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Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial Interests: click here
Source: 2TB iMac 27" quad-core with 16GB of RAM (AIFF) running OSX 10.8.2 and PureMusic 1.87g in hybrid memory play with pre-allocated RAM, Audirvana 1.5.5 in direct/integer mode, Metrum Hex, SOtM dX-USB HD with Super-clock upgrade & mBPS-d2s, AURALiC Vega, RWA-modified Astell & Kern AK100
Preamplifier: Nagra Jazz, Bent Audio Tap-X, Esoteric C-03, TruLife Audio Athena
Integrated amplifier: Wyred4Sound mINT, Bakoon AMP-12R, Clones 25i [on loan], Crayon Audio CFA-102, Gato Audio DIA-250 [on loan]
Power amplifier: Goldmund/Job 225, FirstWatt S1 monos, SIT2, Wyred4Sound mAMP [on loan], AURALiC Merak [on loan]
Loudspeakers: soundkaos Wave 40, Boenicke Audio B10 with SwingBase, German Physiks HRS-120, Zu Submission, AudioSolutions 200, Gallo Acoustics Strada 2/TR-3D
Cables: Complete Zu Event loom, KingRex uArt split USB cable, Tombo Trøn, AudioQuest Diamond Toslink, Van den Hul AES/EBU
Powerline conditioning: GigaWatt PF-2 and Vibex Two 1R DC filter on amps, Vibex Three 11R on front-end components
Equipment rack: Artesania Exoteryc double-wide three tier with optional glass shelf, Rajasthani hardwood rack for amps
Sundry accessories: Extensive use of Acoustic System Resonators, noise filters and phase inverters
Art: paintings by Ivette Ebaen, Indian bronze musicians and other Rajasthani furnishings from images-atmospheres.ch with jewelry from ninomedina.com
Music sources: bandcamp.com, qobuz.com, amazon.co.uk, tulumba.com
 Room size: 5m x 11.5m W x D, 2.6m ceiling with exposed wooden cross beams every 60cm, plaster over brick walls, suspended wood floor with Tatami-type throw rugs. The listening space opens into the second storey via a staircase and the kitchen/dining room are behind the main listening chair. The latter is thus positioned in the middle of this open floor plan without the usual nearby back wall.
Review component retail in Europe: €999/pr


'twas Marina Petrova of EBTB. "We recently launched the Luna v.2. We also started a brand new line of loudspeakers whose first model Wallz One is available now [left]. The original Luna was created as a downgraded version of the Terra III to only cost half. It was targeted at the young people, hence our deliberate fun-factor design. The Luna became very successful and one of our bestselling models. For this second generation we paid very special attention to significantly upgrade its sound quality. The mid/woofer is from Wavecor, the tweeter from Peerless. The xover is all new and the power handling went up. With its more open wider sound we still consider the Luna aimed at a younger audience. The final results of our revision are excellent. We think that for the price, build materials and sound quality the Luna II is one of the best speakers in its class. To prove that we want to see it reviewed."

The EBTB facility's shipping area in Bulgaria.

Optional accessories include these rakish WM-2 wall mounts [€149/ea].
I couldn't disagree with such wily femmy logic. But I still didn't have the sticker. "€999/pr." Okay, I started to get it. Just in case you thought EBTB stood for european bankers that bite, it's Everything But The Box. For the Luna II that means a curvaceous die-cast aluminum enclosure. So it's not a bolted-together panel affair à la big Magico with 200+ fasteners. It also means a composite baffle, aluminum footers and spike receivers, a machined aluminum tweeter horn with matching port flare and a stainless steel logo. Our fashionable 4-inch front-ported two-way measures all of 34x20x27cm HxWxD and weighs in at a svelte 4.8kg. But it still includes an integrated carrying handle just because. Stock color choices are 4. Premium colors add 16 more. Beyond that and to infinity there are 16.000 colors including matte, gloss and two-tone finishes. Those are bespoke orders. Our Bulgarian friends from the Black Sea specialize in those. They view themselves as a particularly resourceful custom shop.

When I asked Marina what crazy finish they'd send to show off what they can do—hint—they'd already decided on my least favorite color in all of hifi. Black. Matte no less. Like the Terra C above right. Or a blacked-out DIY spray-can car job for stealth missions without reflections.
€579 NuForce PCM-to-PWM conversion digital integrated + €999 Luna II = modern mini system, just add laptop
With all the glorious colors of the rainbow on hand, I was surprised but this choice would show off the gleaming aluminum trim in high contrast.


With dreams of styling it Club Med fashion squashed—check out the guava and mango skins—I poured my Mohito down the drain. Time to load the Nespresso machine with a ristretto capsule. Hold the milk, hold the sugar. If it was gonna be black, I was ready.

Whilst the shipping gods in Varma put things together, I wanted tech talk on the Luna II. What exactly had changed over the precursor? How had performance been tweaked, specifically?