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Let's visit Bulgaria.


If you find bling vile, you'll hate Vilner's new Limited Edition hifi system inspired by Rimac's Concept One car. If however extreme luxury finishing has your will and wiles at an exhilarated hello, pay attention the press release would say. "The remarkable combination of design, quality and conception of the Croatian super vehicle now transforms into this no less remarkable music system created for audiomaniacs. The leather, carbon and aluminum details with lacquer polish are emblematic for the one-of-a-kind Rimac vehicle. In a very original and unique way they have now been transferred to an audio system developed and created by the proven perfectionists of Sofia's Vilner Studio."


The €50.000 system consists of class A push/pull three-stage mono amplifiers running Russian GU50 pentodes sans feedback with pure silver wiring.


The matched Aero Horn speaker in Ukrainian premium Birch Ply cabinets runs a 339cm folded horn behind a 98dB widebander with "powerful Cobalt magnet system" manufactured by Bulgarian firm Etheraudio. Hookup wiring is solid-core silver in Teflon dielectric.



"Vilner Studio offers completely individualized designer solutions to guarantee the creation of remarkable and unique products. Depending on the interior in which this High-End audio system will be installed, the detailing will be customized across a wide range of high-tech quality materials including leather, exotic wood veneers, polished covers, composite stone, Corian, carbon fiber, polished metal trim in aluminum, brass or even precious metals."


From this part of the world there first was Bulgaria's Everything But The Box to remind us that upscale design and endless finish options can happily coexist with sound loudspeaker goodness. Then came Ring Audio's sculpturesque Master Horn Jazz from Croatia's Zagreb. For high-end electronic engineering back in Sofia we already had Thrax. Going East there was APL Hifi in Ruse specialized in ultra digital.


Now comes Vilner Studio again from Bulgaria to further develop this surprising theme of high style meets exotic hifi in Eastern Europe.


Clever about this particular concept is the system's approach of packaging amplifiers and speakers for not merely a cosmetic but also guaranteed electrical/musical match.


Where bespoke hifi is concerned, creativity is clearly alive and well in the Balkans. Perhaps traditionally it hasn't been a destination that was foremost if at all on the minds of audio pilgrims. But it's 2012 now. Things have changed. To drive the point home, only ten of these systems will be made. So pull out your check book if interested. Then it would be high time to get your significant other into the loop and discuss just what color scheme and materials would best work in your crib.


How would that be for including the fairer sex into our hifi decision making, mending fences, building bridges?


On the subject of which, home theater might go over even better than 2-channel hifi.


While the styling of this particular system with its black snake skin and intense white-on-black pattern is decidedly personal , that's the point. Your imagination—and wallet—are the only limit.


But never mind the styling, it's not every day one spots a widebander system dedicated to surround sound.


For full audiophile credibility, team Vilner knows they need more than pretty pictures. "We are working on a dedicated Vilner Audio website to publish complete technical performance data on our products."


Doesn't Bulgaria seem like quite the new hifi destination?