A-6 Evo

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (4GHz quad-core with Turbo boost, 32GB RAM, 3TB FusionDrive, OSX Yosemite. iTunes 14.4), PureMusic 3.02, Audirvana 3, Qobuz Hifi, Tidal Hifi, COS Engineering D1, Denafrips Terminator, Soundaware D300Ref as USB bridge/SD transport, Jay's Audio CDT2 MkII & DAC2-SE
Preamplifier: Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature Preamplifier, Nagra Classic, Wyred4Sound STP-SE Stage II, COS Engineering D1, Vinnie Rossi LIO (AVT module)
Power & integrated amplifiers: Pass Labs XA30.8; FirstWatt SIT1 monos, SIT3. F5, F6, F7; Goldmund/Job 225; Wyred4Sound mINT; Nord Acoustics NC500 monos; LinnenberG Audio Liszt monos, Bakoon AMP-13R
Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Codex; Cube Audio Nenuphar; Kroma Audio Mimí; EnigmAcoustics M1; Albedo Audio Aptica; EnigmAcoustics Mythology 1; Boenicke Audio W5se; Zu Audio Druid V, VI & Submission; German Physiks HRS-120; Eversound Essence; Fram Midi 150
Cables: Complete loom of Allnic Audio ZL 3000; Zu Event; KingRex uArt double-header USB cables; Tombo Trøn S/PDIF; van den Hul AES/EBU; AudioQuest Diamond glass-fibre Toslink; Black Cat Cable redlevel Lupo; Ocellia OCC Silver
Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps/sub
Equipment rack: Artesania Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc Krion and glass amp stands
Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators
Room: 4 x 6m with high gabled beam ceiling opening into 4 x 8m kitchen and 5 x 8m living room, hence no wall behind the listening chairs
Review component retail: €6'500/pr

Last year, the Florentine hifi house Gold Note of Montespertoli quietly revamped their entry speaker range. With cabinetry still built by the famous very busy Italian specialty shop which also supply Sonus faber, it's a new design which gave the earlier A6-XL floorstander the present Evo suffix. Whilst it still looks like a 3-driver parallel 2-way or perhaps a staggered 2.5-way, it's still a 4-driver 3-way. The soft-dome Audax tweeter and dual 15cm Seas paper-cone mids in full view are joined by a hidden downfiring 16cm Seas polypropylene woofer. That's built midway into the HDF box. Its output ports through the plinth's lateral wave openings.

The lot makes for 40Hz-20kHz published bandwidth, standard 88dB sensitivity, 4Ω nominal impedance, 60/2'000Hz 2nd-order filters with Mundorf/Clarity parts, attractive dimensions of 23x108x29cm WxHxD and dense weight of 30kg in high-gloss Walnut or piano black finishes.

Apart from the two-tone scheme, inset metal-strip accents and beveled edge taper, further cosmetic detailing goes to a slanted plinth which you attach. This secures a slightly wider stance and builds a minor rake into the profile. Quality German WBT terminals eschew biwiring so your cable funds will support a higher-quality standard rather than shot-gun affair. The A-6 Evo was conceptualized for smaller to mid-size rooms so placement reasonably close to the walls is anticipated and part of the tuning.

This promo video shows a compact complete Gold Note system assembled around the A-6 Evo.