering the price. We can get this elsewhere for less. What is more surprising is achieving this league despite the immense size of the loudspeakers. The Campanile 2 simply gets out of its own huge way.
• The build quality befits the tag to be beyond doubt. The mid and high ranges can adjust in level which ensures flexibility. The High version of the Campanile 2 reviewed here adds silver cabling and the crossover parts are of even higher quality and more strictly selected which adds €22K to the tab.

Facts:

• Concept: sealed 3-way loudspeaker with hyperspherical broadband horn and ion tweeter
• Dimensions & weight: 236 x 62 x 80cm HxWxD with horn, ~250 kg/piece
• Finishes: Body high-gloss white and black, horn according to customer requirements; special designs possible
• Nominal impedance: 6-8Ω
• Efficiency: 95 dB/W/m
• Warranty: 5 years