One instantly distinguishing feature of Absoluta electronics is their flexible dress code. These display cases show just a few of the many options.


On active display in the resident sound room were high-gloss Cherry versions flanked by matching Sonus Faber Elipsa speakers on loan.


As Giulio demonstrated, even fine Italian marble is just a matter of a custom commission.


The remote control covers carved from solid wood—Absoluta regards plastic with more than suspicion—are naturally finished to match and can be swapped just as easily.


Casual photos really don't do these components justice. Fit 'n' finish are of the highest order and the depth of the luster has to be seen in person. Features are thoughtfully comprehensive. There's remote polarity inversion while the blue LED indicators set into the mode, volume and source selector knobs can be extinguished. Inverted polarity turns the source LED red. Mute lights up its own LED. The massive solid aluminum knobs ride on ball bearings. The chosen input even lights up a yellow LED on the connectivity panel to identify specific cables during swaps in densely populated systems. Phono adjustments for MM, MC, loading and gain are by external rotary knobs.


As later photos will show, replacing the covers involves undoing two screws to loosen the lower half of the back frame; then loosening and retracting two lateral lock bolts. Presto, the cover slides forward and up in seconds and is just as quickly replaced. As Giulio Salerno explained, this has further advantages for long-term service support. The company can quickly dispatch a nude replacement which the dealer (or customer) swaps out while retaining their custom covers.


The resident system ran the preamp flanked by the monos on the top of a 3-tier marble stand, Northstar integrated and separated digital on the middle shelf and the stereo amp on the bottom.


Absoluta wrote its on IR code and as these images show, their remote control really is a piece of art. Identifying Italian subcontractors who could carve it from solid wood to the desired tolerances and finish consumed serious time and money.


But beauty here is decidedly more than skin deep. Consider the preamp with its floating 6-valve board removed.